Induction of neoplasms in hamster tracheal grafts with 3-methylcholanthrene-coated Lycra fibers.

Synthetic Lycra spandex fibers were coated with 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and inserted into the lumina of 104 tracheas removed from young adult inbred Syrian hamsters. Tumors appeared 3 to 21 months after implantation of these tracheal grafts in syngeneic animals. 3MC in amounts ranging from 9 to 75 microgram/fiber induced a diversity of neoplasms in tracheal epithelium, the majority of which were classified histologically as carcinomas. Tumors failed to develop when smaller amounts of 3MC were used and in control tracheal grafts containing fibers without carcinogen. The use of tracer quantities of [14C]-3MC allowed quantitation of the carcinogen dosage to the mucosa before and at intervals after grafting. These studies demonstrate the dosage-dependent sensitivity of the hamster tracheal epithelium to relatively small quantities of 3MC. The direct application of carcinogens coated on synthetic fibers provides a useful tool for assaying water-insoluble carcinogens.