Inhibitory effect of butylated hydroxyanisole administration on pancreatic carcinogenesis in Syrian hamsters initiated with N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine.

The modifying potential of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) administration on pancreatic carcinogenesis was evaluated in 70 female Syrian golden hamsters. Groups of animals received saline, 70 mg/kg body weight of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) or 70 mg/kg plus 20 mg/kg body weight of BOP followed by basal diet or diet containing 2% BHA from week 3. Although the body weights of hamsters receiving the 2% BHA supplement decreased, caloric restriction was not observed. All hamsters were killed at week 18 and histopathologically examined for lesion development. The incidences of pancreatic carcinomas in hamsters receiving 70 mg/kg plus 20 mg/kg body weight of carcinogen followed by 2% BHA was 7.1%, significantly lower than the 64.3% evident in hamsters given the same doses of BOP followed by basal diet. The total numbers of pancreatic lesions including carcinomas, atypical ductal hyperplasias and ductal hyperplasias and ductular proliferations in the liver were also significantly decreased in animals receiving BOP followed by 2% BHA. The results thus indicate that both pancreatic and cholangiocellular carcinogenesis initiated by BOP in Syrian hamsters can be inhibited by 2% BHA treatment for a relatively short experimental period.