Cancer induction by the sulfate form of 4-(hydroxymethyl) benzenediazonium ion of Agaricus bisporus.

The sulfate form of 4-(hydroxymethyl) benzenediazonium ion (HMBD) of Agaricus bisporus was given by 26 weekly subcutaneous injections at 50 micrograms/g body weight to Swiss mice. As a result of treatment, tumors of subcutis and skin developed in 32% and 14% of the females and 40% and 4% of the males, respectively. The corresponding tumor incidences in the sodium sulfate-injected solvent control groups were 0% and 2% in females and 4% and 0% in males, respectively. Histopathologically, the tumors were fibrosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas and angiosarcomas of the subcutis, squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of skin. The present finding discounts an earlier allegation that the tetrafluoroborate portion of the diazonium ion acted as a cocarcinogen. HMBD was found at a 0.6 ppm level in the mushroom of commerce Agaricus bisporus.