title: N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea as a mammary carcinogenic agent.
abstract: The administration of chemical carcinogens is one of the most commonly used methods to induce tumors in several organs in laboratory animals in order to study oncologic diseases of humans. The carcinogen agent N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) is the oldest member of the nitroso compounds that has the ability to alkylate DNA. MNU is classified as a complete, potent, and direct alkylating compound. Depending on the animals' species and strain, dose, route, and age at the administration, MNU may induce tumors' development in several organs. The aim of this manuscript was to review MNU as a carcinogenic agent, taking into account that this carcinogen agent has been frequently used in experimental protocols to study the carcinogenesis in several tissues, namely breast, ovary, uterus, prostate, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, small intestine, colon, hematopoietic system, lung, skin, retina, and urinary bladder. In this paper, we also reviewed the experimental conditions to the chemical induction of tumors in different organs with this carcinogen agent, with a special emphasis in the mammary carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal. anafaustino.faustino@sapo.pt.|Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal. anafaustino.faustino@sapo.pt.
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Faustino-Rocha
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry of Natural Products and Agrifood (QOPNA), Mass Spectrometry Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal.|Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal.|Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Adelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal.|Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ginja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D004247:DNA
keywords: Animal models; Carcinogen agent; MNU; Mammary cancer