Promoting effect of oxazepam in rat hepatocarcinogenesis

In order to check whether the benzodiazepine, oxazepam (OZ), has a modulating effect on the development of liver cancer, it was given to rats previously submitted to two different protocols of hepatocarcinogenesis: the resistant hepatocyte protocol and Pitot's model (initiation-promotion). Its effects were compared with those of phenobarbital (PB) administered under the same conditions. As compared with basal diet, a diet containing 0.05% of PB and 0.1% of OZ enhanced, in both models, the development of gamma-glutamyltransferase-positive lesions in early stages. OZ also had a promoting effect on the development of liver cancers in later stages in both models whereas PB only enhanced it in the resistant hepatocyte protocol. Thus, like PB, OZ may have a promoting effect on liver cancer in rats.