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