Summary
In a wider sense iatrogenic carcinogenesis means the induction of cancer by medical treatment. Some drugs have been now identified to be carcinogenic not only in experimental animals but also in man. For example, chlornaphazine used in the treatment of polycythemia has been proved to induce bladder cancer in 30% of the patients treated. This is also true for alkylating agents which are used as cytostatics in cancer treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy must be used with due caution. There is probably one iatrogenic carcinoma in 10,000 cases. Hence, it is important to analyze the risk-benefit ratio of such drugs.
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References
Schmähl D (1980) Maligne Tumoren-Enstehung, Wachstum und Chemotherapie, 3. Aufl. Editio Cantor, Aulendorf
Schmähl D, Thomas C, Auer R (1977) Iatrogenic carcinogenesis. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Schmähl D, Habs M (1980) Drug-induced cancer. Topics in Pathology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
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Schmähl, D. Iatrogenic carcinogenesis. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 99, 71–75 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412444
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412444