Carcinogenesis of 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzenediazonium ion (tetrafluoroborate) of Agaricus bisporus.

4-(Hydroxymethyl)benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate was administered as 26 weekly s.c. injections of 50 microgram/g body weight to randomly bred Swiss mice. In addition, as a solvent control, sodium tetrafluoroborate was given as 26 weekly s.c. injections at 25 microgram/g body weight in 0.9% NaCl solution to another group of mice. The 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzenediazonium tetrofluoroborate treatment induced tumors in the subcutis and skin in incidence of 20 and 12%, respectively; while in the solvent sodium tetrafluoroborate-injected mice, the corresponding tumor incidence were 6 and 0%, respectively. Histopathologically, the tumors were classified as a fibroma, fibrosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, and an angiosarcoma in the subcutis and also as squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of the skin. 4-(Hydroxymethyl)benzenediazonium ion is an ingredient of the cultivated mushroom of commerce Agaricus bisporus.