ENDOSCOPIC OBSERVATION FOR DETECTION AND MONITORING OF N-BUTYL-N-(4-HYDROXYBUTYL)NITROSAMINE-INDUCED BLADDER-TUMOR IN RATS

Recent advances in tumor carbohydrate biochemistry have demonstrated a ntitumor effects of locally administered G(M3) ganglioside on mouse MB T-2 tumor. When intravesical therapy in N-butyl-N(4-hydroxybutyl)nitro samine (BBN)-induced rat bladder tumor is attempted, it is essential t o identify the tumor, to classify its size before therapy and to monit or the effect of the therapy. To establish a more reliable experimenta l therapeutic system, we assessed the development of BBN-induced rat b ladder tumor by endoscopic observation. BBN-induced bladder tumors in rats were observed serially using a 4.2-F flexible fiberscope. The end oscopic findings were compared with the histopathological findings. In travesical tumor growth varied greatly between individual rats. The sm allest change detected by endoscopy was a small edematous lesion histo logically proved to be papilloma. The largest nodular lesion was deter mined to be a papillary, transitional cell carcinoma. This noninvasive method makes the BBN rat experimental system more reliable by allowin g confirmation of tumor formation and classification of the tumor volu me prior to therapy.