Cancer induction by benzenediazonium sulfate (BD) in mice

The goal of this investigation was to disclose the possible carcinogenicity of BD in animals. BD was administered as 26 subcutaneous injections at weekly intervals of 10μg/g body weight of Swiss mice, starting at six weeks of age. As a control, another group of mice were kept untreated. Each group consisted of 100 (50♀, 50♂) mice. To date, in the BD-treated group, 12 mice are still alive. Thus far, 17 (34%) females and 12 (24%) males have developed subcutaneous tissue tumors in the BD-treated groups, while the corresponding figures in the untreated controls were zero in the females and 1 (2%) in the males. Histopathologically, these neoplasms were classified as fibrosarcomas and rhabdomyosarcomas. BD is the fourth diazonium salts found to be carcinogenic in this laboratory. The others were 4-hydroxymethyl- 4-methyl- and 4-hydroxy- benzenediazonium sulfates. 4-(Hydroxymethyl)- and 4-hydroxy-benzendiazonium ions are ingredients of mushrooms including the cultivated Agaricus bisporus, while BD is formed from Sudan I during cytochrome P-450 catalyzed metabolism. Sudan I or solvent yellow 14 (1-[phenylazo]-2-hydroxynaphthalene) is a food coloring agent and a known liver and urinary bladder carcinogen in mammals.