Effects of several dimethylbenzacridines on secondary hamster embryo cells: Neoplastic transformation

Several dimethylbenz[c]acridines and their isomers dimethylbenz[a]acridines were studied for their capacity to induce malignant transformation in secondary hamster embryo cells. Transformation was evaluated by the ability of transformed cells to provoke tumor formation in syngenic animals. 7,8-Dimethylbenz[c]acridine, 7,10-dimethylbenz[c]acridine, as well as a mixture of both, caused malignant transformation of hamster embryo cells, but not 7,9-dimethylbenz[c]acridine. Cultures treated with 10,12-dimethylbenz[a]acridine and 9,12-dimethylbenz[a]acridine did not become malignant and showed a decreased life-span in vitro. Untreated control cells retained their original characteristics and when injected in animals did not produce tumors throughout the whole experiment.