Enhancement of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine-initiated lung tumor development in rats by bleomycin and N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane.

Potential modification of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN)-induced lung carcinogenesis by bleomycin and N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane (MNUT) was investigated in male F344 rats. Rats were given 0.2% DHPN for 1 week followed by a weekly i.p. injection of either bleomycin at 2.0 mg/kg body wt or of MNUT at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg body wt for 35 weeks. Animals given DHPN followed by solvent administration alone, either saline or 0.02% ethanol and animals given bleomycin or MNUT without DHPN pretreatment were served as controls. Bleomycin treatment increased the incidence of cancer, whereas hyperplasia, adenoma and cancer of the lung were all significantly elevated after MNUT administration. MNUT alone induced low incidences of lung tumors. Bleomycin also increased the incidence of papillary or nodular hyperplasia of the urinary bladder while it inhibited the development of thyroid tumors. MNUT, however, did not affect tumor development in other organs.