Direct mutagenesis of Ha-ras-1 oncogenes by N-nitroso-N-methylurea during initiation of mammary carcinogenesis in rats

Induction of mammary carcinomas in rats by a single exposure to a carcinogen during sexual development often involves malignant activation of the Ha-ras-1 locus. Each of the Ha-ras-1 oncogenes present in tumours induced by N-nitroso-N-methylurea, but not in those induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, became activated by the same G----A transition, the type of mutation induced by N-nitroso-N-methylurea. These results are consistent with the notion that Ha-ras-1 oncogenes are directly activated by the carcinogen during initiation of neoplasia.

Induction of mammary carcinomas in rats by nitroso-methylurea involves malignant activation of H-ras-1 locus by single point mutations

Each of nine mammary carcinomas induced by a single injection of nitroso-methylurea into 50-day-old Buf/N female rats, contained a transforming H-ras-1 gene. Molecular characterization of one of the genes revealed that the twelfth codon was GAA instead of GGA of the normal allele, encoding glutamic acid in place of glycine. These results indicate that chemical carcinogenesis represents an adequate model to study the role of transforming ras genes in human neoplasia.

Final report of the French multicenter phase II study of the nitrosourea fotemustine in 153 evaluable patients with disseminated malignant melanoma including patients with cerebral metastases

One hundred sixty-nine patients with histologic evidence of disseminated malignant melanoma, including patients with cerebral metastases, were entered into a Phase II study of the nitrosourea fotemustine. The treatment regimen consisted of a 100 mg/m2 1 hour IV infusion every week for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by a 4- to 5-week rest period (induction therapy). In responding or stabilized patients, maintenance therapy consisted of 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks until the disease progressed. One hundred fifty-three patients were evaluable for response. Three complete responses and 34 partial responses were observed (according to the World Health Organization criteria), leading to an objective response rate of 24.2% (95% confidence interval: 17.4% to 31.0%). Responses were also documented on cerebral (25.0%), visceral (19.2%), or nonvisceral (31.8%) metastatic sites. The median duration of response was 22 weeks (range, 7 to 80 weeks). The objective response rate in previously untreated patients was 30.7% (19 of 62 patients). The main toxicity was hematologic with delayed and reversible leukopenia and/or thrombopenia. The objective response rate observed (especially in untreated patients), the activity on cerebral metastases, and the small amount of extra-hematologic toxicity encountered suggest that fotemustine is an effective drug in disseminated malignant melanoma.

The enhancement of cytotoxicity of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and of gamma-radiation by inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase

Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase show a synergistic potentiation of cytotoxicity with certain DNA-damaging agents. Non-toxic concentrations of 5-methylnicotinamide dramatically potentiate the cytotoxicity of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea as tested by the cloning ability of mouse leukaemia (L1210) cells. A dose-enhancement factor of about 10 is observed. This potentiation is dependent on the concentration of 5-methylnicotinamide. The methylxanthines theobromine, theophylline and caffeine also increase the cytotoxicity of methylnitrosourea. Thymidine, in the presence of sufficient deoxycytidine to overcome the perturbation of deoxynucleotide metabolism, also potentiates the cytotoxicity of methylnitrosourea. Nicotinate, which is not an inhibitor of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase, has no effect on methylnitrosourea toxicity. A very small, but consistent, enhancement of the toxicity of gamma-radiation by the same inhibitors has been observed. We suggest that this potentiation of cytotoxicity is mediated by inhibition of (ADP-ribose)n biosynthesis; and that the biosynthesis is stimulated by DNA damage. We therefore propose that (ADP-ribose)n takes part in cellular repair mechanisms, either by modifying chromatin structure or by a specific participation in DNA repair.

Induction of liver cell adenomata in the rat by a single treatment with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea given at various times after partial hepatectomy

A single treatment of adult animals with the potent carcinogen NMU was known to induce tumours in a wide variety of organs, with the notable exception of liver. Administration of NMU after partial hepatectomy gave rise to the first liver cell adenomata ever observed in rats due to this carcinogen. The tumours were induced when NMU was given during the period of increased DNA synthesis but not when given early in the pre-replicative period. Although tumours were induced in other organs, the incidence of these did not correlate with the timing of NMU administration. It is suggested that replication of damaged DNA may be a relevant event in carcinogenesis.

Cytotoxic effects of streptozotocin and N-nitrosomethylurea on the pancreatic B cells with special regard to the role of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide

The effects on the pancreatic B cell of streptozotocin and its aglucone derivative N-nitrosomethylurea were investigated in obese-hyperglycaemic mice and their lean littermates. Both streptozotocin and N-nitrosomethylurea were found to be B-cytotoxic although N-nitrosomethylurea produced less islet damage. Both substances decreased the concentrations of NAD(+) in the islet cells to about 10% of the control values within 2h after injection. This NAD(+) depletion was prevented by injection of nicotinamide 10min after the administration of streptozotocin or N-nitrosomethylurea. In islets taken from animals 10min after injection of streptozotocin or N-nitrosomethylurea there was no stimulatory effect of glucose on the respiration or insulin release and the oxidation of glucose was markedly decreased. Addition of nicotinamide (10mm) to the incubated islets restored glucose stimulation of both the oxygen consumption and insulin release. It is concluded that islet NAD(+) depletion is probably important for the B-cytotoxin action of N-nitrosomethylurea and streptozotocin. The glucose residue in the streptozotocin molecule may potentiate the B-cytotoxic action of this drug in mice.

Chloroethyl-cyclohexyl-nitrosourea (CCNU) in the treatment of malignant brain tumors

✓ Oral 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU), a lipid-soluble non-ionized chemotherapeutic agent, was used in the treatment of 26 patients with malignant brain tumor, primarily glioblastoma. Most patients had first received conventional surgery, and about one half had received x-ray therapy. Over 1½ years, 113 courses of CCNU (130–150 mg/m2) were given and analyzed for clinical results and agent toxicity. A new central nervous system (CNS) disease staging system was used to measure patient impairment and therapeutic response. Thirty-seven per cent of all symptomatic patients had significant remission of clinical disease, lasting a median of 5 months. Data are presented implying that the treatment of asymptomatic patients may also be of considerable value. The most significant toxicity was delayed reversible thrombocytopenia, which was less severe than that seen with nitrosourea BCNU. Despite the cumulative toxicity observed with all three bone-marrow elements, serious complications were rare. Our initial experience indicates that CCNU is an effective agent for the treatment of malignant brain tumor and that the CNS disease staging system is useful in obtaining quantitative results.

Characterization of the purine ring-opened 7-methylguanine and its persistence in rat bladder epithelial DNA after treatment with the carcinogen N-methylnitrosourea

Purine ring-opened 7-methylguanine, prepared in vitro by alkaline treatment of 7-methylguanosine or of methylated calf thymus DNA, was extensively characterized by chromatographic and spectral techniques as N5-methyl-N5-formyl-2,5,6-triamino-4-hydroxypyrimidine. This modified base chromatographed as an early-eluting peak on an ion-exchange column but separated into two interconvertible components after reversed-phase or porous-resin h.p.l.c. The two components were analyzed by thermal desorption mass spectrometry and 500 MHz 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Their mass spectra were identical (M+ at m/z 183) and their n.m.r. spectra each exhibited the same two sets of resonances whose relative intensities were solvent-dependent. Analysis by h.p.l.c. showed interconversion of the two components and kinetic studies demonstrated that this reaction was a reversible first-order process. At equilibrium, k1 = k2 = 0.334 h-1 and delta G = 22.9 kcal/mol. These data indicated that the ring-opened 7-methylguanine exists as cis/trans isomers with restricted rotation about the amide bond. Treatment of rats with an intraurethral initiating dose of the carcinogen N-methylnitrosourea resulted in a high level of bladder epithelial DNA modification with 7-methylguanine, O6-methylguanine, and methyl phosphotriesters as major adducts at 2 h after instillation. Purine ring-opened 7-methylguanine, chromatographically identical to the in vitro products, was initially a minor adduct. However, it was the only persistent modification in the bladder epithelial DNA and eventually accounted for 72% of the total carcinogen binding after 21 days. A tumor-promoting regimen, involving dietary sodium saccharin, did not alter the repair or persistence of any of the methylated adducts. These data demonstrate that purine ring-opened 7-methylguanine, previously reported to exist in liver DNA after N,N-dimethylnitrosamine or 1,2-dimethylhydrazine treatment, is present in a carcinogen-target tissue and is considerably more persistent than O6-methylguanine or other DNA methylation products. The possible role of this adduct as a promutagenic lesion initiating urinary bladder carcinogenesis is discussed.

Rationale for the synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of highly active new antitumor nitrosoureido sugars

Various new nitrosoureido derivatives of di- or trideoxy sugars were synthesized. The influence of the hydroxyl substitution pattern, the configuration at the anomeric center, and the absolute configuration of the sugar moiety on the antitumor activity of a series of nitrosoureido derivatives of di- and trideoxy sugars was studied. All compounds showed a very significant activity in vivo against L1210 leukemia, B16 melanocarcinoma, and Lewis lung carcinoma. Methyl 3-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-2,3-dideoxy-alpha-D-arabino- hexopyranoside, 24 (NSC 609224), was found to be the most active compound. When treated with 24 (NSC 609224) at 20 mg/kg on day 1, at least 90% of the L1210 leukemia and B16 melanocarcinoma bearing mice showed a survival of over 60 days for a LD50 value for this compound of 42 mg/kg.

Microvascular abnormalities in ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced rat brain tumors: structural basis for altered blood-brain barrier function

The fine structure, histometric characteristics, and permeability of microvessels were studied by electron microscopy in normal and in ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced glioma tissue from rats, using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a tracer. The tumor vessels were classified into (1) capillary buds (Type I); (2) round small to large capillaries (Type II); (3) sinusoidal or venule-like microvessels (Type III), and (4) abnormal arteriole-like microvessels (Type IV). All endothelial cells, basement membranes and periendothelial cells in the tumor tissue demonstrated changes in structure. The most striking alterations occurred in the endothelial cells; there were abnormal endothelial tight junctions, altered pinocytotic activity, and thickening. In the tracer study, the reaction product of HRP was present around some sinusoidal or venule-like microvessels (Type III) and extended to the widened extracellular spaces around the microvessels. The endothelial cells of Type III microvessels showed decreased nuclear and mitochondrial fractions, and increased euchromatin content and a rough endoplasmic reticulum fraction. The pinocytotic vesicles with the HRP reaction product in the endothelial cells were not increased in number. Fenestrations and gaps of the endothelial cells were observed. These alterations of the endothelial cells of sinusoidal or venule-like microvessels (Type III) are considered to be the main cause of breakdown of the blood-brain barrier in this tumor.

Expression of DNA repair proteins hMSH2, hMSH6, hMLH1, O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase and N-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase in melanoma cells with acquired drug resistance

Malignant melanoma is well known for its primary unresponsiveness to chemotherapy. The mechanisms conferring this intrinsic resistance are unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of genes involved in DNA repair in a panel of human melanoma cell variants exhibiting low and high levels of resistance to 4 commonly used drugs in melanoma treatment, i.e., vindesine, etoposide, fotemustine and cisplatin. We show that in melanoma cells exhibiting resistance to cisplatin, etoposide and vindesine, the nuclear content of each of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins hMLH1, hMSH2 and hMSH6 was reduced by 30-70%. A decreased expression level of up to 80% of mRNAs encoding hMLH1 and hMSH2 was observed in drug-resistant melanoma cells selected for cisplatin, etoposide and fotemustine, while vindesine-selected cells showed only moderate reduction. In melanoma cells that acquired resistance to fotemustine, the amount of nuclear MMR proteins was nearly unaltered, whereas the activity of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) was considerably enhanced. Activity of N-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (MPG) was not significantly altered in any of the drug-resistant melanoma cells. Our data indicate that modulation of both MMR components and MGMT expression level may contribute to the drug-resistant phenotype of melanoma cells.

Mechanism of action of fotemustine, a new chloroethylnitrosourea anticancer agent: evidence for the formation of two DNA-reactive intermediates contributing to cytotoxicity

Methyl excision repair deficient human tumor cells (Mer-) were found to be hypersusceptible to killing by the antimelanoma agent fotemustine (FM) implicating alkylation of O6 guanine as the major contributor to toxicity. Preincubation of the drug in aqueous solution for 5 min resulted in an immediate reduction in cytotoxicity (35-50%), in vitro DNA alkylation (31%), and DNA interstrand cross-linking (40%) followed by a second reaction with considerably slower kinetics. Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) showed that in aqueous solution FM rearranged rapidly to form either a metastable tautomer or decomposed to form a highly reactive diazohydroxide (t1/2 < 2 min). These results suggest the presence of two DNA-reactive species relevant to biological activity. Coincubation of ellagic acid (an inhibitor of O6-guanine alkylation) with FM inhibited in vitro ISC, suggesting that the O6-chloroethyl lesion is the predominant cause of the cross-link. On the basis of these findings, we propose that FM breaks down to form a short-lived intermediate, 2-chloroethyldiazohydroxide, which rapidly generates O6-guanine lesions responsible for the drug's initial activity and a long lived iminol tautomer responsible for the remaining O6 guanine alkylation and cytotoxicity.

Target organ and time-course in the mutagenicity of five carcinogens in MutaMouse: a summary report of the second collaborative study of the transgenic mouse mutation assay by JEMS/MMS

We studied five carcinogens for (a) organ-specific mutagenicity and expression time in the transgenic (TG) mouse mutation assay and (b) clastogenicity in the peripheral blood micronucleus assay in the same mice. Groups of mice were injected intraperitoneally (ip) with N-nitroso-di-n-propylamine (NDPA), propylnitrosourea (PNU), 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), or procarbazine (PCZ); 4NQO was also administered orally. LacZ mutant frequencies (MF) of various organs, sampled 7, 14 and 28 days after treatment, were analyzed by galE positive selection. At least 5 organs were analyzed in each experiment. Bone marrow, liver, and testis were always analyzed, as were each chemical's target organs. All chemicals, except NDPA, induced micronuclei. All chemicals increased lacZ MF in all of their target organs for carcinogenesis and, to a lesser extent, in some non-target organs. That suggests that an organ that has a positive response to a chemical in the TG mouse mutation assay is likely to develop tumors on exposure to that chemical, but it does not always happen. The time-course of MF increases (7-28 days) differed among tissues. In general, time-dependent increase in MF occurred in organs with a low cell proliferation rate whereas no increase, or even a decrease, occurred in organs with a high proliferation rate. Our results demonstrated that the TG mouse mutation assay is effective for the detection of chemical mutagenesis in the target organs for carcinogenesis, and organ and time-course variations in chemical mutagenesis are important issues for the establishment of an optimal protocol for the assay.

Transfection of murine multi-potent haemopoietic stem cells with an E. coli DNA alkyltransferase gene confers resistance to the toxic effects of alkylating agents

O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (ATase)-deficient murine haemopoietic stem cells were transfected, following electroporation, with a G418-selectable expression vector containing the protein coding region of the Escherichia coli ATase gene ada. Clones of cells that were resistant to G418 or the chloroethylating agent mitozolomide (Mz) were selected and most were shown to express very high levels of bacterial gene-encoded ATase. In comparison with control cells that were transfected with the parent vector, the ATase-expressing clones were considerably more resistant to the toxic effects of the methylating agents N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and methylmethanesulphonate or the chloroethylating agents Mz or taurine chloroethylnitrosourea, but unchanged in their susceptibility to the bis-chloroethylating agent nitrogen mustard. Thus alkylation damage in DNA that can be repaired by the E. coli ATase constitutes the principal lethal lesion produced by alkylating agents in murine haemopoietic stem cells and the ATase deficiency in these cells can be complemented by electroporation-mediated gene transfection.

Regional blood flow in ethylnitrosourea-induced brain tumors

Regional blood flow was measured in experimental brain tumors using iodoantipyrine labeled with carbon 14 and quantitative autoradiography. A total of fifteen oligodendrogliomas, sixteen mixed gliomas, one astrocytoma, one ependymoma, and three malignant schwannomas were studied in 9 rats. The mean tumor blood flows for all glioma classifications were similar, averaging 45 +/- 3 (standard error of the mean) ml . hg-1 . min-1. Flow was fairly uniform within individual oligodendrogliomas and there was no apparent correlation between blood flow and tumor size or location. The mixed gliomas were larger than the oligodendrogliomas and had a wider range of blood flow. Small focal areas of necrosis were observed in 7 mixed gliomas, and low flows were usually measured in these regions; these flows were not always the lowest regional values measured within the mixed gliomas or total group of tumors, however. Small tumor regions with increased vascularity, frequently with endothelial cell proliferation, were observed in oligodendrogliomas and to a greater extent in mixed gliomas; these regions were correlated with small elevations in blood flow (10 to 15 ml . hg-1 . min-1) in comparison with surrounding tumor tissue. Brain adjacent to tumor usually had higher blood flows than that in tumor periphery. Hemispheric differences in blood flow related to the site of primary tumor growth were not observed.

(2-Chloroethyl)nitrosourea congeners of amino acid amides

Fourteen (2-chloroethyl)nitrosourea congeners of L-amino acid amides have been synthesized as potential antineoplastic agents. Almost all the congeners tested were found to be highly active against experimental leukemia L1210 in mice. The chemical decomposition rates of the congeners were measured in a buffered solution (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C. Acute toxicities of some of the congeners were determined for mice. The congener of sarcosinamide shows the longest half-life (T0.5 = 329.7 min) and the lowest toxicity, LD50 = 392.0 mg/kg (ip) and 426.6 mg/kg (iv), in this series.

Regional blood-to-tissue transport in ethylnitrosourea-induced brain tumors

Regional blood-to-tissue transport, expressed as a unidirectional transfer rate constant (K), was measured in experimental brain tumors using alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) labeled with carbon 14 and quantitative autoradiography. A total of sixteen oligodendrogliomas, four mixed gliomas, three astrocytomas, two diffuse gliomatosis, one anaplastic astrocytoma, one ependymoma and four malignant schwannomas were studied in 9 rats. The mean Ks for all glioma classifications were similar, averaging 2.6 +/- 0.4 (standard error of the mean) ml . kg-1 . min-1, and were only slightly higher than those for nontumorous parietal cortex (2.1 ml . kg-1 . min-1), corpus callosum (0.9 ml . kg-1 . min-1), and a comparable region of brain tissue in the contralateral hemisphere (1.3 ml . kg-1 . min-1). Values of K varied minimally in the intracerebral gliomas and were marginally correlated with tumor cell morphology in only two tumors. In some (but not all) of the larger gliomas, increased vascularity, with or without endothelial proliferation, was associated with a 3- to 15-fold increase in K. Regional K values in malignant schwannomas were highly variable (4 to 207 ml . kg-1 . min-1) and generally were not correlated with specific histological features of the tumor, except in some regions with increased vascularity. Estimates of the average fractional extraction of AIB by the intracranial gliomas and malignant schwannomas were 0.01 and 0.2, respectively; average fractional extractions for nontumorous brain were approximately 0.003.

Structure and assembly of the diiron cofactor in the heme-oxygenase-like domain of the N-nitrosourea-producing enzyme SznF

In biosynthesis of the pancreatic cancer drug streptozotocin, the tridomain nonheme-iron oxygenase SznF hydroxylates Nδ and Nω' of Nω-methyl-l-arginine before oxidatively rearranging the triply modified guanidine to the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea pharmacophore. A previously published structure visualized the monoiron cofactor in the enzyme's C-terminal cupin domain, which promotes the final rearrangement, but exhibited disorder and minimal metal occupancy in the site of the proposed diiron cofactor in the N-hydroxylating heme-oxygenase-like (HO-like) central domain. We leveraged our recent observation that the N-oxygenating µ-peroxodiiron(III/III) intermediate can form in the HO-like domain after the apo protein self-assembles its diiron(II/II) cofactor to solve structures of SznF with both of its iron cofactors bound. These structures of a biochemically validated member of the emerging heme-oxygenase-like diiron oxidase and oxygenase (HDO) superfamily with intact diiron cofactor reveal both the large-scale conformational change required to assemble the O2-reactive Fe2(II/II) complex and the structural basis for cofactor instability-a trait shared by the other validated HDOs. During cofactor (dis)assembly, a ligand-harboring core helix dynamically (un)folds. The diiron cofactor also coordinates an unanticipated Glu ligand contributed by an auxiliary helix implicated in substrate binding by docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The additional carboxylate ligand is conserved in another N-oxygenating HDO but not in two HDOs that cleave carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bonds to install olefins. Among ∼9,600 sequences identified bioinformatically as members of the emerging HDO superfamily, ∼25% conserve this additional carboxylate residue and are thus tentatively assigned as N-oxygenases.

Atl1 regulates choice between global genome and transcription-coupled repair of O(6)-alkylguanines

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) has long been known to remove DNA lesions induced by chemical carcinogens, and the molecular mechanism has been partially elucidated. Here we demonstrate that in Schizosaccharomyces pombe a DNA recognition protein, alkyltransferase-like 1 (Atl1), can play a pivotal role in selecting a specific NER pathway, depending on the nature of the DNA modification. The relative ease of dissociation of Atl1 from DNA containing small O(6)-alkylguanines allows accurate completion of global genome repair (GGR), whereas strong Atl1 binding to bulky O(6)-alkylguanines blocks GGR, stalls the transcription machinery, and diverts the damage to transcription-coupled repair. Our findings redraw the initial stages of the NER process in those organisms that express an alkyltransferase-like gene and raise the question of whether or not O(6)-alkylguanine lesions that are poor substrates for the alkyltransferase proteins in higher eukaryotes might, by analogy, signal such lesions for repair by NER.

Characterization of N-nitrosourea-induced tumors of the nervous system; their prospective value for studies of neurocarcinogenesis and brain tumor therapy

Two decades of research with resorptive neurocarcinogens firmly established the high potency of methyl and ethylnitrosourea (MNU and ENU) as neurocarcinogens, particularly in rats. There are significant differences in susceptibility to these agents among species. There are also differences among age groups. Fetuses are between 50 to 100 times more susceptible than adult rats. One single iv inoculation of 20-50 mg/kg ENU into pregnant rats may produce neurogenic tumors in 100% of the offspring. The tumors produced by these compounds have been well characterized morphologically, biologically, biochemically and histochemically. Tumors produced by both compounds are mostly gliomas and neurinomas (Schwannomas), however, clear differences exist between ENU and MNU produced neoplasms. Transplacental exposure to ENU generally results in a high number of anaplastic neurinomas and mostly differentiated gliomas (astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas or mixed gliomas). In contrast, multiple exposures of adult rats to MNU result in a moderate number of mostly differentiated neurinomas and a high number of anaplastic gliomas. Tumors usually start out as well differentiated oligodendrogliomas or astrocytomas. As they grow larger, they become more mixed and anaplastic. In contrast to spontaneous gliomas in old rats, MNU and ENU-induced astrocytomas can be readily identified with well established biomarkers such as the S100 protein and particularly GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein). Neurinomas are also strongly positive for S100 protein. No reliable markers exist for oligodendrogliomas. Neurogenic tumors induced by MNU or ENU, as well as derived cell lines and clones from such tumors, have been successfully used as models for neurocarcinogenesis and therapeutic screening.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition by coffee of nitrosourea-mediated DNA damage in mice

Oral administration of coffee at doses ranging from 150 mg to 1 g per kg body weight significantly decreased endogenously formed nitrosourea-mediated DNA damage in bone marrow as well as in colon epithelial cells in mice that had simultaneously received oral administration of methylurea and sodium nitrite. Since coffee (1 g/kg body weight) did not decrease DNA damage when administered orally together with performed methylnitrosourea, it was hypothesized that coffee inhibits nitrosation in the stomach of mice. The lowest effective level of coffee, when compared on the basis of body weight, corresponds to a human intake of about 5 cups of coffee. Both chlorogenic acid (150 mg/kg body weight) and premelanoidins (1 g/kg body weight), which occur as ingredients in, or are formed during roasting of, coffee, were shown to inhibit nitrosourea-induced DNA damage in mice.