Enhancement of oncogenesis in C3H/10T1/2 mouse embryo cell cultures by saccharin.

Impure and pure samples of saccharin (2 milligrams per milliliter) did not produce oncogenic transformation of C3H/10T1/2, clone 8, mouse embryo fibroblasts. However, after treatment of the cells with a nontransforming initiating dose (0.1 microgram per milliliter) of 3-methylcholanthrene, continuous treatment with either sample of saccharin (100 micrograms per milliliter) led to significant transformation. It is concluded that in this system saccharin is a cocarginogen, probably functioning as a promoting agent that is 1000-fold less active than the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate.