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International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

PHENELZINE AND PHENELZINE SULPHATE

VOL.: 24 (1980) (p. 175)

5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation

5.1 Experimental data

Phenelzine sulphate was tested in mice by oral administration: it significantly increased the incidence of lung and blood vessel tumours in females.

Phenelzine sulphate is mutagenic in bacteria.

Phenelzine sulphate has been shown to be embryotoxic in mice.

5.2 Human data

Phenelzine sulphate is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor with limited use in the treatment of depressive states.

The single case report of angiosarcoma in a woman taking phenelzine sulphate provides insufficient evidence to assess the carcinogenicity of this compound in humans.

5.3 Evaluation

There is limited evidence that phenelzine sulphate is carcinogenic in experimental animals. In view of the evidence in experimental animals, the mutagenicity of phenelzine sulphate and a single case report of angiosarcoma of the liver in a patient taking phenelzine sulphate, further studies on the carcinogenicity of this compound are warranted.

For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.

Subsequent evaluation: Suppl. 7 (1987)


Last updated: 7 April 1998




























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