Statistical analysis of a carcinogen mixture experiment. I. Liver carcinogens.

This paper describes factorial experiments designed to determine whether 2 liver carcinogens act synergistically to produce liver cancers in Fischer 344 rats. Four hepatocarcinogens, cycad flour, lasiocarpine (CAS: 303-34-4), aflatoxin B1 (CAS: 1162-65-8), and dipentylnitrosamine (CAS: 13256-06-9), were studied in pairwise combinations. Each of the 6 possible pairs was studied by means of 4 X 4 factorial experiment, each agent being fed at zero and at 3 non-zero doses. Methods of analysis designed explicitly for this study were derived to study interaction. These methods were supplemented by standard statistical methods appropriate for one-at-a-time studies. Antagonism was not discovered in any chemical mixture. Some chemical mixtures did interact synergistically. Findings for male and female animals were generally, but not always, in agreement.