Potent tumor-initiating activity of the 3,4-dihydrodiol of 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene in mouse skin
Slaga, T.J.; Gleason, G.L.; DiGiovanni, J.; Sukumaran, K.B.; Harvey, R.G.
Cancer Research 39(6 Part 1): 1934-1936
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-5472 PMID: 109189 Document Number: 148412
The abilities of the racemic trans-3,4-, 5,6-, and 8,9-dihydrodiols of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene to initiate skin tumors in mice were determined by using a two-stage system of tumorigenesis. The 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene trans-3,4-dihydrodiol was found to be much more active as a tumor initiator than the parent hydrocarbon. The 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene trans-5,6- and 8,9-dihydrodiols were essentially inactive as skin tumor initiators. Our results suggest that the 3,4-dihydrodiol of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene is a proximal carcinogen and that the "bay region" diol-epoxide may be the ultimate carcinogenic form of DMBA.