Inhibitory effects of 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate on urinary bladder tumorigenesis in rats induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine

The effects of 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (MESNA) and phenethyl and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanates (PEITC and PHITC) on urinary bladder tumorigenesis were investigated in Wistar rats treated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BHBN). A total of 190 male rats were divided into eight groups. Animals in groups 1, 3 and 4 were administered BHBN in drinking water (0.025%) and group 2 rats were given 0.025% BHBN plus 0.05% MESNA solution for 15 weeks. Rats in groups 3 and 4 were fed a diet supplemented with PEITC or PHITC at a dose level of 0.5 μmol/g for 16 weeks starting 1 week prior to the BHBN treatment. Rats in groups 5–7 served as MESNA, PEITC or PHITC alone controls. Group 8 served as a non-treatment control. The chromatographic profile of drinking water for group 2 animals indicated no chemical interaction between BHBN and MESNA. The incidences of papillomas in the bladder and total bladder tumors including transitional cell carcinomas were significantly (P<0.01) reduced in group 2 as compared to that in group 1. The multiplicities of papillomas or total bladder tumors were significantly (P<0.01) lower in group 2 and 4 rats treated with MESNA and PHITC, respectively, than in group 1 rats. The PEITC treatment, however, did not affect the BHBN-induced bladder tumorigenesis. No bladder tumors were found in animals of groups 5–8. The results in the present study clearly indicate that both MESNA and PHITC are potent chemopreventive agents against bladder tumor development in rats induced by BHBN.