Cytostatic Activity of Commonly Used Tricyclic Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants (TA) often used in the supportive care of cancer patients exhibit cytostatic properties on human renal cancer cells in vitro. Complete growth inhibition was observed with imipramine and clomipramine at concentrations similar to that of nitrogen mustard. Clinical side effects of TA (cardiotoxicity, agranulocytosis) and their binding to nucleotides may point to a mechanism of action similar to that of anthracyclines. Careful recording of TA applications during cancer chemotherapy or better randomized studies with or without TA should define the antineoplastic influence of TA in cancer chemotherapy.