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Lung Tumor Response in Strain A Mice as a Quantitative Bioassay of Carcinogenic Activity of Some Carbamates and Aziridines¹

Fels Research Institute, Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140 [M. B. S., R. W., M. M., D. S.] and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 [L. F.]

A series of 21 carbamates and 8 aziridines were compared for quantitative carcinogenic activity using the pulmonary tumor-induction method in Strain A mice for bioassay. Aziridines as a class were more active than the carbamates, with 3,4-dichlorophenyl-N-carbamoylaziridine being over 20 times more active on a molecular dose basis than urethan, the most active of the carbamates. Three carbamates (N-hydroxyethyl, N-cyanoacetyl ethyl, and N-acetyl ethyl) approached the activity of ethyl carbamate. Methyl carbamate was completely inactive, suggesting an important role in carcinogenesis of the carboethoxy portion of the molecule.

The pulmonary tumor response in Strain A mice is a rapid, reproducible, economic, quantitative bioassay for carcinogenic activity, and wider use of this method is recommended.

¹ Supported in part by NIH Grant No. CA 10439.

² Present address: Regional Medical Program, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jalla, California 92037.

Received 3/ 3/69. Accepted 4/21/69.