Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Liver tumors induced in B6C3F{sub 1} mice by benz[a]anthracene and two of its halogenated derivatives contain K-RAS oncogene mutations

Journal Article · · Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis
OSTI ID:530876

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated PAHs are genotoxic environmental contaminants. We previously examined the tumorigenicity of benz[a]anthracene (BA), 7-Cl-BA, and 7-Br-BA in the neonatal mouse tumorigenicity bioassay. Male B6C3F{sub 1} mice were administered i.p. injections at a total dose of 400 nmol per mouse on 1, 8, and 15 days after birth. BA, 7-Cl-BA, and 7-Br-BA induced hepatocellular adenoma in 67, 92, and 96% of the mice, respectively, and induced hepatocellular carcinoma in 15, 100 and 83% of the mice, respectively. In the present study, mRNA was isolated from each of the liver tumors induced by the three compounds, reversed-transcribed to cDNA, and portions of the K- and H-ras oncogene coding sequences were amplified and analyzed for DNA sequence alterations. 92% (11/12) of BA-induced, 79% (19/24) of 7-Cl-BA-induced and 86% (19/22) of 7-Br-BA-induced liver tumors had activated ras protooncogenes. In contrast to the general finding of H-ras mutations in B6C3F{sub 1} mouse liver tumors, all the mutations were at the first base of K-ras codon 13, resulting in a pattern of GGC{yields}CGC. No other ras oncogene mutations were detected. Our results clearly demonstrate that these chemicals induce a unique type of ras (K-ras) oncogene activation in the liver tumors of B6C3F{sub 1} mice.

OSTI ID:
530876
Report Number(s):
CONF-9704100--
Journal Information:
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, Journal Name: Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis Journal Issue: Suppl.28 Vol. 29; ISSN 0893-6692; ISSN EMMUEG
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Characterization of c-Ki-ras and N-ras oncogenes in aflatoxin B sub 1 -induced rat liver tumors
Journal Article · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA) · OSTI ID:6699731

Activated protooncogenes in human lung tumors from smokers
Journal Article · Thu Feb 14 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States) · OSTI ID:6161153

Activation of proto-oncogenes in human and mouse lung tumors
Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States) · OSTI ID:6052887