Inhibition of carcinogenesis by dietary zinc

Abstract

WE are prompted by two recent publications to communicate incomplete results of an experiment which is still in progress. Levij and Polliack1 reported the inhibition of chemical carcinogenesis in the hamster cheek pouch by topical application of chlorpromazine; DeWys et al.2 reported the inhibition of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma growth by dietary zinc deficiency. We have achieved a result similar to that of Levij and Polliack by a method diametrically opposite to that of DeWys et al.: we have inhibited carcinogenesis in the hamster cheek pouch by the administration of additional zinc. © 1971 Nature Publishing Group.