IARC Classifies Three Common Medicines as Carcinogenic

Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified three commonly prescribed medicines—hydrochlorothiazide, voriconazole and tacrolimus—as Group 1 carcinogens.

Key Points

Hydrochlorothiazide: It was linked to squamous cell skin carcinoma and lip cancer due to increased sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Voriconazole: It was associated with squamous cell skin carcinoma in transplant recipients receiving prolonged treatment.
Tacrolimus: It was linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder because of its immunosuppressive effects.
Patient Advisory: Experts emphasised that the IARC classification identifies a potential hazard and does not measure the actual risk at prescribed doses. Patients should continue treatment unless advised otherwise by their doctors.