Prednisone is not a mouse carcinogen
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2026

A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: July 6, 2017
J E Dillberger1, N S Cronin, G J Carr
1Toxicology Department-Indianapolis Center, Marion Merrell Dow Inc., Indiana 46268-0470.
Abstract:
The carcinogenic potential of prednisone, a synthetic corticosteroid used as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent, was investigated by feeding it to Crl:CD-1(ICR) mice (50/sex/dose) at doses of 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/kg/day for 18 months. Prednisone did not significantly increase the incidence of neoplasms (p less than or equal to 0.05); on the contrary, it significantly decreased the incidence of hepatocellular tumors (p = 0.002 in males, p = 0.027 in females), male lacrimal/Harderian gland tumors (p = 0.05), female pulmonary adenomas (p = 0.047), female endothelial cell tumors (p = 0.035), and female lymphosarcomas (p = 0.02). This study suggests that long-term (lifetime) prednisone use does not increase cancer risk and may actually reduce it.
Related Concept Videos
Mouse Models of Cancer Study
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
Mouse Models of Cancer Study
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

![Chemical-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis Model Using Dimethylbenz[a]Anthracene and 12-O-Tetradecanoyl Phorbol-13-Acetate (DMBA-TPA)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F60445.jpg&w=3840&q=50)