Medium-term multi-organ carcinogenesis bioassay of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether in rats

The modifying potential of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) on tumor development was investigated in a medium-term multi-organ carcinogenesis bioassay using male F344 rats. Animals were sequentially given 5 carcinogens with different target sites in the first 4 weeks for multi-organ initiation. After one week they received ETBE by gavage at dose levels of 0 (control), 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day until experimental week 28. Further groups were also given ETBE at doses of 0 or 1000 mg/kg/day without prior carcinogen application. Incidences and multiplicities of follicular cell hyperplasias and neoplasms in the thyroid were significantly increased at dose levels of more than 300 mg/kg/day. Combined incidences of squamous cell hyperplasias and papillomas of the forestomach were also significantly increased at 300 and 1000 mg/kg/day. Incidences and multiplicities of adenocarcinomas in the colon were increased at 1000 mg/kg/day. The numbers and areas of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive foci per unit area of the liver sections, and the incidence of hepatocellular adenomas were also significantly increased at 1000 mg/kg/day, along with multiplicities of atypical hyperplasias of renal tubules of the kidney and the incidence of papillomatosis of the urinary bladder. This latter lesion was also seen at low incidence at 1000 mg/kg/day without initiation. Thus, the current results indicate that ETBE has tumor promoting potential for the thyroid and forestomach at dose levels of 300 mg/kg/day and more, and for the colon, liver, kidney and urinary bladder at 1000 mg/kg/day, under the present experimental conditions.

► This study investigated the tumor promoting potential of ETBE in male F344 rats.
► ETBE acted as a tumor promoter for the thyroid and forestomach at 300 mg/kg/day.
► ETBE was a tumor promoter in the colon, liver, kidney and bladder at 1000 mg/kg/day.