Co-carcinogenicity of sodium saccharin and N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide for the urinary bladder

The co-carcinogenic activity of sodium saccharin and N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) was evaluated in male Fischer rats by co-administering them as 5% and 0.005% of the diet, respectively, for 2 years. The effect of simultaneous administration of two urinary bladder promoting substances, sodium saccharin and L-tryptophan as 5% and 2% of the diet, respectively, was also evaluated. Five of 16 rats administered sodium saccharin plus FANFT developed bladder tumors whereas none of the rats administered FANFT, sodium saccharin, or L-tryptophan alone, sodium saccharin plus L-tryptophan, or the control diet developed bladder tumors. Possible mechanisms for the co-carcinogenic activity of sodium saccharin and FANFT are discussed.