TRANSPLACENTAL INDUCTION OF PANCREAS TUMORS IN HAMSTERS BY ETHANOL AND THE TOBACCO-SPECIFIC NITROSAMINE 4-(METHYLNITROSAMINO)-1-(3-PYRIDYL)-1-BUTANONE

Epidemiological studies suggest that smoking during pregnancy and pass ive exposure of children to cigarette smoke may increase the cancer ri sk in children and young adults. We have previously shown that the tob acco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butano ne (NNK) is an active transplacental carcinogen in Syrian golden hamst ers when administered by s.c. injections to pregnant females. The majo rity of tumors in the offspring developed in the respiratory tract. Si nce in smoking women the respiratory tract is the portal of entry of t obacco-related carcinogens, including NNK. we have investigated the tr ansplacental effects of NNK given by intratracheal instillation to pre gnant hamsters. The modulating effect of ethanol on the transplacental carcinogenicity of NNK in this system was also investigated because s moking and consumption of alcoholic beverages are observed in pregnant women. Our data show that exposure to NNK via the maternal respirator y tract causes a similar tumor incidence in the offspring as the s.c. route of administration. Ethanol greatly enhanced the carcinogenic res ponse to NNK, and up to 60% of the offspring exposed in utero to ethan ol and NNK developed tumors of the exocrine pancreas.