Modulation of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced transmammary carcinogenesis by disulfiram and butylated hydroxyanisole in mice.

The individual as well as combined chemopreventive actions of disulfiram (DSF) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced transmammary carcinogenesis in mice were examined. When nursing mothers receiving normal diet were treated with DMBA (1 mg/mouse) on days 6, 8 and 10 postpartum, the tumor incidence in their 50-week-old F1 progeny was 44.1%. When nursing mothers receiving 0.75% BHA diet, 0.5% DSF diet and 0.75% BHA + 0.5% DSF diet were similarly treated with DMBA, the tumor incidences in their 50-week-old F1 progeny were 14.7% (P less than 0.05), 12.5% (P less than 0.05) and 5.8% (P less than 0.01), respectively. It is concluded that diets containing BHA (0.75%) and DSF (0.5%), singly or in combination, can inhibit transmammary carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice.