Changes in tumor-specific nuclear antigen activity in carcinogen-treated colon by tumor promoter and carcinogen inhibitors.

Changes in the immunospecificity of the nuclear antigens were demonstrated in the colon chromatin of rats treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. Tumor-specific nuclear antigen appeared in the early stages of chemically induced colon carcinogenesis. Sodium barbiturate, in conjunction with the carcinogen, induced a higher level of nuclear antigen activity than that obtained with carcinogen alone. The rise of immunoactivity in carcinogen-treated colon chromatin can be abolished by simultaneous treatment with disulfiram or butylated hydroxytoluene.