Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38172159›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2024

Group I pharmaceuticals of IARC and associated cancer risks: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Woojin Lim, Sungji Moon, Na Rae Lee, Ho Gyun Shin, Su-Yeon Yu, Jung Eun Lee, Inah Kim, Kwang-Pil Ko, Sue K Park

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
3.7field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Bladder cancer risk factors: a comprehensive umbrella review of meta-analyses.International journal of surgery (London, England) · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Interplay between the gut microbiota, its metabolites and carcinogens.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2025
    Review
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Woojin LimDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-8305-0246
Sungji MoonDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-6668-3065
Na Rae LeeNational Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), Seoul, 04933, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-6155-9906
Ho Gyun ShinNational Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), Seoul, 04933, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-5365-437X
Su-Yeon YuNational Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), Seoul, 04933, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-5488-5068
Jung Eun LeeDepartment of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0003-1141-878X
Inah KimDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0003-3568-4484
Kwang-Pil KoClinical Preventive Medicine Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-7788-2887
Sue K ParkDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. suepark@snu.ac.kr.ORCID 0000-0001-5002-9707
National Evidenc- based healthcare Collaborating Agency · KRSeoul National University · KRCancer Research Institute · USHanyang University · KRSeoul National University Bundang Hospital · KR

Funding

Korean Foundation for Cancer Research CB-2017-A-2National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency NA21-003
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We aimed to summarize the cancer risk among patients with indication of group I pharmaceuticals as stated in monographs presented by the International Agency for Research on Cancer working groups. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed database. Pharmaceuticals with few studies on cancer risk were identified in systematic reviews; those with two or more studies were subjected to meta-analysis. For the meta-analysis, a random-effects model was used to calculate the summary relative risks (SRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Heterogeneity across studies was presented using the Higgins I square value from Cochran's Q test. Among the 12 group I pharmaceuticals selected, three involved a single study [etoposide, thiotepa, and mustargen + oncovin + procarbazine + prednisone (MOPP)], seven had two or more studies [busulfan, cyclosporine, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methoxsalen + ultraviolet (UV) radiation therapy, melphalan, and chlorambucil], and two did not have any studies [etoposide + bleomycin + cisplatin and treosulfan]. Cyclosporine and azathioprine reported increased skin cancer risk (SRR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.07-1.62; SRR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.25-1.93) compared to non-use. Cyclophosphamide increased bladder and hematologic cancer risk (SRR = 2.87, 95% CI 1.32-6.23; SRR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.65-3.58). Busulfan increased hematologic cancer risk (SRR = 6.71, 95% CI 2.49-18.08); melphalan was associated with hematologic cancer (SRR = 4.43, 95% CI 1.30-15.15). In the systematic review, methoxsalen + UV and MOPP were associated with an increased risk of skin and lung cancer, respectively. Our results can enhance persistent surveillance of group I pharmaceutical use, establish novel clinical strategies for patients with indications, and provide evidence for re-categorizing current group I pharmaceuticals into other groups.

Indexed as

CyclosporinsHematologic NeoplasmsNeoplasmsAzathioprineBusulfanCyclophosphamideEtoposideHumansMelphalanMethoxsalenPharmaceutical PreparationsAzathioprineBusulfanCyclophosphamideCyclosporinsEtoposideMelphalanMethoxsalenPharmaceutical Preparations

Identifiers

PMID38172159
PMCPMC10764325
OpenAlexW4390570933

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.