Carcinogenicity of N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine and N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine in MRC rats.

Weekly sc injections of equitoxic doses of N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP) and N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) to Wister-derived MRC rats induced tumors. The incidence, latency, multiplicity, morphologic type, and distribution of these tumors varied according to the compound given. The esophagus was the main target organ for BHP (100%), followed by the respiratory tract (87%), pharynx (80%), colon and liver (each 73%), kidneys (20%), thyroid gland (20%), and urinary bladder and urethra (each 7%). BOP was ineffective in the esophagus and pharynx but induced a higher incidence of tumors in the kidneys (27%), thyroid gland (60%), urinary bladder (33%), and urethra (73%) and fewer neoplasms in the respiratory tract (20%), colon (67%), and liver (53%). In addition, BOP caused a few, apparently primary, prostate squamous cell carcinomas. The results are compared with results of BHP treatment in Sprague-Dawley rats and with results of BHP and BOP treatment in Syrian golden hamsters.