Two-year carcinogenicity study of 6-mercaptopurine in F344 rats

[Crohn2357]

Two-year carcinogenicity study of 6-mercaptopurine in F344 rats
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01612898

What worries me most is neurotoxic effects of these(purinethol, methotrexate...) non specific immunosuppresives.

 

[Lady Organic]

what is important to understand is the amount given. What are 25 ppm or 50ppm ? also 2 years means the whole life of a rat.

 

[HelenMelb]

"These results thus indicated that while the carcinogenic potential of 6-MP can not be precluded, it can be only very weak or marginal, after continuous administration in the diet at the 50 ppm level for 2 years."

I think this sentence is somewhat reassuring for crohn's patients taking 6mp.

 

[my little penguin]

The issue is there are human studies which show 6-mp has a higher cancer rate at least for young males .
http://www.empr.com/crohns-disease-does-it-increase-cancer-risk/article/337510/

http://www.practicalgastro.com/pdf/BlonskiArticle.pdf

 

[HelenMelb]

Yes, the small risk of malignancy, especially lymphomas, is well established with thioprines. It's the 'rock and a hard place' of crohn's