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

MELPHALAN, MEDPHALAN AND MERPHALAN

VOL.: 9 (1975) (p. 167)

Melphalan
CAS No.: 148-82-3
Chem. Abstr. Name: 4-[Bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-L-phenylalanine

Medphalan
CAS No.: 13045-94-8
Chem. Abstr. Name: 4-[Bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-D-phenylalanine

Merphalan
CAS No.: 531-76-0
Chem. Abstr. Name: 4-[Bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-DL-phenylalanine

5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation

5.1 Animal carcinogenicity data

Melphalan is carcinogenic in mice and rats following its intraperitoneal injection, producing lymphosarcomas and a dose-related increase in lung tumours in mice and peritoneal sarcomas in rats. Merphalan (a mixture of medphalan and melphalan) produced an increased incidence of mammary fibroadenomas in rats following its intraperitoneal injection in single doses.

5.2 Human carcinogenicity data

The available care reports suggest that the incidence of acute leukaemia is increased in myeloma patients treated with melphalan.

Subsequent evaluation: Suppl. 7 (1987) (Melphalan - Group 1); Suppl. 7 (p. 65) (Medphalan - Group 3, Merphalan - Group 2B)

For definition of Groups, see Preamble Evaluation.

Synonyms for Melphalan

Synonyms for Medphalan

Synonyms for Merphalan


Last updated: 21 March 1998




























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       Toxicological Abbreviations