Is metronidazole carcinogenic?
Metronidazole (MTZ, 1-[2-hydroxyethyl]-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole), an antiparasitic and antibacterial compound, is one of the world's most used drugs. MTZ is potentially carcinogenic to humans due to the following facts: it is a proven mutagen in bacterial systems, it is genotoxic to human cells and also, it is carcinogenic to animals. However, due to inadequate epidemiological evidence, it is not considered as a risk factor for cancer in humans. As it will be discussed here, the existing population studies are deficient since they have not included sufficient sample size, the follow-up time has not been long enough, and the individual sensitivity to the drug might have been acting as a confounding factor. Due to the increasing use of this drug, more and improved studies are needed to elucidate its mechanism of genotoxicity and its carcinogenic potential.
Bendesky
Andrés
A
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, DF, México.
Menéndez
Daniel
D
Ostrosky-Wegman
Patricia
P
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D009153:Mutagens; D008795:Metronidazole