A Water-soluble Carcinogen Derived from 3: 4-Benzpyrene

Abstract

IN a note entitled “Photo-oxides of Carcinogenic Hydrocarbons”, an account has already been given of the labile water-soluble materials produced from 3: 4-benzpyrene by irradiating it in solution in benzene, and of some biological effects produced by them¹. Similar materials were shown by Schulman and Rideal to be adsorbed on protein monolayers², and by analogy with their work on œstrogenic and hæmolytic substances, it appeared possible that the existence of such water-soluble derivatives might throw light on the mechanism by which tumours are produced by the insoluble parent hydrocarbon. Further investigation of the optimum conditions for the irradiation, in collaboration with Dr. B. Szigeti, of the Research Department of Messrs. Adam Hilger Limited, has made it possible to prepare more concentrated extracts from irradiated benzpyrene than were used in the earlier experiments, and these have proved to be carcinogenic.