Effect of protease inhibitors in mice treated with the hepatocarcinogen, hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-isomer) and the bladder carcinogen, N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine.

Studies were made on the effect of protease inhibitors (pepstatin, leupeptin, and antipain) on the induction of tumors in mice by the alpha-isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-BHC) and by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN). Animals were given 0.05% alpha-BHC in the diet or 0.05% BBN in their drinking water and then fed on a powder diet supplemented with 0.1% protease inhibitors. The incidence of liver nodular hyperplasias was significantly higher in the group treated with alpha-BHC and leupeptin than in the group treated with alpha-BIC alone, but pepstatin and antipain did not affect induction of liver nodular hyperplasias by alpha-BHC. None of the three protease inhibitors influenced the induction of bladder tumors by BBN.