Colon adenocarcinomas in European hamsters after application of N-nitrose-bis 2-oxypropyl-amine

In the European hamster weekly subcutaneous injections of N-nitrosobis (2-oxypropyl)-amine (BOP) induced adenocarcinomas of the colon in 77 per cent (1/10 LD50), 70 per cent (1/20 LD50) and 87 per cent (1/40 LD50) of the treated animals. Cholangio-cellular carcinomas, the second most common type of tumor were produced in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore tumors were found in the respiratory tract, urinary tract, the integumentum system and the exocrine pancreas. The presented data show a difference between the BOP-induced tumor spectrum in European hamsters and that of Syrian hamsters. The high incidence of colon adenocarcinomas may provide a further model of colon carcinogenesis.