MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION OF BABY HAMSTER LUNG FIBROBLASTS INDUCED IN VITRO BY A NEW NITROSAMINE COMPOUND

A new nitrosamine compound, N-1-methylacetonyl-N-3-methylbutyl-nitrosamine (MAMB-NA), isolated from corn bread inoculated with moulds commonly occurring in Linxian County,a high incidence area for esophageal cancer in North China was tested for its potentialcarcinogenicity in vitro. Baby hamster lung fibroblasts (BHL) were treated with MAMBNAin tissue culture medium containing liver microsome preparation of Aroclor 1254 treatedrat. Cell transformation was assessed by morphological changes, loss of density-dependentinhibition and unlimited growth in vitro, chromosome changes, colony formation on softagar, growth at low serum concentration, Con A agglutinability and tumor formation afterheterotransplantation into immunosuppressed newborne rats. Like the known carcinogensN-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine and diethylnitrosamine, MAMBNA was able to causemalignant transformation of cells cultured in vitro.