The morphologic effects of mitomycin C in mammalian urinary bladder.

This investigation was intended to determine the morphologic changes of mitomycin C. It is part of a series of experiments designed to evaluate the cytologic and histologic effects of topical chemotherapeutic agents using the FANFT experimental model system in mice. The results for mitomycin C are very similar to those previously reported for thio-tepa. The indicate that these chemicals produce few, if any, drug-specific light microscopic alterations. Rather, mitomycin C and thio-tepa apparently act as toxic substances, causing increased exfoliation, degeneration, and necrosis of urothelial cells. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future investigations are discussed.