7-Sulfooxymethylbenz[a]anthracene is an ultimate electrophilic and carcinogenic form of 7-hydroxymethylbenz[a]anthracene.

The hypothesis was tested that 7-sulfooxymethylbenz[a]anthracene (7-SBA) is an ultimate electrophilic and carcinogenic form of 7-hydroxymethylbenz[a]anthracene. In conformity with this hypothesis, 7-SBA was more carcinogenic than 7-HBA in inducing sarcomas at the site of repeated subcutaneous injection. These metabolites were individually administered to female Sprague-Dawley rats, beginning at 30 days of age, in 0.2 mumol doses given three times each week for 20 doses. One year after the first injection of 7-SBA, seven of thirteen female Sprague-Dawley rats had developed sarcomas. 7-HBA, on the other hand, had induced sarcomas at the site of injection in only two of tweleve rats. No tumors developed either in the control group given sesame oil:DMSO only or in the untreated control group. It would appear from the results summarized here that the search for an ultimate electrophilic and carcinogenic form of 7-HBA has been successful.