Malignant transformation and mutagenesis in mammalian cells induced by vicinal diol-epoxides derived from...

Benzo[a] pyrene and the syn- and anti-isomers of the 7,8-diol 9,10-oxide and of the 9,10-diol 7,8-oxide derived from this hydrocarbon have been tested for their abilities to induce malignant transformation in M2 mouse fibroblasts and mutagenesis in V79 Chinese hamster cells. The anti-isomer of the 7,8-diol 9,10-oxide induced more mutations and transformation than did the other three vicinal diol-epoxides. The two 9,10-diol 7,8-oxides were moderately mutagenic but did not induce any transformation. In contrast, benzo[a]-pyrene induced transformation in M2 fibroblasts but was not mutagenic in the V79 cells.