Lung Tumors in Strain A Mice as a Bioassay for Carcinogenicity of Environmental Chemicals

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Abstract
This report describes the protocol for the strain A mouse lung tumor bioassay and summarizes results on selected chemicals that have been tested for carcinogenicity in the assay. The assay is of 6 months duration and can distinguish 2-fold differences in carcinogenic potential of compounds from several chemical classes. Specifically, the assay is sensitive to polycyclic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines and nitrosoureas, carbamates, aflatoxin, certain metals, hydrazines, and others, but is relatively insensitive to aromatic amines, aliphatic halides, and other compounds that are carcinogenic in the rodent liver and/or bladder. Recommendations are made for future studies on the: (1) distribution and metabolism of chemicals in strain A mouse lung tissue and in specific lung cell types; (2) ability of the lung tumor bioassay to detect inhibitors and promoters of carcinogenesis; and (3) use of the assay for testing mixtures of chemicals for carcinogenic activity.