Risk Estimation for Leukemogenic Drugs

A number of drugs used in cancer chemotherapy are known to be highly leukemogenic. Because the cancer risks per unit dose can be estimated more precisely for these drugs than for many other human carcinogens, they provide a unique opportunity to test the predictions of cancer risk models, and bioassay outcomes. The available data on leukemia incidence following cytostatic drug treatment are reviewed, with regard to differences in potency. Quantitative data from animal bioassays are also used as the basis for potency estimates, and the correlation with the human data is examined. Chemical and biochemical properties of several of the drugs are then discussed, with view to explaining some of the observed differences in leukemogenic potency.