[Sodium nitrite-induced potentiation of spontaneous and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced carcinogenesis in male mice F1 (C57 B1xCBA)].

: Chronic sodium nitrite (SN) treatment potentiated spontaneous and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced carcinogenesis. Mice injected with SN alone showed a higher incidence of leukemia and lung cancer than in controls. Combined treatment with DMH and SN induced most of benign and malignant tumors (hepatic hemangioendothelioma, hepatocarcinoma, renal adenoma, etc.). The difference in the numbers of DMH- and SN-induced tumor bearers was not significant until a concentration of 500 mg/l was reached (64.7%). The level of multiple tumor incidence increased when SN 50 and 500 mg/l was used. Unlike DMH alone, cumulative incidence of DMH-specific tumors and leukemia after combined treatment was higher. An evaluation of cumulative incidence and relative risk established an indirect but positive correlation between SN dose, on the one hand, and spontaneous and induced carcinogenesis, on the other. The strongest carcinogenic effect was reported when DMH was used in combination with SN 500 mg/l. Our data confirmed the carcinogenic hazard of chronic exposure to SN which increased when in combination with that to a specific carcinogenic substance.