The large bowel carcinogenic effects of hydrazines and related compounds occurring in nature and in the environment

✍ Scribed by Dr. Bela Toth

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1977
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 381 KB
• Volume: 40
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(197711)40:5+<2427::aid-cncr2820400906>3.0.co;2-y

✦ Synopsis

Five substituted hydrazines that induce large bowel and other types of cancer in laboratory animals are described. Two of these compounds, which originate in nature, are 1 ,1-dimethylhydrazine, a tobacco ingredient, and methylhydrazine, formed from a chemical present in the edible wild mushroom Gyromitra esculmta. The human population is therefore exposed to them considerably. In addition, both compounds are manufactured and used in rocket fuel. The other three chemicals, 1 ,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride, l-methyl-2-butylhydrazine dihydrochloride and trimethylhydrazine hydrochloride, are manufactured synthetically only and apparently are not found in substantial quantities in the environment.

Cancar 40:2427-2431, 1977. N INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES, CANCER OF THE I large bowel, after cancer of the lungs, is the second most commonly occurring cancer in man. 'A' The incidence of intestinal cancer is apparently related to economic development. It is noteworthy in this context that these tumors are still comparatively rare in developing countries." Even though it is not proven, it seems likely that environmental factors, in particular, chemical compounds, may account for the high incidence of intestinal cancer in certain areas of the world. Intestinal neoplasms rarely occur in laboratory animals.

To date, a number of chemicals are known to possess tumor-inducing potentialities in the intestine, particularly in the large bowel portion. " Among the most notable are certain aromatic amines, 8s~a' some azo-compounds, 0*12*1s*28 and a few nitrosamines. 14919*a2 Recently it became apparent that a series of hydrazine analogues are also capable of inducing large bowel cancer in laboratory animals. These findings appear important, since the human population is exposed to a considerable degree to some of these hydrazines."