Diabetes Drugs Raise Risk of Bladder Cancer

Results of a study of nearly 60,000 people with type 2 diabetes has revealed that thiazolidinedione (TZDs) drugs appear to signficantly raise the risk of developing bladder cancer. Ronac Mamtani, MD, an instructor in the division of Hematology-Oncology in Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center and colleagues, found that patients treated with the TZD drugs pioglitazone (Actos) or rosiglitzaone (Avandia) for five or more years had a two-to-three-fold increased risk of developing bladder cancer compared to those who took sulfonylurea drugs. “Diabetes is one the most common chronic diseases worldwide, affecting 285 million people. There are many factors clinicians must weigh in deciding which drug to use to control a patient’s diabetes, and these new data provide important information to include in that decision-making process,” said Mamtani. “Our study shows that doctors who care for patients with diabetes should be very aware of any bladder-related symptoms patients might be having, like blood in the urine, and take steps to further evaluate those issues.” Actos has already been removed from the market in France and Germany due to mounting safety concerns. In August 2011, the US FDA issued a warning that the drug is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer; however it is still on the market. In fact, Actos is the ninth most commonly prescribed drug in the nation, accounting for some 15 million prescriptions each year.