Reference SummaryDunnick JK, Toxicology 2003 Feb 1;183(1-3):221-34

Title

Carcinogenic potential of o-nitrotoluene and p-nitrotoluene.

Authors

Dunnick JK; Burka LT; Mahler J; Sills R

Journal

Toxicology

Volume

183

Issue

1-3

Year

2003

Pages

221-34

Abstract

The potential of o-nitrotoluene and p-nitrotoluene to cause cancer in mammalian species was studied in male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. These chemicals are on the EPA list of high production chemicals and there is potential for human exposure (High Production Volume Chemical List (2000) http://oaspub.cpa.gov/opptintr/chemrtk/volchall.htm.). o-Nitrotoluene, administered in the feed for up to 2 years, caused clear evidence for cancer at multiple sites in rats and mice. Male rats, receiving o-nitrotoluene in the feed ( approximately 0, 25, 50, or 90 mg/kg per day), developed treatment-related mesotheliomas, subcutaneous skin neoplasms, mammary gland fibroadenomas, and liver neoplasms. By 2 years, mesotheliomas, skin, liver, mammary gland and liver tumors also occurred in 'stop-study' male rats that received o-nitrotoluene at 125 or 315 mg/kg per day for only the first 3 months of study. These 'stop-studies' showed that the critical events leading to tumor formation occurred after 3 months of dosing, and these events were irreversible and eventually led to cancer at multiple sites. o-Nitrotoluene given in the feed to female rats ( approximately 0, 30, 60, or 100 mg/kg per day) and to male and female mice ( approximately 0, 150, 320, or 700 mg/kg per day) also caused a carcinogenic response. In female rats, treatment-related subcutaneous skin neoplasms and mammary gland fibroadenomas occurred. Hemangiosarcomas and carcinomas of the large intestine (cecum) were seen in treated male and female mice. In contrast to o-nitrotoluene, p-nitrotoluene given in the feed over approximately the same exposure levels caused only equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity in male rats (subcutaneous skin neoplasms); some evidence of carcinogenic activity in female rats (clitoral gland neoplasms); equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity in male mice (lung neoplasms); and no evidence of carcinogenic activity in female mice. Differences in the o-nitrotoluene and p-nitrotoluene carcinogenic activity may be due to differences in the metabolism of the parent compound to carcinogenic metabolites.

Links

J:81076 – MGI References
12504353 – National Library of Medicine/PubMed

Models

Strain Model Name Treatment Agent(s) Organ Affected Frequency Model Details
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • NTP-2000
(Unspecified organ)

0 - 6.67

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
(Unspecified organ)

3.39 - 100

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
(Unspecified organ)

5.08 - 84.75

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Muscle - Striated - Skeletal

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Muscle - Striated - Skeletal

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Subcutis

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Subcutis

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Peritoneum - Mesentery

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Peritoneum - Mesentery

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Intestine - Large Intestine - Cecum carcinoma
  • NTP-2000
Intestine - Large Intestine - Cecum

0

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Intestine - Large Intestine - Cecum carcinoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Intestine - Large Intestine - Cecum

0 - 20

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Intestine - Large Intestine - Cecum carcinoma
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Intestine - Large Intestine - Cecum

1.69 - 6.78

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver tumor
  • NTP-2000
Liver

15.25

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver tumor
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
Liver

15.25 - 66.10

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 (Unspecified organ) neoplasm
  • NTP-2000
(Unspecified organ)

0

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 (Unspecified organ) neoplasm
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
(Unspecified organ)

0 - observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 (Unspecified organ) neoplasm
  • O-nitrotoluene
  • NTP-2000
(Unspecified organ)

0 - observed