Sodium bisulfite protects against radiogenic and chemically induced transformation in hamster embryo and mouse C3H/10T-1/2 cells.

Pretreatment of hamster embryo cells or mouse C3H/10T-1/2 cells with sodium bisulfite (0.5, 2.5, 5.0 and 100 ppm) inhibits the oncogenic transformation of the cells following their exposure to x-rays or benzo(a)pyrene. The results suggest that low doses of bisulfite, a widely used food additive, can serve as a radioprotective and chemopreventive agent with anticarcinogenic potential.