Induction of hepatocellular carcinoma in rat liver by initial treatment with benzo(a)pyrene after partial hepatectomy and promotion by phenobarbital

Benzo[a]pyrene immunogenetics and immune archetype reprogramming of lung

Overexposure to carcinogenic precursor, benzo[a]pyrene [BaP], modulates the lung immune microenvironment. The present review seeks to elucidate novel pathways behind the tumor effect of BaP in the lungs, emphasizing immunomodulatory mediators and immune cells. In this review, BaP reprograms lung immune microenvironment through modulating transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), Interleukin 12 (IL-12), indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels. Moreover, BaP modulated lung immune cellular architecture such as dendritic cells, T cells, Tregs, macrophages, neutrophils, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). All mentioned changes in immune architecture and mediators lead to the induction of lung cancer.

Benzo[a]pyrene-induced metabolic shift from glycolysis to pentose phosphate pathway in the human bladder cancer cell line RT4

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a well-known polyaromatic hydrocarbon, is known for its lung carcinogenicity, however, its role in bladder cancer development is still discussed. Comparative two-dimensional blue native SDS-PAGE analysis of protein complexes isolated from subcellular fractions of 0.5 µM B[a]P-exposed cells indicated a differential regulation of proteins involved in carbohydrate, fatty acid, and nucleotide metabolism, suggesting a possible metabolic flux redistribution. It appeared that B[a]P exposure led to a repression of enzymes (fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, lactate dehydrogenase) involved in glycolysis, and an up-regulation of proteins (glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconolactonase) catalyzing the pentose phosphate pathway and one carbon metabolism (10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, bifunctional purine biosynthesis protein). Untargeted metabolomics further supported the proteomic data, a lower concentration of glycolytic metabolite was observed as compared to glutamine, xylulose and fatty acids. The analysis of the glutathione and NADPH/NADP⁺ content of the cells revealed a significant increase of these cofactors. Concomitantly, we did not observe any detectable increase in the production of ROS. With the present work, we shed light on an early phase of the metabolic stress response in which the urothelial cells are capable of counteracting oxidative stress by redirecting the metabolic flux from glycolysis to pentose phosphate pathway.

Effects of benzo[a]pyrene exposure on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell angiogenesis, metastasis, and NF-κB signaling

BACKGROUND

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a common environmental and foodborne pollutant. Although the carcinogenicity of high-dose B[a]P has been extensively reported, the effects of long-term B[a]P exposure at lower environmental doses on cancer development are less understood.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the impact of B[a]P on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression at various levels of exposure and identified a potential intervention target.

METHODS

We used a model based on human HCC cells exposed to various concentrations of B[a]P (i.e., 0.01, 1, or 100 nM) for 1 month to examine the effects of B[a]P on cell growth, migration, invasion, and angiogenicity. A bioluminescent murine model was established to assess tumor metastasis in vivo.

RESULTS

Chronic B[a]P exposure did not alter HCC cell growth but promoted cell migration and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. There was an negative association between B[a]P exposure and the survival of tumor-bearing mice. In addition, B[a]P-treated HCC cells recruited vascular endothelial cells and promoted tumor angiogenesis, possibly through elevating vascular endothelial growth factor secretion. Furthermore, the NF-κB pathway may be an adverse outcome pathway associated with the cumulative effects of B[a]P on HCC metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings a) indicate that B[a]P has effects on HCC progression; b) identify a possible adverse outcome pathway; and c) contribute to a better understanding of the adverse effects of chronic exposure of B[a]P to human health.

Decreased levels of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline-DNA adducts in rats treated with beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and freeze-dried aloe

To assess mechanisms of chemoprevention of hepatocarcinogenesis by trans-beta-carotene (beta-C), DL-alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T), and freeze-dried whole leaves of Kidachi aloe (Aloe), formation of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ)-DNA adducts was measured by 32P-post-labeling analysis, and CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 protein levels were analyzed by ELISA. Group 1 rats were fed diet containing 0.02% beta-C, 1.5% alpha-T or 30% Aloe over an 8-day period, while group 2 was given basal diet alone. On day 7, all animals were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH). Twelve hours after PH, they received a single dose of the carcinogenic food pyrolysate IQ (100 mg/kg) intragastrically, to initiate hepatocarcinogenesis. Rats were killed 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after IQ administration. The levels of adducts, expressed as relative adduct labeling values in rats treated with beta-C, alpha-T and Aloe, were decreased as compared with the control group at hour 24 (36 h after PH), with a significant difference in the case of the beta-C group (46.4% of the control value). Similarly, all showed a tendency for decrease at hour 48. Furthermore, the levels of CYP1A2, known to be responsible for activation of IQ, showed a significant reduction at hour 24. It is concluded that beta-C, and possibly also alpha-T and Aloe, have the potential to reduce IQ-DNA adduct formation, presumably as a result of decreased formation of active metabolites. The results may explain, at least in part, the previously observed inhibitory effects of these compounds on induction of preneoplastic hepatocellular lesions.

Chemopreventive effects of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and five naturally occurring antioxidants on initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in the rat

Inhibitory effects of naturally occurring antioxidants on the initiation stage of hepatocarcinogenesis were studied. Group 1 rats were given a diet containing beta-carotene (beta-CT, 0.02%), alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TP, 1.5%), glutathione (GLT, 5%), vanillin (VNL, 1%), quercetin (QCT, 1%) or ellagic acid (ELA, 1%), or 3 doses of diallyl sulfide (DAS, 200 mg/kg, i.g.) over an 8-day period. On day 7, the animals received a single dose of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (IQ, 100 mg/kg, i.g.), 12 h after two-thirds partial hepatectomy for initiation and 2 weeks thereafter, were placed on promotion regimen comprising phenobarbital (0.05% in diet) and a single dose of D-galactosamine (100 mg/kg, i.p.). Groups 2 and 3 were treated as described for Group 1, but without test material or IQ, respectively. Survivors were killed at week 11 and antioxidant influence was assessed by comparing values for preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive (GST-P+) foci between Groups 1 and 2. All lesions larger than 70 microns in diameter consisting of approximately 5 cells in cross section were counted. Numbers of GST-P+ foci/cm2 in Group 1 were: beta-CT, 7.99; alpha-TP, 8.21; GLT, 9.71; DAS, 10.37; VNL, 10.57; QCT, 11.1; ELA, 12.5 (n = 11-15). All, except ELA, showed a significant decrease as compared with the Group 2 value of 14.54 (n = 15). Only beta-CT showed a significant decrease for the area value. This is the first report to show that beta-CT, alpha-TP, GLT, DAS, VNL, QCT exert inhibitory effects on initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis by the food carcinogen IQ, suggesting that these antioxidants might find application as chemopreventive agents. Furthermore, the current protocol proved practical for the assessment of chemopreventive agents within 11 weeks, a relatively short period.

Demonstration of initiation potential of carcinogens by induction of preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase P-form-positive liver cell foci: possible in vivo assay system for environmental carcinogens

In a development trial for an initiation bioassay system, 7 known carcinogens and 1 suspected carcinogen were examined. In experiment 1, group 1 animals were initially subjected to partial hepatectomy (PH) 12 h before administration of diethylnitrosamine, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ), captafol, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane or diethylstilbestrol (DES), then 2 weeks later underwent a promotion procedure comprising administration of phenobarbital (0.05% in diet) for 8 weeks and D-galactosamine (300 mg/kg, i.g.) at week 3. Group 2 received the promotion protocol alone as in group 1. Initiating potential was assayed on the basis of significant increase in values of preneoplastic placental form glutathione S-transferase-positive (GST-P+) foci of more than 3 cells in cross section at week 10. Numbers and areas of GST-P+ foci in group 1 given IQ, captafol and DES were significantly increased as compared to group 2, confirming the validity of the protocol as an initiation assay. In Experiment 2, group 1 rats were subjected to PH and 12 h later received a suspected carcinogenic mixture of opium pyrolysate (OP) or carcinogenic pesticide p,p'-dichloro-diphenyltrichloroethane or hexachlorobenzene. Application of a modified promotion procedure comprising cholic acid (0.15%) and carbon tetrachloride (1 ml/kg, i.g.) revealed significant initiation potential for OP. Overall the results indicate that the current protocols may be useful for detection of the initiation potential of carcinogens irrespective of their mutagenicity.

Quantitative comparison of initiation and mutation phenotypes in hepatocytes of the analbuminemic rat

The potential relationship between mutagenesis and carcinogenesis has been examined in the Nagase analbuminemic rat treated with a single dose of benzo[a]pyrene, an incomplete liver carcinogen. The apparent mutation rate at the albumin locus was calculated by determining the number of hepatocytes expressing a cross-reactive product of albumin in analbuminemic rats treated with benzo[a]pyrene. The rate of initiation, the first stage in carcinogenesis, was determined by assessing the number of hepatocytes expressing the placental isozyme of glutathione S-transferase (PGST) after administration of benzo[a]pyrene. Since the expression of PGST may represent hepatocellular changes independent of initiation, promotion with phenobarbital was employed to clonally expand those putatively initiated hepatocytes expressing PGST. With immunohistochemical measures to assess changes in albumin expression, a threefold increase in the number of hepatocytes expressing albumin was detected after administration of benzo[a]pyrene in Nagase analbuminemic rats. A more than five-fold increase in altered hepatic foci (AHF) exhibiting increased PGST expression was observed in animals given benzo[a]pyrene treatment followed by phenobarbital, compared with those given benzo[a]pyrene alone. The number of albumin-expressing single hepatocytes detected was of the same order of magnitude as the number of individual hepatocytes and AHF expressing PGST, suggesting that similar events may be involved in their formation. Since 3 x 10(6) single hepatocytes expressing albumin were found in the analbuminemic rat liver after a single administration of benzo[a]pyrene, while less than 2 x 10(4) AHF expressing PGST were observed, formation of individual hepatocytes expressing albumin was a far more frequent event than clonal expansion of initiated hepatocytes in the Nagase analbuminemic rat. However, the number of loci of PGST expression including AHF and single hepatocytes is comparable to that of single hepatocytes expressing albumin.

Age-dependent induction of preneoplastic liver cell foci by 2-acetylaminofluorene, phenobarbital and acetaminophen in F344 rats initially treated with diethylnitrosamine

Effects of age on the induction of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive hepatic foci in rats were examined using a medium-term liver bioassay system (for carcinogens). F344 male rats aged 6, 26 and 46 weeks were initially given a single intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 200 mg/kg) and, beginning 2 weeks later, received 0.02% 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) or 1.3% acetaminophen (AAP) in the diet for 6 weeks. All animals were subjected to two-thirds hepatectomy 3 weeks after the DEN injection and were killed at week 8. Quantitative analysis of GST-P-positive foci revealed significantly (P less than 0.001) increased induction over control levels in terms of both numbers and areas for 2-AAF at all ages (6, 26 and 46 weeks), but especially in the 6-week-old case. In the PB- and AAP-treated groups, the respective enhancing and inhibitory influences were most pronounced in the animals aged 6 weeks, and were less marked in older rats. Thus, the response of F344 rats to the modifying effects of chemicals was age-dependent, the conclusion being drawn that young rats are more susceptible and therefore more appropriate for assessment of carcinogenic, promoting and inhibitory effects of chemicals.

Dose response study of N-nitrosodiethanolamine initiation of rat hepatocarcinogenesis

Initiating activity of N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) for rat liver carcinogenesis was investigated using an 8-weeks bioassay system. Male F344 rats were initially treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of NDELA at one of five dose levels: 1,600, 800, 400, 200, or 100 mg/kg. Two weeks later, the rats were placed on 0.02% 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) or 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) containing diet for 6 weeks. All animals were subjected to 2/3 partial hepatectomy 4 weeks after the NDELA treatment, and killed at the end of the eighth week. NDELA itself exerted low toxicity in terms of body weight gain. Clear dose-dependent initiating activity of NDELA was observed in terms of development of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive liver cell foci, this being more apparent with PB promotion than with 2-AAF where the enhancing regimen itself caused multiple lesion development. Initiating potential of NDELA, however, was much lower than that observed for diethylnitrosamine in our previous work.

Absence of H-ras point mutation at codon 12 in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced hepatocellular neoplasms in the rat

In order to assess the possibility that activated ras-associated hepatic carcinomas might be much rarer in rats than mice because of the more frequent or rapid occurrence of powerful carcinogenic event(s) other than ras point mutations in the former animals, precancerous lesions and hepatocellular carcinomas induced by a weak hepatocarcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in the rat liver were analyzed for the presence or absence of ras point mutations. MNU was chosen because it is well known that MNU-induced rat mammary carcinomas contain activated H-ras at very high frequency. Male Fisher rats were treated with a single dose of MNU after partial hepatectomy, and then administered dietary phenobarbital or repeated s.c. injections of carbon tetrachloride as promoting procedures. Analyses by oligonucleotide hybridization, MnlI-restriction-fragment-length polymorphism and NIH3T3 cell transfection assays revealed neither H-ras point mutations nor transforming ability of the DNA from 36 MNU-induced rat hepatic neoplasms. The results were in agreement with previous results for rat hepatocellular carcinomas induced by other potent liver carcinogens and did not support our hypothesis that the frequency of finding ras activation might be dependent on the strength of the carcinogen.

Synergistic effects of low-dose hepatocarcinogens in induction of glutathione S-transferase P-positive foci in the rat liver

The effects of combined administration of hepatocarcinogens at low doses on the development of glutathione S-transferase P-form (GST-P)-positive foci of rat liver were examined utilizing a bioassay model which consists of a single injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 200 mg/kg, ip), two-thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3 and a 6-week administration of test compounds. The chemicals used, 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB), phenobarbital (PB), thioacetamide (TAA), N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), carbazole, and alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) were incorporated in the diet, except for EHEN which was dissolved in the drinking water, at levels of 1/6 of the doses usually used. The combinations were: I) 2-AAF, 3'-Me-DAB, PB, TAA, EHEN and B[a]P, II) 2-AAF, 3'-Me-DAB and PB, III) TAA, EHEN and B[a]P, IV) 2-AAF, 3'-Me-DAB, carbazole, TAA, EHEN and alpha-HCH, V) 2-AAF, 3'-Me-DAB and carbazole, and VI) TAA, EHEN and alpha-HCH. All combinations, except for II, caused an increase in the area of the foci as evaluated by the ratios of areas in the combined administration groups to the sum totals of 3 or 6 individual data: I) 1.75, II) 0.81, III) 2.01, IV) 3.62, V) 1.34 and VI) 2.91. The non-synergistic effect in combination II might be related to PB induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes leading to enhanced enzymatical detoxification of 2-AAF and 3'-Me-DAB. The present results indicate that exposure to several chemicals of similar organotropism, even at doses lower than the apparent carcinogenic levels, might be critical to the carcinogenic process.

Rapid bioassay methods for carcinogens and modifiers of hepatocarcinogenesis

It is very important to detect environmental carcinogens in a short period. For this purpose, a rapid bioassay system based on two-step hepatocarcinogenesis has been developed in our laboratory. Rats were initially given a single dose (200 mg/kg) of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) i.p. and, starting 2 weeks later, were treated with test compounds for 6 weeks and then sacrificed, all rats being subjected to a two thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3. Carcinogenic potential was scored by comparing the glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci in the liver with those of the corresponding control. More than 90% of hepatocarcinogens showed positivity, and none of the compounds reported as noncarcinogenic demonstrated positivity. Furthermore, this system also detected inhibitory effects. In order to detect nonhepatocarcinogens, other appropriate systems also have been developed, for example, using methylnitrosourea or other multispectrum carcinogens. These rapid bioassay systems are particularly useful for the screening of environmental carcinogens.

Dose-dependent induction of liver and thyroid neoplastic lesions by short-term administration of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline combined with partial hepatectomy followed by phenobarbital or low dose 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene promotion

Dietary administration of 0.1, 0.05, or 0.025% 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) for two weeks combined with partial hepatectomy at the end of the first week and followed by long-term treatment with phenobarbital (PB) or 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) from week 3 to week 86 resulted in dose-dependent development of liver and thyroid neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions. Quantitation of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive hepatocellular focal populations revealed a significant correlation of IQ concentration with lesion area, with a yield approximately equal to that generated by a similar dose of 2-acetylaminofluorene. The fact that IQ was less toxic therefore allowed greater yields of hepatocellular carcinomas to be induced. The development of thyroid tumors initiated by the IQ treatment was significantly enhanced by the administration of PB, whereas Zymbal gland tumors induced by IQ did not show any correlation with either PB or 3'-Me-DAB treatment.

Dietary effects on initiation and promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis in rat

Female F344/N rats were initiated with DEN (10 mg/kg) 24 h after a 70% partial hepatectomy. Groups of 10 rats were fed (a) AIN, group-1; (b) PD, group-2; or (c) NIH, group-3, for 1 week after initiation and were then fed NIH plus the promoting agent PB at a level of 0.05% in the diets for 6 months. Other groups were fed NIH for 1 week after initiation and then NIH without PB (group-4), AIN + PB (group-5), AIN without PB (group-6), PD + PB (group-7), or PD without PB (group-8) for 6 months. The numbers and volume percentages of AHF were quantified by stereologic methods from frozen serial sections, stained consecutively for GGT, ATPase, and G6Pase. For the groups fed different diets during the 1st week after initiation, the numbers and volume of AHF were significantly greater in group-2 than in groups 1 or 3. The numbers of AHF were significantly less in group-3 than in group-1. The numbers and volume of AHF were significantly greater in groups fed PB during the promotion phase, except in the case of group-7, whose focal volume did not differ from groups 6 or 8. Group-3 had significantly greater numbers of AHF than groups 5 and 7. These findings can be explained by the hypothesis that the NIH diet contained factors that acted synergistically with PB to enhance tumor promotion. The mean focal volume of both GGT positive and ATPase negative foci was significantly greater in group-5 than in all other groups; this indicates that the AIN + PB regimen selectively promoted the growth of a subpopulation of AHF. These findings show that alterations in the composition of diets fed during hepatocarcinogenesis significantly alter the effects of specific chemical agents acting during the stages of initiation and promotion in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Modification of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea initiated carcinogenesis in the rat by subsequent treatment with antioxidants, phenobarbital and ethinyl estradiol

The modifying effects of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), sodium L-ascorbate (SA), phenobarbital (PB) and ethinyl estradiol (EE) were studied by their administration to F344 rats subsequent to initiation with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), a wide-spectrum carcinogen inducing tumors in many organs. Rats were initially given 4 doses of MNU (50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally within a 2-week period and then placed on a diet containing BHA (1%), SA (5%), PB (0.05%) or EE (0.001%) for 23 weeks prior to killing. Since the experiment was based on a whole body concept of carcinogenesis, all major organs were examined histologically and histochemically for any preneoplastic lesions. BHA enhanced forestomach and urinary bladder carcinogenesis as did SA also for the urinary bladder, whereas PB enhanced the induction of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase positive (gamma-GT+) foci in the liver and also the incidence of thyroid carcinoma and forestomach carcinoma. In contrast, EE inhibited the induction of thyroid tumors, malignant lymphoma or leukemia. Thus these compounds, when given after initiation of many organs by a single carcinogen, exert an influence on the site of tumor development by, as yet unknown, organotropic modifying effects.

The role of superoxide dismutase and gene amplification in carcinogenesis

Chemical carcinogenesis is hypothesized to involve manganese superoxide dismutase and gene amplification. Initiation is hypothesized to be caused by destruction of the DNA that enables the cell to induce manganese superoxide dismutase. Tumor promotion then causes amplification of the manganese superoxide dismutase gene and the cell proliferation gene (oncogene) because of selective pressure exerted by the promoter. Because the promoter causes cell division and chromosomal rearrangements, unequal segregation of the amplified genes results. Because cells which have high amounts of the cell proliferation gene and low amounts of the manganese superoxide dismutase gene grow faster, these cells become dominant and a tumor forms.

Induction of DNA repair in human and rat hepatocytes by 1,6-dinitropyrene

1,6-Dinitropyrene (DNP) was found to be an extremely potent genotoxicant in metabolically competent primary cultures of human and rat hepatocytes. Dose-dependent increases in DNA repair as measured by unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) were observed in the range from 0.05 to 5 microM 1,6-DNP for both species, indicating that the rat-hepatocyte assay is an appropriate model for assessing genotoxic potential in human hepatocytes for this class of compound. Unlike some nitroaromatic compounds, 1,6-DNP did not require gut flora for metabolic activation. No DNA repair was observed in hepatocytes isolated from rats treated with 50 mg/kg 1,6-DNP in corn oil by gavage 2, 12 or 24 h previously. The reason for the lack of a response in vivo is not known, but may relate to detoxification or distribution of the compound in the animal.

The unique role of rodents in the detection of possible human carcinogens and mutagens

Some of the probable reasons underlying the observation that not all chemicals shown to be genotoxic in vitro are capable of eliciting tumours in rodents or humans are discussed using appropriate examples. It is suggested that a substantial proportion of the resources currently available for conducting rodent carcinogenicity bioassays should be employed in the short-term evaluation in vivo of some of the many hundreds of chemicals recently defined as genotoxic in vitro, rather than in the protracted evaluation of a few chemicals, often of unknown activity in vitro, for carcinogenicity. A decision tree approach to the evaluation of chemicals for human mutagenic/carcinogenic potential is presented which is at variance with the construction and philosophy of many of the current legislative guidelines. The immediate need for the adoption of one of the available short-term in vivo liver assays, and/or the development of a short-term in vivo rodent assay capable of concomitantly monitoring different genetic end-points in a range of organs or tissues is emphasized.

Route-dependent, organ-specific effects of carcinogens on induction of hyperplastic liver nodules in rats

The inductions of hyperplastic liver nodules (HN) by four carcinogens were examined by their administration continuously and repeatedly by intragastric (i.g.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intravenous (i.v.) and/or subcutaneous (s.c.) injections before (initiation stage) or after (promotion stage) exposure to N-2-fluorenylacetamide (2-FAA) in male F344 rats. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a water-soluble hepatocarcinogen, and 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminobenzene (3'-Me-DAB), a water-insoluble hepatocarcinogen, markedly increased development of HN when administered by any route in both stages. However, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), a water-soluble non-hepatocarcinogen, and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a water-insoluble non-hepatocarcinogen, increased HN slightly by all or some of the routes of application only in the initiation stage. The influence of the administration route was more evident with water-insoluble compounds in the promotion stage and with non-hepatocarcinogens in the initiation stage.

The natural history of neoplastic development: the relation of experimental models to human cancer

The natural history of the development of neoplasia in experimental systems may be separated into at least three different stages, those of initiation, promotion and progression. Evidence for such distinct stages has been demonstrated in at least half a dozen different experimental systems. The stage of promotion is that stage most easily modulated. The actions of promoting agents are reversible and only effective above certain threshold levels of the promoting agent. This is in contrast to the stage of initiation, which can be induced at any dose of the carcinogenic agent in an irreversible manner. Agents exhibiting both initiating and promoting activities are termed complete carcinogens while incomplete carcinogens are those capable only of initiation. Promoting agents do not initiate but may promote cells initiated by ambient environmental means, giving the appearance of complete carcinogens in standard bioassay procedures. The stages of initiation and promotion have been extensively studied in skin and liver carcinogenesis and show almost identical characteristics. A variety of promoting agents in the human environment have been demonstrated both by experimental and epidemiologic methodologies. The importance of an understanding of tumor promotion in relation to the prevention of human cancer is emphasized.