Investigation of ethyl alcohol and β-carotene effect on two models of carcinogenesis

The effects of ethyl alcohol and synthetic beta-carotene have been studied on two models of carcinogenesis in mice BALB/c. Lung tumours were induced with organotropically acting urethane (given by i.p. injections, total dose - 100 mg/mouse), subcutaneous tumours were induced with locally acting benzo(a)pyrene (single injection, 2 mg/mouse). beta-Carotene was given 3 times per week 0.4 mg/mouse by gastric intubations, and 10% ethanol was given instead of drinking water until the end of experiments (4-6 months). Results showed that beta-carotene did not significantly inhibit lung adenomogenesis and may moderately delay subcutaneous tumours occurrence. In our studies chronic ethanol intake did not show significant influence on this delay.