Toronto, Jul 4 (IANS): Pioglitazone, a drug commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, may also elevate bladder cancer risk, says a new Canadian research.

In a bid to link pioglitazone and bladder cancer, researchers conducted a systematic review and analysis of clinical trials and observational studies involving over 2.6 million patients.

"We observed an increased risk of bladder cancer associated with the use of thiazolidinediones," writes Jeffrey Johnson from the School of Public Health, University of Alberta and study co-author, the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports.

Thiazolidinediones, including Pioglitazone, introduced in the late 1990s, are also known as glitazones, a class of drugs used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, according to an Alberta statement.

"In particular, use of pioglitazone was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer based on a pooled estimate from three cohort studies involving more than 1.7 million individuals," adds Johnson.

The researchers also looked at a possible association with rosiglitazone, another type of thiazolidinedione, but did not see an effect.