title: Induction of rhabdomyosarcoma by embedded military-grade tungsten/nickel/cobalt not by tungsten/nickel/iron in the B6C3F1 mouse.
abstract: Continued improvements in the ballistic properties of military munitions have led to metal formulations for which little are known about the long-term health effects. Previously we have shown that a military-grade tungsten alloy comprised of tungsten, nickel, and cobalt, when embedded into the leg muscle of F344 rats to simulate a fragment wound, induces highly aggressive metastatic rhabdomyosarcomas. An important follow-up when assessing a compound's carcinogenic potential is to test it in a second rodent species. In this study, we assessed the health effects of embedded fragments of 2 military-grade tungsten alloys, tungsten/nickel/cobalt and tungsten/nickel/iron, in the B6C3F1 mouse. Implantation of tungsten/nickel/cobalt pellets into the quadriceps muscle resulted in the formation of a rhabdomyosarcoma around the pellet. Conversely, implantation of tungsten/nickel/iron did not result in tumor formation. Unlike what was seen in the rat model, the tumors induced by the tungsten/nickel/cobalt did not exhibit aggressive growth patterns and did not metastasize.
authors.affiliation: Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Christy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Emond
authors.affiliation: Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Vernieda B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.affiliation: Division of Comparative Pathology, Veterinary Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA Current address: Comparative Pathology and Research Veterinary Medicine Department, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Lombardini
authors.affiliation: Division of Comparative Pathology, Veterinary Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA Current address: Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mog
authors.affiliation: Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA john.kalinich@usuhs.edu.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kalinich
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D051379:Mice; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D054041:Weapons
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: cancer; embedded fragment wound; mouse; rhabdomyosarcoma; tungsten alloy