US EPA

59184 

Journal Article 

The tumor-promoting action of phenol and related compounds for mouse skin 

Boutwell, RK; Bosch, DK 

1959 

Yes 

Cancer Research
ISSN: 0008-5472
EISSN: 1538-7445 

NIOSH/00127853 

19 

4 

413-424 

English 

13652126 

http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/19/4/413.citation
Exit
 

The tumorigenic activity of phenol (108952) and related compounds on mouse skin was measured. Two albino-mice were shaved and treated by dropping various compounds in benzene or acetone solution onto the middorsal region. Group one contained 23 male mice which were treated with a single dose of 75 micrograms 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (57976) (DMBA). Group two consisted of 23 female mice which received the DMBA treatment followed after one week with 10 percent phenol, which was continued twice a week. Group three had 24 female mice which received the phenol treatment but no DMBA pretreatment. One mouse from group one developed a papilloma by week 24, 95 percent of group demonstrating that phenol promoted the appearance of malignant tumors. Group three mice suffered hair loss, but only three papillomas developed by week 47. In a similar study, the effects of croton-oil (8001283) were similar to the effect of phenol, varying with the concentration applied and degree of purity. The maximum response from phenol was at the 10 percent concentration, while the same response was seen with a 0.5 percent solution of croton-oil. Holtzman-mice were more susceptible than CAF-mice, and C3H-mice were much less susceptible to papillomas. Over 50 compounds related to phenol promoted tumors when applied after one DMBA treatment, but were all found to be less effective than croton-oil.