Carcinogenesis of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DENA) in chickens and domestic cats.

The environmental carcinogen N-nitrosodiethylamine (diethylnitrosamine, DENA) has been found to be carcinogenic in 18 animal species. In this study we demonstrate that, after intramuscular injection in chickens, it induces hepatocellular carcinomas of the liver and adenocarcinomas of the kidney. Oral administration in domestic cats causes malignant hepatomas and tumors of the esophagus and kidney. Since DENA is carcinogenic in all species in which it has been tested adequately it can be expected to be a human carcinogen, too.