[Prevention of tumor formation in the bladder by sodium-2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (mesna). Experimental studies and clinical consequences].

An experimental model was developed, in which urinary bladder cancer was induced by cyclophosphamide in rats, thus reproducing cyclophosphamide-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis observed in humans. It was possible in this model to achieve a highly significant reduction of cyclophosphamide-induced urinary bladder cancer by concomitant administration of sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (mesna). A significant delay of urinary bladder carcinogenesis by administration of the uroprotective substance mesna was also observed when using butylbutanolnitrosamine for inducing urinary bladder cancer. It was thus for the first time possible to assure chemoprevention of this tumor type by administration of a specific antidote.