METHYLCHOLANTHRENE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00184385
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: August 4, 1954

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0 ce Memorandum � UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
PATE: 4 August 1954
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Msthylcholanthrene
The following are brief notes on Methylcholanthrene, in response
to your request of August 3, 1954.
Literature: George Wolf, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois.
"Chemical Induction of Cancer", 1953. see esp. p.29,44 etc.
By means of a special genetic technique, Strong,
J.N.C.I.5, 339, 1945 induced tumors with methylcholan-
threne in many different tissues.
Methyl Cholinthrene is a good initiator (high tumor incidence
and a good promoter (short latent period) -p.85 Wolf.
Hartwell: Survey of Compounds tested for Carcinogenic
properties PHS: 149 National Institute Cancer
E. C. HUBER: Public Health Report Supplekent 209, 1948
on Environmental and Occupational Cancer.
National Institute Cancer
Louis F. Fieser and Mary Fieser: Natural Products related
to Phenanthrene, 3rd edition 1949, p. 159: Methyl
eholanthrene was found capable of initiating malignant
growth in test animals by Getteras Z. physiol, Chemie
214,89, 1933.
'Methylcholanthrene is now recognized as probably the most potent
known carcinogen in the production of tumors of various types.
If this hydrocarbon can be produced in the laboratory by chemical
transformations of normal constituents of the human organism, it is
possible that the substance may arise in the body through a process of
abnormal metabolism - and initiate cancer. *
The degradations of desoxycholic acid (one of the normal con-
stituents of human bile), cholic acid and cholesterol (a substance in
all tissues of the body) all involve low-yield pyrolytic reactions;
they have not been effected under anything approaching physiological
conditions; careful processing of cancerous tissues and urines has failed
to establish the presence of methylcholanthrene. *
There is thus no evidence that this or other hydrocarbon carcino-
gen plays any role in the etiology of human cancer.
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On the other hand, present evidetre does not exclude such a
possibility. Every minute amount of methylcholanthrene could produce
a few malignant cells; these -by cell-division and without.
Further stimulation from the initiating agent could lead to a
palpable cancerous proliferation after an induction period during
which the initiating agent may have been eliminated from the system:
SOURCE: 3 -Methyl -Cholanthrene: 4383 Cat. Chemical Cpds. Fischer
Scientific Co. 7722 Woodbury, Silver Spring, Washington, D. C.
Price: 1/2 g. $4.46
1 g. $8.25
* Carl Max Hasselmann and Hans Otto Johne in Arch. Dermato & Syphilis
188, 693-707, 1950 reported primary multiple skin carcinoma with
simultaneous tertiary syphilis.
Disturbances of the cholesterol metabolism, presenein syphilis cases
of long standing, as well as cancer eases are discussed with respect to
the chemical reaction between the physiological substances: cholesterol,
bile acid and desoxycholic acid, and the Cancerogenic substances cholan-
threne and methylcholanthrene..-Both Huber and Hartwell appear very
knowledgable and are connected with the .National Institute Cancer.
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