Psychopharmacologic agents and cancer: A progress report

✍ Scribed by L. G. Miller

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 406 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1057-9249
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1611(199603)5:1<66::aid-pon207>3.0.co;2-1

✦ Synopsis

THE QUESTION OF A"IDEPRESSANT TUMOR PROMOTION Editorial: Psychopharmacologic agents and cancer. a progress report. Miller, L. G. (1995) J. Clin. Psy-Dr Miller offers an update on the controversial toxicological model of Brandes et ul. which suggested that two antidepressants, amitriptyline and fluoxetine, might have a role in tumor promotion. The model described binding of antidepressants to the antiestrogen binding site associated with intracellular histamine receptors (Hlc) related to cytochrome P450. The authors described antidepressant-induced tumor promotion (not tumor initiation) in a mouse model and in virro. ASPOA reviewed the original study in a previous newsletter. Since then several papers have been published on this subject. A review of fluoxetine animal studies did not support tumor promotion (Bendele ef ul., 1992) Two studies using amitriptyline and desipramine as promoters supported the Brandes model (Bassukas, 1994; Wright et al., 1994; Eshi et ul.. 1993).

The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics held a symposium on the question in March 1995. There are disagreements on the meaning of animal models in this setting. Miller notes that these antidepressant drugs behave differently at different

c h o p h o ~c o l .

15,160-161.

doses (low doses promoting; high doses inhibiting cell Dr Miller wrote a review in J. Clin Psychophmcol. in 1993, concluding that the evidence for this association remained limited. In this update, he does not recommend that we change our criteria for prescribing antidepressants or prevent cancer patients from receiving treatment for depression. He does, however, support scientific studies that might further evaluate cancerrelated effects.

growth).