title: Can the clinical course of cancer be influenced by non-antineoplastic drugs?
abstract: Laboratory and anecdotal clinical evidence suggests that some common non-antineoplastic drugs may affect the course of cancer. The authors present two cases that appear to be consistent with such a possibility: that of a 63-year-old woman in whom a high-grade angiosarcoma of the forehead improved after discontinuation of lithium therapy and then progressed rapidly when treatment with carbamazepine was started, and that of a 74-year-old woman with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon that regressed when self-treatment with a nonprescription decongestant preparation containing antihistamine was discontinued. The authors suggest that epidemiologic studies are needed to investigate a possible association between non-antineoplastic drugs and the clinical course of cancer and that consideration should be given to discontinuing all nonessential medications for patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Brandes
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Friesen
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000556:secondary*; D000368:Aged; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine; D002744:Chlorpheniramine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008094:Lithium