A Study of the Carcinogenicity of a Series of Structurally Related 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzenes

SUMMARY A series of structurally closely related 3',4'-disubstituted-4-dimethylaminoazobenzenes has been studied to evaluate the effects of varying the kinds and positions of substituents on their carcinogenicities. If each sub stituent, when used singly, is rated for carcinogenic potency for each of the 3' and 4' positions, these po tencies appear to be additive when the substituents are used in various combinations in disubstituted compounds. The quantity of each of the new dyes bound to liver protein following single-dose administration was also studied. It was found that liver protein binding was re lated to carcinogenicity in only a very general way and that binding was influenced to a considerable degree by the substituents present in the compound. The techniques for studying carcinogenicity and liver protein binding have been modified to provide a greater degree of stand ardization and, hence, quantification.