title: Epstein-Barr virus activators, mutagens and volatile nitrosamines in preserved food samples from high-risk areas for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Representative samples of preserved foods collected from high-risk areas for nasopharyngeal carcinoma were assayed for capacity to induce Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by measuring induction of the DR promoter gene or of genes for early antigens in Raji cells. The two assays gave concordant results, but the DR induction assay detected EBV-inducing substances at lower concentrations and more reproducibly. Three of 17 preserved food items were active in both assays; they were also weakly mutagenic in the SOS chromotest and contained low or moderate levels of volatile N-nitrosamines. After in-vitro nitrosation, the levels of mutagens and nitrosamines increased, whereas EBV-inducing activity was unchanged or decreased. Thus, EBV inducers appear to be a different class of substances from mutagens and volatile N-nitrosamines but could act with them in the etiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bouvier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malaveille
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polack
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Bornkamm
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de-Thé
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bartsch
mesh_terms: D005504:Food Analysis; D005519:Food Preservation; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D009602:Nitrosamines