Inhibitory effects of 5-(2-pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dithiol-3-thione (Oltipraz) on carcinogenesis induced by benzo[a]pyrene, diethylnitrosamine and uracil mustard.

5-(2-Pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dithiol-3-thione (Oltipraz) was studied for its capacity to inhibit carcinogen-induced neoplasia in female ICR/Ha mice. When administered by oral intubation 48 h prior to benzo[a]pyrene (BP), also given by oral intubation, Oltipraz inhibited the occurrence of pulmonary adenomas and tumors of the forestomach. The ratio of the number of tumors occurring in the mice receiving Oltipraz to that of the corresponding controls was: lung, 0.36 and forestomach 0.38. Inhibition also occurred when Oltipraz was given p.o. 24 h prior to BP. In other experiments, oral administration of Oltipraz 48 h prior to p.o. administration of diethylnitrosamine or uracil mustard inhibited pulmonary adenoma formation but to a lesser extent than with BP as the carcinogen. The low toxicity of Oltipraz found previously, coupled with evidence of protective effects against chemically diverse carcinogens, suggests that this compound should be studied further for its possible use as an agent for the chemoprevention of neoplasia.