Delayed development of bladder cancer in male SD rats induced with N-nitroso-N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)amine following concomitant administration of sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate.

This study describes the prolonged survival of male SD-rats that bear bladder carcinomas induced either with 44 mg/kg or 28 mg/kg of N-nitroso-N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)amine (BBNOH), when daily doses of 350 mg/kg of sodium-2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (mesna) were administered concomitantly. The difference to carcinogen-treated positive controls was highly significant (P = 0.0009 and 0.0013, respectively). Tumor volumes at time of death (P less than 0.005) and frequency of metastases were also reduced in rats that received both compounds in comparison to BBNOH-treated animals.