Developing guidelines for working with antineoplastic drugs.

The potentially hazardous properties of antineoplastic drugs and problems associated with the admixture and administration of injectable antineoplastics are reviewed. The mutagenicity of anticancer drugs, carcinogenicity testing in animals, carcinogenicity of antineoplastic agents in humans, and federal regulation of carcinogens are discussed. Concern in the literature regarding the handling of antineoplastic drugs in reviewed briefly, and guidelines for proper handling are suggested. Local hospital guidelines on the handling of antineoplastic drug products should be designed to protect health-care workers from unnecessary exposure to potential carcinogens.