Cholangiocellular carcinomas induced in Syrian golden hamsters administered aflatoxin B1 in large doses

The hepatocarcinogenicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was compared in male Syrian golden hamsters and inbred F344 rats. AFB1 was administered by gavage 5 days/week for 6 weeks at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg body weight/day to rats and hamsters, respectively; rate did not survive beyond 3 weeks with doses of 2 mg/kg/day. After 6 weeks the animals either received no further treatment or were given 0.1% phenobarbital sodium in the drinking water. ATPase-deficient foci of hepatic parenchymal cells, neoplastic nodules, and hepatocellular carcinomas were observed in liver sections from AFB1-treated rats killed at 6, 14, or 23 weeks; they were not seen in sections from AFB1-treated hamsters killed at 6, 14, or 46 weeks. Each of the 50 AFB1-treated rats developed hepatocellular carcinomas by 46 weeks; many also had cholangiocarcinomas and mixed hepatocellular-cholangiocellular carcinomas. Hepatocellular carcinomas were found in only 2 of 49 AFB1-treated hamsters by 78 weeks. At this time cholangiocarcinomas were found in 15 hamsters, and microscopic cholangiomas were seen in all of the livers. Compared to the rat, the hamster was resistant to the hepatotoxic and hepatocellular carcinogenic effects of AFB1.     

A single dose-response effect of aflatoxin B1 on rapid liver cancer induction in two strains of rats

To investigate rapid liver cancer induction in rats by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), different single oral doses of AFB1 were given to 3 groups of 1-year-old Buffalo and Wistar rats. The animals were treated once and all survivors were killed 6 weeks later. Control animals received an equal volume of solvent (DMSO), and both groups of animals were maintained under identical conditions throughout the period of experiment. The survival rates were 40% with low and medium doses in AFB1-treated Buffalo and Wistar rats, and 0% in the high-dose Buffalo rats. Slight ante-mortem elevations in serum concentrations of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGOT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGPT) were indicative of the persistent damage effect of AFB1 at week 6. Total protein and albumin concentrations were not altered. The percent incidence of altered cell foci (areas) and neoplastic nodules was higher in Wistar than in Buffalo rats given a similar low dose. Various stages of well differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas (0.1-0.2 cm in diameter) developed in 3 of 8 Wistar rats. It thus appears that Wistar rats are more susceptible to hepatocarcinogenesis following a single oral dose of AFB1 than Buffalo rats.     

Minimal dose and time protection by lindane (gamma-isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6 hexachlorocyclohexane) against liver tumors induced by aflatoxin B1

This study was carried out in order to investigate the minimal exposure to lindane (LD, 99.72% gamma isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6 hexachlorocyclohexane), a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide, required to protect against liver tumor induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Materials fed to Buffalo strain rats were as follows: LD 100 ppm; AFB1 1 ppm, LD 100 ppm plus AFB1 1 ppm; and control basal diet. The experimental animals were clinically observed and then serially killed at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 82 weeks. Concurrent administration of LD with AFB1 to rats for more than 3 weeks totally inhibited the incidence of AFB1-induced hepatocellular carcinomas by week 82. Only 1 of 20 rats (5%) fed the same regimen for 1 week developed liver tumors. Animals given 1 ppm AFB1 singly for 15 weeks had a high liver tumor incidence (31.5%). No animals developed liver tumors in LD-treated and control groups. LD may inhibit AFB1-induced liver tumors by stimulating hepatic metabolism and excretion of AFB1 so that less carcinogen is available to liver tissue.     

Dose-response relationship of phenobarbital promotion of diethylnitrosamine initiated tumors in rat liver

The dose-response relationship was determined in rats for the enhancement by phenobarbital of diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-initiated neoplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a single oral dose of either 80 mg/kg DENA or water. Seven days later, the animals were divided into groups that started to receive 0, 62.5, 125, 250, 500 or 1000 ppm sodium phenobarbital in the drinking water. Animals from each group were killed at 48 and 70 weeks after the DENA. No significant difference was observed in the low response of neoplastic nodules among the DENA-initiated groups. The incidence of DENA-initiated hepatocellular carcinoma was enhanced at 70 weeks by 250, 500 and 1000 ppm sodium phenobarbital but not by 62.5 or 125 ppm sodium phenobarbital. Equal enhancement of the incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas was obtained with 250, 500 and 1000 ppm sodium phenobarbital. In non-DENA-initiated rats, phenobarbital did not induce neoplastic nodules or hepatocellular carcinomas. Our results suggest that a daily dose of at least 250 ppm sodium phenobarbital is required in order for it to exert tumor promoting activity.     

The histology and development of hepatic nodules in C3H/He mice following chronic administration of phenobarbitone

Male C3H/He mice were given 0 (control) or 85 mg/kg/day phenobarbitone(PB). Groups of five control and five treated animals were killedat 5, 10, 25, 40 and 55 weeks; additional animals were allowedto live out their natural life span or killed at the terminationof the experiment at 100 weeks. Small nodules of basophiliccells were seen in control animals at 55 weeks. These increasedboth in size and number so that at term nodules were found in17/35 animals examined. Animals given PB showed typical contrilobularhypertrophy. Basophilic nodules were also seen in the treatedanimals and these were similar in form and in number to thoseseen in control animals. The total number of liver nodules seenin animals given PB was, however, greater than the number seenin control animals. The increased nodule burden was a resultof the development of a second nodule type that was first seenin animals killed at 40 weeks. These nodules were formed oflarge epsinophilic cells that had a similar appearence to thehypertrophied cells of the centrilobular region. In contrastthe incidence of carcinoma in PB-treated animals was not increasedover that of the control group.     

Effect of protein calorie malnutrition and cell replication on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

Malnourished and well-fed neonatal Holtzman rats 10 days of age were exposed to 3 doses of aflatoxin B1 [(AFB1) CAS: 1162-65-8] at intervals of 96 hours to study the combined effect of malnutrition and cell replication in AFB1-induced hepato-carcinogenesis. The neonatal model made use of the fact that cell replication persists in the liver for 3 weeks of postnatal life. Malnutrition during suckling was induced by adopting the techniques of Widdowson and McCance of increasing the litter size to 16. Following AFB1 administration, the malnourished animals were rehabilitated on a high-protein pellet diet given ad libitum. Preneoplastic lesions and neoplastic nodules were identified in the livers of the 2 groups. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was detected in the sera by immunoprecipitation. The preneoplastic lesions appeared earlier, and their progression was faster in the malnourished group as compared to the well-fed animals. By 65 weeks following AFB1 exposure, 6 of 17 (35%) animals from the malnourished group showed neoplastic nodules, whereas no such nodules were observed in the animals from the well-fed group. Neoplastic nodules showed a variable pattern of enzyme activities. Under the electron microscope the changes were again more marked in the animals of the malnourished group as compared to those of the well-fed group. In the former group serum AFP was detected as early as 46 weeks, and by 55-65 weeks almost 50% of the animals from the same group showed positivity for serum AFP. None of the animals from the well-fed group showed any positivity for serum AFP throughout the study. This study thus indicates that preneoplastic lesions-neoplastic nodules are enhanced when cell replication and malnutrition coexist during AFB1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Reducing effects of rodent malaria on hepatic carcinogenesis induced by dietary aflatoxin B1

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of Plasmodium berghei infection on the development of liver tumors induced in male Buffalo rats by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 10(6) parasitized red blood cells (pRBC) into the rat 12 days prior to administration of 2 ppm dietary AFB1 for 10 weeks diminished hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induction compared to that observed in rats given AFB1 alone at weeks 60-82. No animals in a control group developed HCC lesions, while only 1 of 22 rats treated with P. berghei alone developed a neoplastic nodule at week 82. These data suggest a reducing effect of P. berghei on the development of liver tumors induced by AFB1 in male Buffalo rats.     

Synergistic effect of radiation on N-2-fluorenylacetamide-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male ACI/N rats

The effect of radiation on chemical hepatocarcinogenesis was examined in 3 groups of male ACI/N rats. In Group I, 21 rats received dietary administration of N-2-fluorenylacetamide (FAA) (0.02%) for 16 weeks. Six of the rats were killed at the cessation of FAA exposure. The remaining rats were then given the basal diet until termination (32 weeks). In Group II, 16 rats were given FAA for 16 weeks. The animals were then given radiation (whole body; 3 Gy) and kept on the diet for the subsequent 16 weeks. Thirteen rats of Group III were kept on the basal diet throughout the experiment. They received radiation for 16 weeks after the start of the experiment. Liver tumors were obtained in Groups I and II. The multiplicity of the neoplastic nodules or hepatocellular carcinomas of Group II (6.5 +/- 2.5 or 1.4 +/- 0.9) was significantly greater than that of Group I (2.9 +/- 1.7 or 0.3 +/- 0.4, respectively) (P less than 0.001). Furthermore, the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma of Group II (13/16) was also significantly higher than that of Group I (4/15) (P less than 0.003). The results clearly indicate a synergistic effect of radiation with FAA on the hepatocarcinogenesis. The effect of radiation in this rat model appeared to be on the early progression of the carcinogenesis.     

Induction of osteogenic sarcomas and tumors of the hepatobiliary system in nonhuman primates with aflatoxin B1.

The carcinogenicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been under evaluation in nonhuman primates for the past 13 years. A total of 47 Old World monkeys, chiefly rhesus and cynomolgus, have received AFB1 i.p. (0.125 to 0.25 mg/kg) and/or p.o. (0.1 to 0.8 mg/kg) for 2 months or longer, and 12 are currently alive and without evidence of tumor. Thirteen of the 35 monkeys necropsied to date (37%) developed one or more malignant neoplasms, yielding an overall tumor incidence of 28%. Five of the neoplasms were primary liver tumors (2 hepatocellular carcinomas and 3 hemangioendothelial sarcomas), and 2 cases of osteogenic sarcoma were found. Other tumors diagnosed were 6 carcinomas of the gall bladder or bile duct, 3 tumors of the pancreas or its ducts, and one papillary Grade I carcinoma of the urinary bladder. The tumors developed in animals receiving an average total AFB1 dose of 709 mg (range, 99 to 1354 mg) for an average of 114 months (range, 47 to 147 months). Fifteen of the 22 necropsied monkeys (68%) without tumor showed histological evidence of liver damage, including toxic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hyperplastic liver nodules. These animals had received an average total AFB1 dose of 363 mg (range, 0.35 to 1368 mg) for an average of 55 months (range, 2 to 141 months). Our results indicate that AFB1 is a potent hepatotoxin and carcinogen in nonhuman primates and further support the hypothesis that humans exposed to this substance may be at risk of developing cancer.     

银杏叶提取物对AFB1所致大鼠肝癌基因P16Ink4a mRNA及蛋白表达的影响

  目的  动态观察银杏叶提取物(ginkgo biloba extract, EGb761)在抑制黄曲霉毒素B1(AFB1)诱发大鼠肝癌过程中对肝组织相关基因P161nk4a mRNA表达水平的影响, 进一步从分子生物学水平揭示银杏叶提取物抗癌的机制及其效果。  方法  将70只4周龄Wistar雄性大鼠随机分为3组: AFB1组(25只), AFB1+EGb761组(25只)及对照组(20只)。在诱发肝癌过程中, 分别于第13、33及53周对大鼠进行肝组织活检; 至第73周处死全部动物取肝组织。应用实时荧光定量PCR和Westernblot技术动态检测肝组织中P16Ink4a mRNA及相应蛋白的表达情况。  结果  AFB1组原发性肝癌发生率为58.8%(10/17);AFB1+EGb761组为29.4%(5/17);对照组为0(0/16) AFB1+EGb761组肝癌发生率显著低于AFB1组(P < 0.05)。AFB1+EGb761组的肝组织P16Ink4amRNA及相应蛋白表达水平在第53周及第73周时均明显高于AFB1组, 差异有统计学意义(P < 0.05)。  结论  银杏叶提取物(EGb761)具有抑制AFB1致大鼠肝癌的作用。其机制可能与调控肝细胞抑癌基因P16Ink4a mRNA表达水平有关。      

Inhibitory Effects of Inhibitors of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism on the Evolution of Rat Liver Preneoplastic Foci into Nodules and Hepatocellular Carcinomas with or without Phenobarbital Exposure

Effects of inhibitors of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism on the evolution of preneoplastic foci into nodules and of nodules into hepatocellular carcinomas were examined in F344 male rat livers with or without phenobarbital (PB) exposure. p -Bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and quercetin (QU) were used as inhibitors of phospholipase A₂, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, respectively. Preneoplastic liver foci were induced by initiation with N-nitrosodiethylamine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) followed by selection using the procedure of Cayama et al. For the nodule experiment, starting 1 week after completion of the selection procedure, animals bearing foci were given diets containing 0.05% PB plus 0.75, 1, or 1.5% of one of the inhibitors, 0.05% PB alone, or 0.75, 1 or 1.5% of inhibitor alone, or basal diet for 9 weeks. For the carcinoma experiment, 3 weeks after completion of the selection procedure, animals bearing nodules were given the same diets mentioned above for 29 weeks. BPB, ASA and QU either with or without PB accelerated the remodeling of preneoplastic foci, significantly decreasing the numbers of persistent nodules and hyperplastic nodules. ASA either with or without PB significantly decreased the number of hepatocellular carcinomas per rat. BPB and QU, however, significantly decreased the numbers of hepatocellular carcinomas with but not without PB. The results suggested an involvement of AA metabolism in the process of evolution of preneoplastic foci into nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas in rat liver with or without PB exposure.     

High incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas induced by a choline deficient L-amino acid defined diet in rats.

The carcinogenicities of a choline deficient L-amino acid defined (CDAA) diet and a semipurified choline deficient diet were comparatively examined. A total of 60 male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, were divided into 5 experimental groups each consisting of 12 rats. Group 1 received the CDAA diet chronically to the end of the 52-week experiment while Group 2 was given the same diet for the first 24 weeks and then a basal diet for the following 28 weeks. Groups 3, 4, and 5 received a choline supplemented L-amino acid defined diet, the semipurified choline deficient diet, and a semipurified choline supplemented diet, respectively, throughout the experimental period. All surviving rats were subjected to complete macroscopic examination at Week 52. Histopathologically diagnosed hepatocellular carcinomas were induced in Group 1 at an incidence of 100%; multiple metastatic nodules were seen in the lungs of one of the animals. Hepatocellular carcinomas were also induced in Group 4 rats at a significantly lower incidence of 20%. No hepatocellular carcinomas were observed in rats in Groups 2, 3, and 4. The results indicate that the CDAA diet exerts more potent carcinogenicity for the livers of rats than does the semipurified choline deficient diet. However, limited exposure for 24 weeks may have not been sufficient for hepatocellular carcinoma induction by the CDAA diet at Week 52 although a high incidence of hyperplastic nodules and slight cirrhosis were evidence of persistent lesions.     

Modulation of Dihydroxy-di-n-propylnitrosamine-induced Liver Lesion Development in Opisthorchis-infected Syrian Hamsters by Praziquantel Treatment in Association with Butylated Hydroxyanisole or Dehydroepiandrosterone Administration

The effects of praziquantel coupled with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) administration 16 weeks subsequent to dihydroxy-di- n -propylnitrosamine (DHPN) treatment and infection with Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) on lesion development in the liver of Syrian hamsters were investigated. Animals were given 80 OV metacercariae and then two i.p. injections of DHPN (500 mg/kg body weight) 4 and 5 weeks thereafter. At week 16, groups received praziquantel (250 mg/kg, i.g.) and were placed on normal diet or diet supplemented with BHA (1%) or DHEA (0.6%) until they were killed at week 24. Histopathological assessment revealed that, whereas antihelminthic treatment alone resulted in a clear reduction in hepatocellular lesion development, effects on cholangiocellular lesions were equivocal. BHA and DHEA, in contrast, were both associated with a significant reduction in frequency of cholangiofibrosis and cholangiocellular carcinoma. The former chemical, however, increased the numbers of liver nodules while the hormone brought about a decrease as well as a shift in the phenotype of the lesions. The results thus indicate that although cholangiocellular lesion development may, unlike generation of hepatocellular nodules, be to a certain extent independent of the continued presence of parasite, it can be influenced by exogenous treatments.     

Enhancing effect of ethanol on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male ACI/N rats

The modifying effect of ethanol (EtOH) on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis was examined in male ACI/N rats by chronic treatment at the post-initiation phase. Rats received an ip injection of AFB1 (1.5 mg/kg) twice a week for 10 weeks (a total of 20 doses). Following a week of acclimation, they were given 10% EtOH as drinking water for 56 weeks. The effect of EtOH on the hepatocarcinogenesis was evaluated in terms of the incidence of altered hepatocellular foci and neoplasms at the end of the experiment. Exposure to AFB1 alone induced a substantial number of altered foci (6.98 iron-excluding foci/cm2) in rats. The number of altered liver cell foci in rats receiving AFB1 followed by EtOH was significantly increased (26.39 iron-excluding foci/cm2). In the rats given EtOH after AFB1, the total area and mean diameter of both iron-excluding foci and altered foci identified in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were significantly higher than in the rats exposed to AFB1 alone. The incidence of liver cell tumors of the group given AFB1 and EtOH (3/15, 20%) was higher than that of the group treated with AFB1 alone (0/14, 0%). Treatment with EtOH alone for 56 weeks did not induce either. These results indicate an enhancing effect of EtOH on AFB1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis when it is given in the promotion phase.     

Effects of antioxidants on aflatoxin-induced hepatic tumors in rats

Female Wistar rats pretreated with Aflatoxin B1 (AFB) were administered reduced glutathione, butylated hydroxytoluene, methionine or ascorbic acid on a daily basis, p.o., for 8 months. None of the treatments produced a decrease in incidence or size of hepatic nodules. While there was some evidence that ascorbic acid reduced the incidence of cystic cholangioma, the ascorbic acid and methionine treatment groups also contained significantly fewer animals surviving to the 26-month sacrifice. The lack of effect of glutathione is not consistent with previous work showing a marked glutathione dependent regression of AFB-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Carcinohistogenesis and expression of alpha fetoprotein in experimental hepatocarcinoma

In1973,WhenAnthony,etal.inUganda[']werestudyinghumanhepatocirrhosisandhepatocarcinomatheyfirstreportedthatatypicalhyperplasia(AH)ofhepatocyteswasprecancerosisofhepatocellularcarcinoma(HCC).Roncalli,etal.[2]dividedAHintolargehepatocyticandsmallhepatocyticAH,andtheyconsideredthelatterwascloselyrelatedtoformingHCC.In1988,Xu,etal.[3]pointedoutthatHCCoccursfromproliferativenodulesofbasophilicandacidophilichepatocytes.Indeed,carcinohistogenesis,inparticularthechangeofalpha-fetoprotein(AFP)i…     

Carcinogenic effect of nitrosopyrrolidine, nitrosopiperidine and nitrosohexamethyleneimine in Fischer rats

Three homologous cyclic nitrosamines, nitrosopyrrolidine, nitrosopiperidine and nitrosohexamethyleneimine, were administered to groups of 20 female F344 rats in drinking water, as 0.9 mM solutions. Treatment with the latter 2 compounds lasted 28 weeks, at which time several animals had died with esophageal tumors. All of the animals in these 2 groups were dead by the 36th week of the experiment. Most of the animals given nitrosohexamethyleneimine also had angiosarcomas of the liver, and a few hepatocellular carcinomas were seen. Treatment with nitrosopyrrolidine lasted 50 weeks and the first animal in the group died at the 63rd week with an hepatocellular carcinoma. By the 110th week, almost all of these animals had died with the same type of tumor, and the 2 survivors were then killed. Many of the hepatocellular carcinomas had metastasized. There were no tumors of the liver in the rats treated with nitrosopiperidine.     

Differential expression of metallopanstimulin/S27 ribosomal protein in hepatic regeneration and neoplasia.

We have previously shown that human metallopanstimulin-1 (MPS-1) is a ubiquitous 9.4-kd multifunctional ribosomal S27/nuclear "zinc finger" protein that is expressed at high levels in a wide variety of actively proliferating cells and tumor tissues. In this study, we examined the expression of MPS-1 in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Tissue samples were obtained at the time of tumor resection, needle biopsy, or liver transplantation. MPS- 1 was studied by immunohistochemistry by use of specific antibodies to the N-terminus of MPS-1 in a biotin/streptavidin-amplified system. In chronic hepatitis, hepatocytes had very weak MPS-1 immunostaining. In contrast, hepatocytes in regenerating cirrhotic nodules stained strongly for MPS-1. In well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, MPS-1 presence was intense at the periphery of the malignant nodule. In poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, MPS-1 presence was notably intense in malignant hepatocytes invading the septal tissues, in close contact with neovascular structures. These results suggest that MPS-1 may be involved in both progression toward malignancy in regenerating cirrhotic nodules and in subsequent steps of hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Modification of pancreatic carcinogenesis in the hamster model. IX. Effect of pancreatitis

The effect of acute and recurrent pancreatitis was investigated in pancreatic cancer induction by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) in Syrian golden hamsters. For the correlation of the cellular alteration with carcinogenesis, BOP (20 mg/kg body wt) was injected once sc into hamsters at day 3 (group 2), week 1 (group 3), and week 8 (group 4), corresponding to cellular degeneration, regeneration, and healing, respectively. Additional groups received BOP 30 minutes before common duct ligation for 48 hours (group 1) or before repeated induction of pancreatitis at 4 weekly intervals for 4 weeks (group 5). Group 6 was a pancreatitis control. Two groups of hamsters received BOP only, at the age of 8 weeks (group 7, which served as a BOP control for groups 1-3 and 5) or at the age of 16 weeks (group 8, the control for group 4). Hamsters were killed 46 weeks after BOP injection (with the exception of group 1 animals, which were killed 52 wk after BOP) to guarantee the same postcarcinogen exposure time in each group. The results showed that BOP, when given during cellular degeneration (group 2) and healing (group 4), induced significantly fewer carcinomas than in the control groups, whereas the tumor pattern was not affected when BOP was given before pancreatitis induction (group 1) or at the time of cellular regeneration (group 3). Recurrent pancreatitis (group 5), however, resulted in carcinomas significantly larger in number and size than those in control group 8. A significantly higher incidence of carcinomas occurred in group 8 controls (treated with BOP at the age of 16 wk) compared to the incidence in group 7 controls (treated with BOP at the age of 8 wk).     

Modification of pancreatic carcinogenesis in the hamster model. VIII. Inhibitory effect of exogenous insulin

The effect of exogenous insulin, which has been known to suppress beta-cell function of islets, was investigated on pancreatic carcinogenesis induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl) amine [(BOP) CAS: 60599-38-4; 2,2'-dioxo-N-nitrosodipropylamine]. Three groups of Syrian golden hamsters were treated sc once with BOP (20 mg/kg body wt) simultaneously with (group 1), 120 minutes before (group 2), or 120 minutes after (group 3) a single sc injection of porcine insulin (5 U/kg body wt). Group 4 was a BOP-treated control. Survivors were killed 46 weeks after BOP administration, and the pancreas, common duct, and gallbladder were examined histologically. When given 120 minutes before or after BOP, insulin inhibited the induction of benign and malignant pancreatic lesions in a statistically significant fashion. However, the simultaneous administration of BOP also led to similar (although not statistically significant) results as did the administration of insulin 120 minutes after BOP. Insulin also seemed to inhibit tumor induction in the common duct and gallbladder, regardless of when it was administered; however, the differing incidence was statistically significant only in hamsters from group 3 killed at the experiment's end. The overall data suggest that the inhibitory effect of exogenous insulin on pancreatic carcinogenicity is not merely through islet cells, but rather through other (or additional) mechanisms.