Immunohistochemical Expression of Cyclin D1, Cytokeratin 20, and Uroplakin III in Proliferative Urinary Bladder Lesions Induced by o-Nitroanisole in Fischer 344/N Rats.

o-Nitroanisole is an intermediate in the manufacture of azo dyes. In a National Toxicology Program stop-exposure study,o-nitroanisole induced hyperplasia, papillomas, and papillary carcinomas in the urinary bladder of Fischer 344/N rats.o-Nitroanisole was investigated since occupational or environmental exposure to aniline and azo dyes is a risk factor for urinary bladder cancer in humans. The current study describes the morphology of urinary bladder neoplasms seen in rats with respect to those observed in humans. This study also evaluated immunohistochemical expression of the cell cycle-related proteins cyclin D1 and p53 and the differentiation markers cytokeratin 20 and uroplakin III in hyperplastic (n= 11) and neoplastic (n= 6 papillomas,n= 11 carcinomas) lesions of the urinary bladder epithelium from rats treated with o-nitroanisole and in normal (n= 6) urinary bladders from untreated rats. The tumors observed were more similar to the papillary type rather than the muscle-invasive type of urinary bladder cancer in humans. The preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions observed suggest progression from hyperplasia to papilloma to papillary carcinoma. With neoplastic progression (hyperplasia to papilloma to carcinoma), cyclin D1 immunoreactivity progressively increased in intensity, percentage of cells staining, and distribution. Overexpression of p53 was not found. Cytokeratin 20 staining decreased in superficial cells, while uroplakin III staining increased in intermediate and basal cells with progression from hyperplasia to carcinoma. The results are consistent with increased cell cycle dysregulation or proliferation (cyclin D1), decreased differentiation (cytokeratin 20), and abnormal differentiation (uroplakin III) as lesions progress toward malignancy.

Mass spectrometric analysis of rat cerebrospinal fluid proteins following exposure to the neurotoxicant carbonyl sulfide.

RATIONALE: Using a proteomic-based approach we have investigated possible altered expression of a range of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) proteins following exposure to the neurotoxicant carbonyl sulfide (COS). CSF is ideal for the investigation of markers of brain injury or disease since it is secreted from several central nervous system structures and changes in the CSF composition may reflect brain insult and many pathological processes. METHODS: Animals were placed in exposure chambers and were exposed to 0 ppm or 500 ppm COS for 1, 2 or 3 days, 6 h per day. After the last inhalation exposure, 50-70 µL CSF sample was obtained by lumbar puncture. CSF samples were analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) on either a Premier quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) or an Agilent 6340 ion trap and by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MS on a 4800 MALDI-TOF/TOF analyzer. RESULTS: The dynamic range of abundance of the identified proteins spanned over more than three orders of magnitude. The four most abundant proteins identified (albumin, cystatin C, serotransferrin, transthyretin) are major proteins that are present in both CSF and blood at high levels but the fifth most abundant protein identified (prostaglandin H2D isomerase) is the second most abundant protein in human CSF and is secreted and synthesized in the rat central nervous system. No significant differences were observed between COS-treated CSF samples and the control CSF samples because of blood contamination. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative MS protein analyses of rat CSF is limited by the low sample volumes that can practicably be obtained from rats and the low protein concentrations in rat CSF. Results of this work suggest a clear need for CSF collection that would minimize blood contamination. Published in 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

H-ras consensus sequence and mutations in primary hepatocellular carcinomas of lemurs and lorises.

The authors have determined a consensus sequence for exons 1 and 2 of H-ras from captive lemurs and lorises and evaluated samples of nonneoplastic liver and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) from affected animals for mutations in these exons. Frozen liver samples were collected from 20 animals representing 9 different species with a sex distribution of 10 males and 10 females. A total of 26 liver samples, including 11 normal livers, 9 HCC, and 6 samples from nonneoplastic regions of liver from animals with HCC, were evaluated. This is the first report of the consensus sequence for exons 1 and 2 of H-ras in prosimians, and the authors have determined that it is identical to that of human H-ras and differs only slightly from the chimpanzee sequence. Point mutations were identified in 6 of the 9 HCC samples examined with codons 7, 22, 32, 56, 61, 84, and 96 affected. Two carcinomas had double mutations, and one tumor had triple mutations. One HCC had a mutation in codon 61, which is identical to a recognized affected codon for an H-ras "hot spot" in rodent neoplasia that has also been reported in human tumors. Although not statistically different, metastasis occurred in 5 of 6 HCC with H-ras mutation and only 1 of 3 HCC without mutations. There were 4 silent mutations that did not contain changes in the encoded amino acids, 2 of which were found in nonneoplastic regions of tumor-bearing liver.

Gene expression and mutation assessment provide clues of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in liver tumors of oxazepam-exposed mice.

Liver tumors from a previous National Toxicology Program study were examined using global gene expression and mutation analysis to define the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in mice exposed to oxazepam. Five hepatocellular adenomas and 5 hepatocellular carcinomas from male B6C3F1 mice exposed to 5000 ppm oxazepam and 6 histologically normal liver samples from control animals were examined. One of the major findings in the study was upregulation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Genes that activate ß-catenin, such as Sox4, were upregulated, whereas genes that inhibit Wnt signaling, such as APC and Crebbp, were downregulated. In addition, liver tumors from oxazepam-exposed mice displayed ß-catenin mutations and increased protein expression of glutamine synthetase, a downstream target in the Wnt signaling pathway. Another important finding in this study was the altered expression of oxidative stress-related genes, specifically increased expression of cytochrome p450 genes, including Cyp1a2 and Cyp2b10, and decreased expression of genes that protect against oxidative stress, such as Sod2 and Cat. Increased oxidative stress was confirmed by measuring isoprostane expression using mass spectrometry. Furthermore, global gene expression identified altered expression of genes that are associated with epigenetic mechanisms of cancer. There was decreased expression of genes that are hypermethylated in human liver cancer, including tumor suppressors APC and Pten. Oxazepam-induced tumors also exhibited decreased expression of genes involved in DNA methylation (Crebbp, Dnmt3b) and histone modification (Sirt1). These data suggest that formation of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas in oxazepam-exposed mice involves alteration of the Wnt signaling pathway, oxidative stress, and potential epigenetic alterations.

Re-evaluation of kidney histopathology from 13-week toxicity and two-year carcinogenicity studies of melamine in the F344 rat: morphologic evidence of retrograde nephropathy.

The histopathologic changes induced in F344 rat kidney by oral administration of melamine for 13-week and 2-year periods in studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program, NIH,(25) from 1976 to 1983 have been re-evaluated and described in detail. A constellation of tubule changes extending from papilla to cortex consistently included tubule dilatation and tubule basophilia as salient features at the subchronic time point. By 2 years, these lesions had usually resolved into fibrotic scars, in which tubule loss and collagen deposition were prominent, running from superficial cortex into the medulla. These fibrotic lesions required discrimination from chronic scars resulting from infarcts and foci of chronic progressive nephropathy (CPN). A case is presented here for interpreting the constellation of histologic changes induced in rats by melamine as representing an ascending form of nephropathy. The term retrograde nephropathy is considered to be the appropriate nomenclature for both the acute and chronic lesions. The cause for the reflux, emanating from the lower urinary tract, appeared not to be infection as an inflammatory response was not prominent. It can be speculated that melamine precipitation in the lower urinary tract created pressure effects through transient obstruction leading to the renal changes. These changes were different from those involved in a major US outbreak of renal disease and death in cats and dogs associated with triazine-contaminated pet food, in which crystalluria from insoluble melamine/cyanuric acid complexes occurred in the kidney. However, the rat findings may be relevant to melamine-associated kidney disease recently reported in infants in China.

Induction of thyroid and liver tumors by chronic exposure to 2-methylimidazole in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice.

2-Methylimidazole (2MI) has been identified as a by-product of fermentation and is detected in foods and mainstream and side-stream tobacco smoke. It is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, dyes and pigments, agricultural chemicals, and rubber. Carcinogenicity studies of 2MI were conducted because of its high potential for human exposure and a lack of carcinogenicity data. Groups of male and female Fischer 344/N rats were fed diets containing 0, 300, 1,000, or 3,000 ppm (males) or 0, 1,000, 2,500, or 5,000 ppm (females) 2MI for 106 weeks and groups of male and female B6C3F1 mice were fed 0, 625, 1,250, or 2,500 ppm 2MI for 105 weeks. Animals in each group were sacrificed at 8 days, 14 weeks, and 6 months for determinations of serum thyroid hormone and liver enzyme levels and histopathological examinations and at 2 years for evaluations of neoplastic lesions. In rats, 2MI administration reduced serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine and increased thyroid stimulating hormone levels. 2MI administration also increased total hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase levels. At 2 years, the incidences of thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia, adenoma or carcinoma (combined), as well as follicular mineralization were increased. The incidences of hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in the two highest dose groups of males and females were also increased. The incidences of mixed cell focus in males and females were also significantly increased. In mice, the incidences of thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia were significantly increased in the high dose males and females. The incidence of thyroid follicular cell adenoma in the 2,500 ppm males was significantly greater than that in the control group. The incidences of hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) were significantly increased in all exposed groups of males and in the 2,500 ppm females. Significant increases in incidences were also observed in spleen hematopoietic cell proliferation in both sexes and bone marrow hyperplasia, chronic active inflammation of the epididymis, sperm granuloma, and germinal epithelial atrophy of the testis in males. Under these experimental conditions, carcinogenic activity of 2MI was demonstrated in male and female rats and mice.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig (Sus scrofa).

The neuronal ceroid ipofuscinoses (NCL) are a group of heritable, neurodegenerative, storage diseases, typically with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Cytoplasmic accumulation of storage material in cells of the nervous system and, variably in other tissues, characterizes NCL. NCL has been reported in many animal species, but to the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the disease in a pig. Blindness and seizures are common clinical signs of disease, neither of which was a feature in this pig. The lesions were restricted to the central nervous system, which was diffusely affected, with the most severe lesions in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum. The histologic lesions included neuronal loss and gliosis, which contributed to mild cerebrocortical and cerebellar atrophy and accumulation of autofluorescent storage material in neurons and glial cells. The storage material had morphologic, histologic, and ultrastructural properties typical of NCL.

Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of microencapsulated trans-cinnamaldehyde in rats and mice.

trans-Cinnamaldehyde is a widely used natural ingredient that is added to foods and cosmetics as a flavoring and fragrance agent. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F(1) mice were exposed to microencapsulated trans-cinnamaldehyde in the feed for three months or two years. All studies included untreated and vehicle control groups. In the three-month studies, rats and mice were given diets containing 4100, 8200, 16,500, or 33,000 ppm trans-cinnamaldehyde. In rats, feed consumption was reduced in all exposed groups. In mice, feed consumption was reduced in the highest dose groups. Body weights of all treated males were less than controls. Body weights were reduced in female rats exposed to 16,500 or 33,000 ppm and female mice exposed to 8200 ppm or greater. All rats survived to the end of the study but some male mice in the highest dose groups died due to inanition from unpalatability of the dosed feed. The incidence of squamous epithelial hyperplasia of the forestomach was significantly increased in rats exposed to 8200 ppm or greater and female mice exposed to 33,000 ppm. In mice, the incidence of olfactory epithelial degeneration of the nasal cavity was significantly increased in males and females exposed to 16,500 ppm and females exposed to 33,000 ppm. In the two-year studies, rats and mice were exposed to 1000, 2100, or 4100 ppm trans-cinnamaldehyde. Body weights were reduced in mice exposed to 2100 ppm and in rats and mice exposed to 4100 ppm. In rats, hippuric acid excretion was dose proportional indicating that absorption, metabolism, and excretion were not saturated. No neoplasms were attributed to trans-cinnamaldehyde in rats or mice. Squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of the forestomach were observed in male and female mice but the incidences were within the NTP historical control range and were not considered to be related to trans-cinnamaldehyde exposure.

Neurotoxicity produced by dibromoacetic acid in drinking water of rats.

An evaluation of potential adverse human health effects of disinfection byproducts requires study of both cancer and noncancer endpoints; however, no studies have evaluated the neurotoxic potential of a common haloacetic acid, dibromoacetic acid (DBA). This study characterized the neurotoxicity of DBA during 6-month exposure in the drinking water of rats. Adolescent male and female Fischer 344 rats were administered DBA at 0, 0.2, 0.6, and 1.5 g/l. On a mg/kg/day basis, the consumed dosages decreased greatly over the exposure period, with average intakes of 0, 20, 72, and 161 mg/kg/day. Weight gain was depressed in the high-concentration group, and concentration-related diarrhea and hair loss were observed early in exposure. Testing with a functional observational battery and motor activity took place before dosing and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months. DBA produced concentration-related neuromuscular toxicity (mid and high concentrations) characterized by limb weakness, mild gait abnormalities, and hypotonia, as well as sensorimotor depression (all concentrations), with decreased responses to a tail-pinch and click. Other signs of toxicity at the highest concentration included decreased activity and chest clasping. Neurotoxicity was evident as early as one month, but did not progress with continued exposure. The major neuropathological finding was degeneration of spinal cord nerve fibers (mid and high concentrations). Cellular vacuolization in spinal cord gray matter (mostly) and in white matter (occasionally) tracts was also observed. No treatment-related changes were seen in brain, eyes, peripheral nerves, or peripheral ganglia. The lowest-observable effect level for neurobehavioral changes was 20 mg/kg/day (produced by 0.2 g/l, lowest concentration tested), whereas this dosage was a no-effect level for neuropathological changes. These studies suggest that neurotoxicity should be considered in the overall hazard evaluation of haloacetic acids.

o-Nitrotoluene-induced large intestinal tumors in B6C3F1 mice model human colon cancer in their molecular pathogenesis.

In the previous 500 2-year chemical bioassays within the National Toxicology Program, large intestinal tumors (cecal carcinomas) related to chemical exposure have not been observed in B6C3F1 mice. The recently completed o-nitrotoluene study provided the first cecal tumor response and an opportunity to evaluate the morphology and molecular profile of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that are relevant to humans. Morphologically, the carcinomas were gland-forming tumors lined by tall columnar epithelial cells that were positive for cytokeratin 20 and negative for cytokeratin 7. Using immunohistochemistry beta-catenin (encoded by Catnb) protein accumulation was detected in 80% (8/10) of the cecal carcinomas, while increased cyclin D1 and p53 protein expression was detected in 73% (8/11), respectively. There was no difference in adenomatous polyposis protein expression between normal colon and cecal carcinomas. All tumors examined exhibited mutations in exon 2 (corresponds to exon 3 in humans) in the Catnb gene. Mutations in p53 were identified in nine of 11 carcinomas, and all were in exon 7. Analysis of the K-ras gene revealed mutations in 82% (9/11) of carcinomas; all had specific G --> T transversions (Gly --> Val) at codons 10 or 12. The alterations in cancer genes and proteins found in the mouse large intestinal tumors included mutations that activate signal transduction pathways (K-ras and Catnb) and changes that disrupt the cell-cycle and bypass G(1) arrest (p53, cyclin D1). These alterations, which are hallmarks of human colon cancer, probably contributed to the pathogenesis of the large intestinal carcinomas in mice following o-nitrotoluene exposure.

Chemical-specific alterations in ras, p53, and beta-catenin genes in hemangiosarcomas from B6C3F1 mice exposed to o-nitrotoluene or riddelliine for 2 years.

The most prominent neoplastic lesions in mice in the 2-year studies of o-nitrotoluene and riddelliine were hemangiosarcomas. Fifteen o-nitrotoluene-induced hemangiosarcomas of the skeletal muscle, subcutaneous tissue, and mesentery; 12 riddelliine-induced hemangiosarcomas of the liver; and 15 spontaneous subcutaneous hemangiosarcomas were examined for genetic alterations in ras, p53, and beta-catenin genes. Mutations in at least one of these genes were identified in 13 of 15 (87%) of the o-nitrotoluene-induced hemangiosarcomas with missense mutations in p53 exons 5-8 detected in 11 of 15 (73%) of these neoplasms. Seven of 15 (47%) hemangiosarcomas from mice exposed to o-nitrotoluene had deletions at exon 2 splice sites or smaller deletions in the beta-catenin gene. K-ras mutation was detected in only 1 of the 15 (7%) o-nitrotoluene-induced hemangiosarcomas. In contrast to the o-nitrotoluene study, 7/12 (58%) riddelliine-induced hemangiosarcomas had K-ras codon 12 GTT mutations and, when screened by immunohistochemistry, 9/12 (75%) had strong staining for the p53 protein in malignant endothelial cells, the cells of origin of hemangiosarcomas. Riddelliine-induced hemangiosarcomas were negative for the beta-catenin protein. Spontaneous hemangiosarcomas from control mice lacked both p53 and beta-catenin protein expression and ras mutations. Our data indicated that p53 and beta-catenin mutations in the o-nitrotoluene-induced hemangiosarcomas and K-ras mutations and p53 protein expression in riddelliine-induced hemangiosarcomas most likely occurred as a result of the genotoxic effects of these chemicals. It also suggests that these mutations play a role in the pathogenesis of the respective hemangiosarcomas in B6C3F1(1) mice.

P-Nitrobenzoic acid alpha2u nephropathy in 13-week studies is not associated with renal carcinogenesis in 2-year feed studies.

The objective of this study was to characterize the renal toxicity and carcinogenicity of p-nitrobenzoic acid in F344 rats. Dose levels in 13-week and 2-year studies ranged from 630-10,000 ppm and 1,250-5,000 ppm, respectively. At 13 weeks, renal lesions included minimal to mild hyaline droplet accumulation in male rats and karyomegaly in male and female rats. At 2 years, renal lesions included proximal tubule epithelial cell hyperplasia in male rats and oncocytic hyperplasia in high-dose male and female rats, and a decreased severity of nephropathy in males and females. The hvaline droplets in renal tubular epithelial cells of male rats at 13 weeks were morphologically similar to those described in alpha2u-globulin nephropathy. Using immunohistochemical methods, alpha2u-globulin accumulation was associated with the hyaline droplets. In addition, at 13 weeks, cell proliferation as detected by PCNA immunohistochemistry was significantly increased in males exposed to 5,000 and 10,000 ppm when compared to controls. Cytotoxicity associated with alpha2U-globulin nephropathy such as single-cell necrosis of the P2 segment epithelium or accumulation of granular casts in the outer medulla did not occur in the 13-week study. In addition, chronic treatment related nephrotoxic lesions attributed to accumulation of alpha2u-globulin such as linear foci of mineralization within the renal papilla, hyperplasia of the renal pelvis urothelium and kidney tumors were not observed. Although there was histologic evidence of alpha2u-globulin accumulation in male rats at 13 weeks, the minimal severity of nephropathy suggests that the degree of cytotoxicity was below the threshold, which would contribute to the development of renal tumors at 2 years.

Loss of E-cadherin expression in gastric intestinal metaplasia and later stage p53 altered expression in gastric carcinogenesis.

Gastric cancers are commonly subdivided into intestinal and diffuse subtypes on a morphologic basis, supported by corollary evidence of differences at the pathogenetic and molecular levels. Chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia is a common precursor lesion for the intestinal type of carcinoma. To identify early molecular changes, in this study we have examined 13 surgical specimens both for the expression of E-cadherin, p53 and beta-catenin by immunohistochemistry and for methylation of the CDH1 promoter (E-cadherin) by bisulfite genomic sequencing of laser capture microdissected samples. Each specimen examined contained areas of normal (nonmetaplastic) gastric mucosa, as well as areas of intestinal metaplasia and/or carcinoma. Reduced or absent E-cadherin and partial to complete methylation of one to multiple CpG sites examined in the CDH1 promoter were observed in all of the metaplasia samples. Thus, the methylation status of the CDH1 promoter and expression of E-cadherin together provide strong evidence that loss of E-cadherin is an early event in intestinal type gastric carcinogenesis. In contrast, expression of p53, assumed to be mutant p53, was generally not detected (except for isolated cells) until the carcinoma stage in tissues from these patients. These results suggest that mutation of p53 is a late event in intestinal type gastric cancer. The level of beta-catenin expression did not appear to change between normal, metaplastic and carcinoma cells of intestinal type, and no nuclear staining was visible in any of the tissues. These results suggest that the Wnt signaling pathway is not upregulated in this type of cancer.

High frequency of ras mutations in forestomach and lung tumors of B6C3F1 mice exposed to 1-amino-2,4-dibromoanthraquinone for 2 years.

1-Amino-2,4-dibromoanthraquinone (ADBAQ) is an anthraquinone-derived vat dye, and a potent carcinogen in laboratory animals. In a 2-year study with dietary exposure to 10,000 or 20,000 ppm ADBAQ, increased incidence of forestomach and lung tumors were observed in B6C3F1 mice. The present study indentified genetic alterations in H-ras and K-ras proto-oncogenes in ADBAQ-induced tumors. Point mutations in ras proto-oncogenes were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism, single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis and cycle sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA isolated from paraffin-embedded squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas in the forestomach, and alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and carcinomas in the lung. A higher frequency of ras mutations was identified in ADBAQ-induced forestomach (23/32, 72%) and lung tumors (16/23, 70%) than in spontaneous forestomach (4/11, 36%) and lung tumors (26/86, 30%). H-ras codon 61 CTA mutations were detected in (4/8, 50%) ADBAQ-induced forestomach squamous cell papillomas and (10/24, 42%) squamous cell carcinomas, but not in the spontaneous forestomach tumors examined. H-ras codon 61 CGA mutation (6/24, 25%) was also detected in ADBAQ-induced forestomach squamous cell carcinomas. K-ras codon 61 A to T transversions and A to G transitions were prominent in ADBAQ-induced lung alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and alveolar/bronchiolar carcinomas. The major finding of A to T transversions or A to G transitions in forestomach and lung tumors suggests that ADBAQ or its metabolites target adenine bases in the ras proto-oncogenes and that these mutations play a dominant role in multi-organ

Wildtype Kras2 can inhibit lung carcinogenesis in mice.

Although the ras genes have long been established as proto-oncogenes, the dominant role of activated ras in cell transformation has been questioned. Previous studies have shown frequent loss of the wildtype Kras2 allele in both mouse and human lung adenocarcinomas. To address the possible tumor suppressor role of wildtype Kras2 in lung tumorigenesis, we have carried out a lung tumor bioassay in heterozygous Kras2-deficient mice. Mice with a heterozygous Kras2 deficiency were highly susceptible to the chemical induction of lung tumors when compared to wildtype mice. Activating Kras2 mutations were detected in all chemically induced lung tumors obtained from both wildtype and heterozygous Kras2-deficient mice. Furthermore, wildtype Kras2 inhibited colony formation and tumor development by transformed NIH/3T3 cells and a mouse lung tumor cell line containing an activated Kras2 allele. Allelic loss of wildtype Kras2 was found in 67% to 100% of chemically induced mouse lung adenocarcinomas that harbor a mutant Kras2 allele. Finally, an inverse correlation between the level of wildtype Kras2 expression and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity was observed in these cells. These data strongly suggest that wildtype Kras2 has tumor suppressor activity and is frequently lost during lung tumor progression.

Comparative carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and chloroprene in rats and mice.

1,3-Butadiene, isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene), and chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene) are high-production-volume chemicals used mainly in the manufacture of synthetic rubber. Inhalation studies have demonstrated multiple organ tumorigenic effects with each of these chemicals in mice and rats. Sites of tumor induction by these epoxide-forming chemicals were compared to each other and to ethylene oxide, a chemical classified by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as carcinogenic to humans. For this group of chemicals, there are substantial species differences in sites of neoplasia; neoplasia of the mammary gland is the only common tumorigenic effect in rats and mice. Within each species, there are several common sites of tumor induction; these include the hematopoietic system, circulatory system, lung, liver, forestomach, Harderian gland, and mammary gland in mice, and the mammary gland and possibly the brain, thyroid, testis, and kidney in rats. For studies in which individual animal data were available, mortality-adjusted tumor rates were calculated, and estimates were made of the shape of the exposure-response curves and ED10 values (i.e. exposure concentrations associated with an excess risk of 10% at each tumor site). Most tumorigenic effects reported here were consistent with linear or supralinear models. For chloroprene and butadiene, the most potent response was for the induction of lung neoplasms in female mice, with ED10 values of 0.3 ppm. Based on animal cancer data, isoprene and chloroprene are listed in the NTP's Report on Carcinogens (RoC) as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Butadiene is listed in the RoC as known to be a human carcinogen 'based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans, including epidemiological and mechanistic information', with support from experimental studies in laboratory animals. Epidemiology data for isoprene and chloroprene are not considered adequate to evaluate the potential carcinogenicity of these agents in humans.

Point mutations of K-ras and H-ras genes in forestomach neoplasms from control B6C3F1 mice and following exposure to 1,3-butadiene, isoprene or chloroprene for up to 2-years.

1,3 Butadiene (BD), isoprene (IP) and chloroprene (CP) are structural analogs. There were significantly increased incidences of forestomach neoplasms in B6C3F1 mice exposed to BD, IP or CP by inhalation for up to 2-years. The present study was designed to characterize genetic alterations in K- and H-ras proto-oncogenes in a total of 52 spontaneous and chemically induced forestomach neoplasms. ras mutations were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism, single strand conformational polymorphism analysis, and cycle sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA isolated from paraffin-embedded forestomach neoplasms. A higher frequency of K- and H-ras mutations was identified in BD-, IP- and CP-induced forestomach neoplasms (83, 70 and 57%, respectively, or combined 31/41, 76%) when compared to spontaneous forestomach neoplasms (4/11, 36%). Also a high frequency of H-ras codon 61 CAA-->CTA transversions (10/41, 24%) was detected in chemically induced forestomach neoplasms, but none were present in the spontaneous forestomach neoplasms examined. Furthermore, an increased frequency (treated 13/41, 32% versus untreated 1/11, 9%) of GGC-->CGC transversion at K-ras codon 13 was seen in BD-, and IP-induced forestomach neoplasms, similar to the predominant K-ras mutation pattern observed in BD-induced mouse lung neoplasms. These data suggest that the epoxide intermediates of the structurally related chemicals (BD, IP, and CP) may cause DNA damage in K-ras and H-ras proto-oncogenes of B6C3F1 mice following inhalation exposure and that mutational activation of these genes may be critical events in the pathogenesis of forestomach neoplasms induced in the B6C3F1 mouse.