title: Does salmon calcitonin cause cancer? A review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Recently an association between the use of calcitonin and cancer has been postulated. We reviewed the biological rationale and performed an additional analysis of historical data with respect to the possibility. An association cannot be excluded, but the relationship is weak and causality is unlikely. The purpose of the present study is to review the strength of association and likelihood of a causal relationship between use of calcitonin and cancer. We reviewed the evidence for this association, including the molecular signaling mechanisms of calcitonin, preclinical data, an "experiment of nature," and the results of a previous meta-analysis which showed a weak association. We performed an additional meta-analysis to incorporate the data from a novel investigational oral formulation of salmon calcitonin. Review of the literature did not identify a cellular signaling mechanism of action which might account for a causal relationship or toxicologic or postmarketing data to support the thesis. Additional clinical results incorporated into previous meta-analyses weakened but did not completely negate the possibility of association. A causal association between calcitonin use and malignancy is unlikely, as there is little biological plausibility. The preponderance of nonclinical and clinical evidence also does not favor a causal relationship.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1Y 4W7.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Institute, 333 Cottman Ave # 307, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chernoff
authors.affiliation: Tarsa Therapeutics Inc, 8 Penn Center, 1628 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gilligan
authors.affiliation: Tarsa Therapeutics Inc, 8 Penn Center, 1628 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA. dkrause@tarsatherapeutics.com.
authors.forename: D S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5484-8563
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Krause
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin
keywords: Cancer; Meta-analysis; Review; Salmon calcitonin