Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Carcinogenesis”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Diversity of gastric carcinogenesis.

Gastric cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide, although the incidence of this disease has been gradually decreasing. The diversity of gastric cancer is well known. However, the mechanism underlying this diversity is still unknown. We have performed experimental and clinical studies on gastric carcinogenesis. These results suggest that the variety in the type and extent of inflammation in the stomach, and the different response to inflammation are responsible for the diversity in gastric carcinogenesis. This concept is supported by clinical and experimental evidence that eradication of Helicobacter pylori diminishes the incidence of gastric cancer and that PPAR gamma ligand, a modulator of inflammation and cell differentiation, prevents gastric carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Potent preventive action of alpha-carotene against carcinogenesis: spontaneous liver carcinogenesis and promoting stage of lung and skin carcinogenesis in mice are suppressed more effectively by alpha-carotene than by beta-carotene.

Although beta-carotene has been considered to be a key cancer preventive agent in green and yellow vegetables, other types of carotenoids, such as alpha-carotene, may also contribute to anticarcinogenic action, since these carotenoids usually coexist with beta-carotene and are detectable in human blood and tissues. In this study, we compared the inhibitory effect of natural alpha-carotene, obtained from palm oil, with that of beta-carotene on spontaneous liver carcinogenesis in C3H/He male mice. The mean number of hepatomas per mouse was significantly decreased by alpha-carotene supplementation (per os administration in drinking water at a concentration of 0.05%, ad libitum) as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.001, Student's t test). On the other hand, beta-carotene, at the same dose as alpha-carotene, did not show any such significant difference from the control group. Furthermore, we also compared the antitumor-promoting activity of alpha-carotene with that of beta-carotene against two-stage mouse lung carcinogenesis (initiator, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide; promoter, glycerol). alpha-Carotene, but not beta-carotene, reduced the number of lung tumors per mouse to about 30% of that in the control group (P < 0.001, Student's t test). The higher potency of the antitumor-promoting action of alpha-carotene compared to beta-carotene was confirmed in other experimental systems; e.g., alpha-carotene was also found to have a stronger effect than beta-carotene in suppressing the promoting activity of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on skin carcinogenesis in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated mice. These results suggest that not only beta-carotene, but also other types of carotenoids, such as alpha-carotene, may play an important role in cancer prevention.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Carcinogenesis and aging. III. The role of age in initiation and promotion of carcinogenesis.

The problem of an interrelation between carcinogenesis and aging is discussed from the point of view of the two-stage model of carcinogenesis. Data on the carcinogenic effect of subcutaneously administered benzo(a)pyrene (BP), intravaginally applied 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), and intravenously injected N-nitrosomethylurea (NMU) to young and old animals are presented. Both the obtained results and data from available literature show the absence of a uniform effect of age on carcinogenesis. Age-associated dynamics of carcinogen-metabolizing enzyme activity, accuracy in DNA repair, and proliferative activity of target and non-target tissues have been discussed as the determinant factors for observed differences. Data on the growth rate of some transplantable tumors in young and old animals are also presented. As a rule, the above tumors grow more rapidly in old animals in comparison with young ones. The role of age-associated hormonal, metabolic, and immunological changes in tumor promotion is discussed. The similarity is stressed of a number of changes occurring at organism, tissue, and cellular levels of integration both during natural aging and carcinogenesis. Some results of study on effects of geroprotectors on spontaneous carcinogenesis are summarized. The geroprotectors, which were shown to delay the realization of the genetic programme of aging and age pathology development, prolong lifespan and inhibit carcinogenesis more effectively than those influencing the initiatial stage of spontaneous carcinogenesis. Finally, the integral scheme of events taking place in cell, tissue, and organism during carcinogenesis is presented.

Animals↗

Sex hormone-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Noble rats: expression of TGF-beta1 and its receptors, TGF-alpha, and EGF-R in mammary carcinogenesis.

We have established a Noble rat model to explore the mechanisms of hormonal mammary carcinogenesis, in which the role of androgen in promoting mammary carcinogenesis was highlighted. We have also established that stromal-epithelial interactions may be responsible for the promotional effects of testosterone in mammary carcinogenesis. Based on these understandings, in the present study we examined the expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) and its receptors (TGF-beta RI, TGF-beta RII), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in 'pre-malignant' mammary glands treated with different protocols of sex hormones, as well as in mammary cancers. We observed that TGF-beta1 was strongly expressed in most mammary tumors, whereas TGF-beta RI and TGF-beta RII were negative in most mammary tumor cells. The results from comparative study of 'pre-malignant' glands further showed that when the animals were treated with testosterone, either alone or in combination with 17beta-estradiol, the mammary gland epithelial cells expressed high levels of TGF-beta1. This over-expression of TGF-beta1 can be blocked by flutamide, indicating that testosterone may be responsible for the expression of TGF-beta1 in mammary glands. TGF-beta RI and TGF-beta RII were also expressed strongly in testosterone-treated mammary epithelial cells and only weakly detectable in 17beta-estradiol treated and control mammary epithelial cells. Furthermore, TGF-beta RI and TGF-beta RII were also expressed in stromal cells, both in mammary tumors and in hormone-treated mammary glands. These observations indicate that the mechanism of testosterone in mammary carcinogenesis may be through its regulation of expression of TGF-beta1 and its receptors. On the other hand, TGF-alpha was also expressed in all 39 mammary cancers, while only 81% of the cancers were EGF-R positive. TGF-alpha was also strongly expressed in stromal cells in all three experimental groups, but only moderately expressed in epithelial cells when treated with a combination of testosterone and 17beta-estradiol. By contrast, EGF-R was strongly expressed in epithelial cells in the three experimental groups but negative in stromal cells. Flutamide or tamoxifen was unable to block the expression of TGF-alpha induced by the combined sex hormone treatment. However, they were effective in blocking the expression of TGF-alpha when the animals were treated with testosterone or 17beta-estradiol alone, respectively. These results suggest that both testosterone and 17beta-estradiol may be required for the over-expression of TGF-alpha in the mammary carcinogenesis induced by sex hormones. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental study to explore the regulation of TGF-beta1, TGF-alpha, and their receptors by testosterone and 17beta-estradiol in mammary carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Involvement of the 5-lipoxygenase/leukotriene A4 hydrolase pathway in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamster cheek pouch, and inhibition of carcinogenesis by its inhibitors.

Previous studies have shown that aberrant arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, especially cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-Lox) pathways, are activated during oral carcinogenesis, and can be targeted for cancer prevention. This study was designed to investigate the importance of 5-Lox/leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) pathway of AA metabolism in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster cheek pouch carcinogenesis. In a short-term study, topical application of DMBA for 3 weeks induced severe inflammation and aberrant AA metabolism. Subsequent topical treatment with zileuton, celecoxib, or their combination for 1 week significantly suppressed aberrant AA metabolism and cell proliferation in the oral epithelium. Interestingly, zileuton was effective in inhibiting biosynthesis of multiple AA metabolites, including leukotriene B4 (LTB4), 5-, 12-, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), while celecoxib only suppressed PGE2 biosynthesis significantly at a high dose. In a long-term carcinogenesis study topical application of LTB4 or PGE2 enhanced oral carcinogenesis by increasing the incidence and volume of visible tumors, and the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To further examine the role of LTB4 in oral carcinogenesis, two LTA4H inhibitors, bestatin and SA6541, were evaluated in a long-term chemoprevention experiment. Both agents significantly inhibited SCC, and such an inhibition correlated with reduced levels of LTB4 in hamster cheek pouch. In summary, our studies have demonstrated that 5-Lox/LTA4H pathway is one of the major AA-metabolizing pathways involved in DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamsters, and may be targeted for chemoprevention.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Effect of calcium channel blockers on gastric carcinogenesis and caerulein enhancement of gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Wistar rats.

The effects of the organic calcium channel blocker verapamil and the inorganic calcium channel blocker MgCl2 on gastric carcinogenesis, on caerulein enhancement of gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and on the labeling index of gastric mucosa were investigated in inbred Wistar rats. After 25 weeks of treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (50 micrograms/ml p.o.), rats received one of the following alternate-day injections: caerulein (2 micrograms/kg body weight, s.c.), MgCl2 (150 mg/kg, s.c.), verapamil (20 mg/kg body weight, i.p.), caerulein (2 micrograms/kg body weight, s.c.) plus MgCl2 (150 mg/kg body weight, s.c.), or caerulein (2 micrograms/kg body weight, s.c.) plus verapamil (20 mg/kg body weight, i.p.). At Week 52, prolonged administration of caerulein had significantly increased the incidence and number of adenocarcinomas in the glandular stomach and the incidence of gastric cancers that penetrated through or beyond the muscle layer. Concomitant administration of MgCl2 significantly attenuated the enhancing effect of caerulein on gastric carcinogenesis. Combined administration of caerulein and verapamil did not affect the incidence and number of gastric cancers but significantly reduced the incidence of cancers penetrating through or beyond the muscle layer. Administration of MgCl2 or verapamil alone had no influence on gastric carcinogenesis. Rats treated with caerulein had a significantly elevated labeling index of the antral mucosa which was significantly decreased by concomitant administration of MgCl2 and/or of verapamil, as compared with the labeling index observed after treatment with caerulein alone. Either MgCl2 or verapamil alone had no influence on the labeling index of the antral mucosa. These findings indicate that caerulein enhances gastric carcinogenesis and that MgCl2 and verapamil attenuate this enhancement. These findings also indicate that calcium may play an important role in caerulein enhancement of gastric carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

An initiator of carcinogenesis selectively and stably inhibits stem cell differentiation: a concept that initiation of carcinogenesis involves multiple phases.

A concept of carcinogenesis was recently devised in our laboratory that suggests the development of defects in the control of cell differentiation is associated with an early phase of carcinogenesis. To test this proposal directly, the effects of an initiator of carcinogenesis (i.e., UV irradiation) on proadipocyte stem cell differentiation and proliferation was assayed. In this regard, 3T3 T proadipocytes represent a nontransformed mesenchymal stem cell line that possesses the ability to regulate its differentiation at a distinct state in the G1 phase of the cell cycle as well as the ability to regulate its proliferation at two additional G1 states that are induced by culture in growth factor-deficient or nutrient-deficient microenvironments. The results establish that a low dosage of 254 nm UV irradiation selectively and stably inhibits the differentiation of a high percentage of proadipocyte stem cells without significantly altering their ability to regulate cellular proliferation in growth factor-deficient or nutrient-deficient culture conditions. Differentiation-defective proadipocyte stem cells are demonstrated not to be completely transformed but to show an increased spontaneous transformation rate, as evidenced by the formation of type III foci in high density cell cultures. These data support the role of defects in the control of differentiation in the initiation of carcinogenesis. Other data, however, also suggest that additional cellular defects must be expressed for a cell to be completely initiated. These observations support a concept that the initiation of carcinogenesis involves multiple phases.

Adipose Tissue↗

IL-1 alpha, innate immunity, and skin carcinogenesis: the effect of constitutive expression of IL-1 alpha in epidermis on chemical carcinogenesis.

Tumor promoters such as the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) are proinflammatory agents, and their mechanism of action in epithelial carcinogenesis has been linked to the release of IL-1 alpha and the induction of chronic inflammation in skin. To test the role of IL-1 alpha and inflammation in models of cutaneous carcinogenesis, we used our previously described FVB/N transgenic mice overexpressing 17-kDa IL-1 alpha in the epidermis under the keratin 14 (K14) promoter. Strikingly, the K14/IL-1 alpha mice were completely resistant to papilloma and carcinoma formation induced by a two-stage DMBA/TPA protocol, while littermate controls developed both tumor types. K14/IL-1 alpha mice crossed with the highly sensitive TG.AC mice, constitutively expressing mutant Ha-Ras, also failed to develop papillomas or carcinomas. When the K14/IL-1 alpha transgene was bred onto a recombinase-activating gene-2-deficient background, the resistance persisted, indicating that innate, but not acquired, mechanisms may be involved in the resistance to the initiation/promotion model. As an alternative approach, a complete carcinogenesis protocol using repetitive application of DMBA alone was applied. Surprisingly, although the IL-1 alpha mice still did not develop papillomas, they did develop carcinomas de novo at an accelerated rate compared with controls. We conclude that constitutive IL-1 alpha expression rendered FVB mice completely resistant to carcinomas that required evolution from prior papillomas, but facilitated carcinomas that did not evolve from papillomas, as in the complete carcinogenesis protocol. Thus, the role of IL-1 alpha and, by extension that of other proinflammatory factors, in epithelial carcinogenesis are more complex than previously appreciated. These mice may provide a mechanism to investigate the validity of these models of human skin tumorigenesis.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on gastric carcinogenesis and tetragastrin inhibition of gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Wistar rats.

The effects of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on gastric carcinogenesis, on inhibition by tetragastrin of gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and on the tissue catecholamine concentrations of the gastric wall and the labeling index of the gastric mucosa were investigated in inbred Wistar rats. Rats received s.c. injections of tetragastrin (1 mg/kg of body weight every other day) in depot form, i.p. injections of 6-OHDA (42 mg/kg twice within 24 h and 105 mg/kg every 2 wk), or injections of both compounds after 25 wk of p.o. treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (100 micrograms/ml). At Wk 52, prolonged administration of tetragastrin or 6-OHDA had significantly reduced the incidence and the number of adenocarcinomas. Combined administration of tetragastrin and 6-OHDA significantly enhanced the inhibitory effects of tetragastrin or 6-OHDA on gastric carcinogenesis. Administration of 6-OHDA but not tetragastrin, caused a significant decrease in norepinephrine concentrations in the antral portion of the gastric wall. Rats treated with tetragastrin or 6-OHDA had a significantly lower labelling index of the antral mucosa, and this index was significantly decreased by combined administration of tetragastrin and 6-OHDA, as compared with labeling indices observed after treatment with tetragastrin or 6-OHDA alone. These findings indicate that 6-OHDA exerts a protective effect against gastric carcinogenesis and enhances the inhibitory effect of tetragastrin on gastric carcinogenesis. This effect of 6-OHDA may be related to its ability to inhibit cell proliferation of the antral mucosa.

Animals↗

Sex hormone-induced mammary carcinogenesis in the female Noble rats: expression of bcl-2 and bax in hormonal mammary carcinogenesis.

We have established a Noble rat model to explore the mechanisms of hormonal mammary carcinogenesis, in which the role of androgen in promoting mammary carcinogenesis was highlighted. We have also established that stromal-epithelial interactions may be responsible for the promotional effects of testosterone in mammary carcinogenesis. Based on these understandings, in the present study we examined the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in pre-malignant mammary glands from rats treated with different protocols of sex hormones for 7 weeks as well as sex hormone induced mammary tumours. We observed that Bcl-2 was strongly expressed in most of mammary tumour cells, whereas weak or negative in adjacent normal or hyperplastic ductal structures. On the contrary, Bax immunoreactivity was weak in mammary tumour cells while strongly expressed in adjacent normal or hyperplastic ductal structures. More importantly, the results from comparative study of 'pre-malignant' glands further showed that when animals were treated with 17beta-oestradiol, the mammary epithelial cells expressed high levels of Bcl-2. The results from rats treated with testosterone, either alone or in combination with oestrogen, give rise to high levels of Bax expression in 'pre-malignant' mammary glands. These observations indicate that in 'pre-malignant' mammary glands, treatment with testosterone, either alone or in combination with 17beta-oestradiol, may induce high apoptotic activities. However, in fully developed mammary tumours, the apoptotic activities apparently decrease in tumour cells. TUNEL assay provides further data to support this conclusion. Our study, thus, suggests that androgens may play a promoting role in mammary carcinogenesis by upregulation of Bax expression and induction of high apoptotic activities in 'pre-malignant' stage, which would provide a selective pressure favouring the expansion of the initiated cells.

Analysis of Variance↗

Genetics of chemical carcinogenesis--III. Tissue-specificity of the genes controlling susceptibility and resistance to skin carcinogenesis in the mouse.

Carcinogenesis-resistant (Car-R) and carcinogenesis-susceptible (Car-S) mice have been obtained by the method of bi-directional selective breeding. After 10 generations of selection Car-R and Car-S mice show a remarkable difference in their response to chemical carcinogenesis. Car-R and Car-S mice, initiated and promoted by skin application of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) reach a tumour multiplicity of 0.05 and 6.2, respectively, after 49 days of promotion. When benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is topically applied for initiation, followed by TPA promotion, Car-R and Car-S mice maintain a large difference in sensitivity to skin tumour induction. Car-S mice are also more susceptible than Car-R mice to complete carcinogenesis produced by single or repeated applications of DMBA only. On the contrary, when DMBA or B[a]P are administered by subcutaneous injection rather than by topical application, no significant difference in tumour incidence is observed between the two lines. All tumours induced by topical administration of carcinogens on the skin are of epithelial origin, whereas the tumours produced by subcutaneous injection are of connectival origin. These observations suggest a tissue-specific effect of the selected genes, probably restricted at the skin level.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Analysis of c-Ha-ras gene mutations in skin tumors induced in carcinogenesis-susceptible and carcinogenesis-resistant mice by different two-stage protocols or tumor promoter alone.

In the present study we describe the molecular analysis of c-Ha-ras gene mutations in 47 papillomas and 17 carcinomas developed in two lines of mice, carcinogenesis-susceptible (Car-S) and carcinogenesis-resistant (Car-R), selectively bred for extreme susceptibility or resistance to chemical skin carcinogenesis initiated and promoted with different doses of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). This study also presents the analysis of c-Ha-ras gene mutations in 22 papillomas and 22 carcinomas in Car-S mice initiated with DMBA and promoted with benzoyl peroxide (BzPo) and in seven papillomas and one carcinoma from a group of uniniated Car-S mice that received only BzPo treatment. The data showed that a A(182)-->T transversion in the c-Ha-ras gene was present in 100% and 81% of the skin tumors developed in Car-S and Car-R mice, respectively, after DMBA initiation and TPA promotion, suggesting that differences in genetic susceptibility can influence the frequency of c-Ha-ras mutations in the skin tumors produced. The same A(182)-->T mutation with an incidence of 68% was found in papillomas from DMBA-initiated and BzPo-promoted Car-S mice. The difference in the mutation frequency between DMBA/BzPo and DMBA/TPA papillomas suggested that the promotion step contributes to the final mutation pattern. The tumor induction experiment with BzPo alone showed that this compound can induce tumor development in 26% of Car-S mice, and the molecular analysis of the tumors showed a broad mutation spectrum, including mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 of the c-Ha-ras gene. Mol. Carcinog. 30:111-118, 2001.

Animals↗

The effect of hyperthermia on the early- and late-appearing mouse foot reactions and on radiation carcinogenesis: Part II. Effect on radiation carcinogenesis (thermal enhancement and oxygen enhancement).

The effect of hyperthermia on radiation carcinogenesis was investigated in the C3Hf/Sed mouse foot. The foot was irradiated under hypoxic conditions, in air, or under hyperbaric oxygen conditions to evaluate the oxygen effect. Hyperthermia at 43.5 degrees C for 45 min was given by immersing the animal foot into a constant temperature water bath. A malignant tumor in the irradiated foot was first observed congruent to 250 days after irradiation. Tumors developed in the irradiated area until day 850. RCD50, or 50% radiation carcinogenesis dose was the endpoint and was calculated based on the tumor incidence 650 days after irradiation. RCD50 following radiation given alone under hypoxic conditions was 66.3 (60.0-73.2) Gy, and the oxygen enhancement ratio (hypoxic/hyperbaric oxygen) was 3.0 (2.5-3.5). Radiation carcinogenesis was enhanced by hyperthermia given with a 20 min treatment interval with no significant alteration in the oxygen effect. Thermal enhancement was greatest when hyperthermia was given 20 min prior to irradiation (2.5 [2.2-2.9] under hypoxia). No thermal enhancement was observed when two treatments were given with a treatment interval of 2 days. The median time to develop a malignant tumor decreased with increasing radiation dose. This median time was shorter following combined hyperthermia and irradiation (423 days) than following radiation alone (504 days). Histological studies revealed that more than 80% of tumors were soft tissue sarcomas, and the most common tumor was fibrosarcoma. Squamous cell carcinoma was found in 7% of all tumors.

Animals↗

Attenuation by ambroxol of monochloramine-enhanced gastric carcinogenesis: a possible prevention against Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis.

The effects of combined administration of a reactive oxidant, monochloramine, and a mucoregulatory agent, ambroxol, on the development of gastric cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were investigated in inbred Wistar rats. After receiving oral MNNG and regular chow pellets for 25 weeks, rats received regular chow pellets or chow pellets containing 20% ammonium acetate, and normal tap water or water containing 30 mM sodium hypochlorite, with or without subcutaneous injection of ambroxol at high or low doses, until the end of the experiment at week 52. Treatment with both ammonium acetate and sodium hypochlorite, which produce monochloramine, significantly increased the incidence of gastric cancers at week 52, whereas concomitant administration of ambroxol with ammonium acetate and sodium hypochlorite significantly attenuated this enhanced gastric carcinogenesis. Results also revealed that ambroxol scavenged monochloramine. Because monochloramine is closely related to Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis, these findings suggest that ambroxol may prevent H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis.

Ambroxol↗

Improvement of a two-stage carcinogenesis model to detect modifying effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on thyroid carcinogenesis in rats.

In order to improve the sensitivity of our previously established thyroid carcinogenesis model and to clarify whether endocrine disrupting chemicals with weak estrogenic activity have any modifying effects on the development of thyroid proliferative lesions, 6-week-old female castrated F344 rats were first given a single subcutaneous injection of 2000 mg/kg body weight of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine. From 1 week later, they received diets with: no supplement (basal diet (BD) group); cholesterol pellets containing 0.5 mg 17 beta-estradiol 3-benzoate (EB); or diet admixed with 1000 ppm methoxychlor (MXC) or 10,000 ppm bisphenol A (BPA) for 20 weeks. Furthermore, additional groups were administered 200 ppm sulfadimethoxine (SDM) in the drinking water simultaneously with the BD, EB, MXC or BPA treatments. Thyroid follicular cell hyperplasias, adenomas and/or carcinomas were induced only in the EB+SDM group, the incidences of non-malignant lesions being significantly increased, as compared with the BD+SDM group values. Furthermore, the serum level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was significantly increased in this group. No significant variation in quantitative values for thyroid proliferative lesions or TSH levels were observed in the other treated groups. The results of the present study convincingly indicate that EB, with strong estrogenic activity, but not MXC and BPA, with weak estrogenic activities, exerts promoting effects on thyroid carcinogenesis in rats. The present modified rat two-stage thyroid carcinogenesis model appears to have advantages over our previous model for screening purposes.

Adenoma↗

Inversion of genetic predisposition to carcinogenesis in liver of two lines of mice selected for resistance (Car-R) or susceptibility (Car-S) to skin carcinogenesis.

Two lines of mice, one resistant (Car-R) and one susceptible (Car-S) to skin carcinogenesis, were produced by bi-directional selective breeding. To see whether the characteristics of susceptibility or resistance to tumorigenesis were also expressed in the liver and lung, the two lines were submitted comparatively to treatment with 5,9-dimethyl dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (DiMeDBC), a potent hepatocarcinogenic derivative of the ubiquitous heterocyclic carcinogenic pollutant, 7H-dibenzo[c,g]-carbazole (DBC). An inversion of genetic predisposition to carcinogenesis in liver was observed. Car-R animals displayed rapid tumorigenesis in 100% of cases while Car-S mice were remarkably less sensitive, showing a 4-fold lower mean tumor multiplicity and a 4-month longer latency time. In parallel adduct formation by DiMeDBC and DBC in liver DNA was analyzed by the 32P-postlabeling method, showing a remarkably higher level in Car-R mice than in Car-S animals. These data indicate that tissue-specific sensibility in carcinogenesis may involve gene expression at various levels.

Animals↗

Inhibition of two-stage skin carcinogenesis as well as complete skin carcinogenesis by oral administration of TMK688, a potent lipoxygenase inhibitor.

1-([5'-(3''-methoxy-4''-ethoxycarbonyloxyphenyl)-2',4'- pentadienoyl]aminoethyl)-4-diphenylmethoxypiperidine (TMK688) is a potent and orally active 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor having anti-histamine activity in its moiety. Recently, we have found that TMK688 also inhibits epidermal cyclooxygenase activity with a potency similar to its inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase. Oral administration of 30 mg/kg TMK688, a dose which markedly inhibits tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated LTB4 formation in mouse skin, markedly inhibited both TPA-promoted and a non-TPA-type tumor promoter anthralin-promoted skin tumor formation in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-initiated CD-1 mice. The inhibitory effect of TMK688 was not due to any damage inflicted on the initiated cells but due to its antitumor-promoting activity. TMK688 not only inhibited two-stage skin carcinogenesis but also inhibited benzo[a]pyrene-caused complete skin carcinogenesis. Throughout the tumorigenesis experiment, the survival rate of animals was 100% and the TMK688-treated mice looked healthy. The body weight gain of TMK688-treated mice was not significantly different from that of non-treated mice. Both TMK688 and 1-([5'-(3''-methoxy-4''-hydroxyphenyl)-2',4'-pentadienoyl]amino eth yl]-4-diphenylmethoxypiperidine (TMK777), an active metabolite of TMK688 having more potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity and less potent cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity than TMK688, inhibited epidermal 8-lipoxygenase activity induced by a topical application of TPA to mouse skin. The 8-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of TMK777 was approximately 5 times more potent than that of TMK688. Indomethacin, a typical cylcloxygenase inhibitor, in topical doses which almost completely inhibit epidermal PGE2 formation, failed to inhibit or only slightly inhibited DMBA-initiated and TPA-promoted skin tumor formation. These results suggest that the cyclooxygenase inhibitory effect of TMK688 is not essential for its anti-tumor promoting activity. Although at present a possible contribution of anti-histamine activity cannot be ruled out completely, the anti-tumor promoting action of TMK688 may most probably be related to its anti-lipoxygenase activity. TMK688 seems to be a promising agent for the prevention of skin carcinogenesis.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

The genetic control of chemically and radiation-induced skin tumorigenesis: a study with carcinogenesis-susceptible and carcinogenesis-resistant mice.

Outbred carcinogenesis-resistant (Car-R) and carcinogenesis-susceptible (Car-S) mouse lines were generated by phenotypic selection for resistance or susceptibility to two-stage skin carcinogenesis. These two Car mouse lines differ by >100-fold in susceptibility. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that a subset of genetic loci responsible for susceptibility or resistance to chemical skin tumorigenesis may also be involved in radiation-induced skin tumorigenesis. Skin tumorigenesis was tested in groups of Car-S/R mice after X-ray initiation and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) promotion. We found that ionizing radiation can initiate skin tumors in Car-S mice but not in Car-R mice. In Car-S mice, the most effective radiation doses (6 and 10 Gy given in four fractions) gave a threefold increase in tumor multiplicity and a twofold increase in tumor incidence compared to a TPA-only control group. We performed a molecular analysis of Hras gene mutations in skin tumors of Car-S mice induced by X-ray initiation/TPA promotion or by TPA promotion alone. The most notable difference emerging from the comparison of these mutation patterns is the high incidence ( approximately 50%) of papillomas lacking Hras gene mutations in X-ray-initiated/TPA-promoted papillomas compared to 13% in papillomas induced by TPA alone, suggesting that lack of Hras gene mutations is a consistent feature of radiation-induced papillomas.

Animals↗