The Association between Ranitidine Use and Gastrointestinal Cancers

Abstract

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a carcinogen in experimental animals. It has been classified a probable human carcinogen and has been found in ranitidine. This study sought to evaluate the association between ranitidine use and cancer of the gastrointestinal system. Events reported to the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System that were associated with the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2 antagonists were selected. Proportionate reporting ratios (PRRs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to compare the proportion of all reported adverse events that were for gastrointestinal system cancers among adverse event reports for ranitidine to adverse event reports for other H2 antagonists. The proportion of adverse events for any gastrointestinal system cancer relative to all other events was elevated for ranitidine compared to PPIs and other H2 antagonists (PRR 3.66, 95% CI 3.19–4.20). Elevated and significant PRRs were observed for pharyngeal (PRR 9.24), esophageal (PRR 3.56), stomach (PRR 1.48), colorectal (PRR 16.31), liver (PRR 2.64), and pancreatic (PRR 2.18) cancers. The PRRs for anal (PRR 4.62) and gallbladder (PRR 4.62) cancer were also elevated though not statistically significant. In conjunction with a large body of epidemiologic and human and animal basic science research, the study results support the hypothesis that NDMA-contaminated ranitidine increases the risk of cancer and supports the withdrawal of these medications from the market.