Myeloid leukaemia and osteosarcoma in CBA/H mice given 224Ra.

Four groups of 400 12-week-old CBA/H mice were injected i.p. with 69, 139, 280 and 550 Bqg-1 224Ra. A further group of 400 mice were injected i.p. with diluting solution only. The mice were then allowed unrestricted access to food and water until they died or were killed. 53 cases of myeloid leukaemia and 22 cases of osteosarcoma were confirmed in the 2000 mice injected, and for both tumour types direct relationships were shown to exist between the amount of 224Ra administered and the incidence of tumours. It is concluded that mouse is at a greater risk from myeloid leukaemia than from osteosarcoma in the region of administered 224Ra below that which causes a maximum yield of osteosarcoma. These results are discussed in the light of the present acceptance of osteosarcoma as the major risk to man from bone-seeking alpha-particle emitters.