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Induction of Hepatoma in Mice by Carcinogens of the Polycyclic Hydrocarbon Type

Abstract

A WIDE variety of tumours have been induced in animals of many different species by the administration of carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons. Tumours usually arise preferentially at the sites most exposed to the carcinogens, but in some experiments tumours have also developed at distant sites. In the adult mouse the distant sites most commonly involved are the ovary1, the mammary gland1 and the lung2. In addition, malignant lymphoma has been induced3. Only sarcomata developed when 3-methylcholanthrene was injected directly into rat liver4, but Andervont5,6 observed hepatomata in C3H mice after subcutaneous or intravenous administration of 1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene or 3-methylcholanthrene. Otherwise Hartwell7 and Hartwell and Shubik8 list no examples of liver tumours induced by polycyclic hydrocarbons in adult mice. On the contrary, the addition of methylcholanthrene to the diet has been found to reduce the hepato-carcinogenicity of 3′-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene9.

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ROE, F., WATERS, M. Induction of Hepatoma in Mice by Carcinogens of the Polycyclic Hydrocarbon Type. Nature 214, 299–300 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/214299a0

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