Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 107

In: Advances in Medicine and Biology. Vol. 107 ISBN: 978 - 1 - 53610 - 056 - 3
Editor: Leon V. Berhardt © 201 6 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Chapter 1

ANTITUMOR EFFECTS OF

LITHIUM CARBONATE

OP Makarova

Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine SB RAMS,

Novosibirsk, Russia

ABSTRACT

The present chapter is focused to analyze the underlying mechanisms

that dictate the antitumor properties of different forms of lithium

carbonate. The results of clinical studies on the use of lithium carbonate

for cancer treatment are given. Debate exists in literature about

contradictory effects of lithium salts are discussed as well.

INTRODUCTION

Lithium carbonate has been used clinically since the 19th century to treat
psychotic diseases as bipolar disorders, and its safety profile is well
documented. For adult patients, lithium carbonate doses of 900 to 1,
mg/day result in steady-state lithium levels in the range of 0.5 mM to 1.2 mM
for effective maintenance of bipolar patients [1]. Lithium carbonate, used
orally, accumulates in the colon and does not cause an additional risk for
cancer. The study with using all patients diagnosed with incident colorectal