title: N-acetil-l-cysteine and 2-amino-2-thiiazoline N-acetyl-l-cysteinate as a possible cancer chemopreventive agents in murine models.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and its 2-amino-2-thiazoline salt (NACAT) as potential chemopreventive agents on experimentally induced lung tumours by urethane (U) in mice. Female BALB/c mice were used. U was given by intraperitoneal injections during 2 weeks (single dose - 10 mg/mouse, total - 50 mg/mouse). Mice were treated daily per os with NAC 1/10 LD50, NACAT 1/10 or 1/100 LD50 starting 2 weeks prior U administration, then during U treatment and thereafter for 2 months. The duration of experiment was 4 months. The results showed that NAC (1000 mg/kg) reduced the lung tumour incidence to 30% that of controls, P < or = 0.05. Most effective of NACAT was 100 mg/kg dose; it reduced an average of lung adenomas per mouse by 26%, P < or = 0.05, but lower dose (10 mg/kg) was less effective. In order to achieve similar chemopreventive effect (approximately 30%) on mice, it is necessary to use 0.38 mM/kg of NACAT or 6.13 mM/kg of NAC. It means that 16 times less of NACAT is required, if calculated by molar concentration. In general, NAC and NACAT have a moderate chemopreventive effect on lung tumorigenesis induced by urethane in mice.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius, Lithuania. vitalija@bchi.lt
authors.forename: Vitalija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Simkeviciene
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Straukas
authors.forename: Saule
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uleckiene
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D013844:Thiazoles; C031363:2-aminothiazoline; D000111:Acetylcysteine