Experimental induction of renal tumors.

Renal tumors have been reported to be induced by natural products, chemical carcinogens, viruses, or radiation. Species or strain specificity and sex also appear to play significant roles in their development. In man, it is also likely that the heredity existence of other diseases, smoking, food habits, and irradiation may be etiological factors. It also appears that hormonal, chemical, and other environmental factors can play a role. Nephrotoxin modifies two-stage chemical carcinogenesis in rat kidney. Some nephrotoxins without carcinogenicity promote the development of renal tumors in rats pretreated with subcarcinogenic doses of chemical carcinogens. The importance of nephrotoxin in development of renal adenocarcinomas needs elucidation. Preneoplastic lesions in the kidneys can be recognized by histochemical methods with specific antibodies. It is hoped that further research will be continued, so that data obtained from experimental work will provide a better understanding of the etiology and induction of renal cancer in man.