Carcinogenic Activity, Structure, and Chemical Reactivity of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

One line of research issuing directly from the important discovery by Kennaway, Cook, and associates in 1930 (123) that certain pure hydrocarbons are endowed with the specific property of producing cancer in animals has consisted in the exploratory study of a large number of synthetic compounds and the attempt to discover relationships between carcinogenic activity and molecular structure. Behind this work is the idea that the recognition of such relationships may provide significant clues in seeking to discover the manner in which certain hydrocarbons in contact with tissue are able to induce malignant growths. Although the work of synthesizing new compounds proceeds slowly and much additional time is required for completion of the biological tests, a considerable body of at least preliminary information has accumulated in the past eight years as a result of investigations directed specifically toward the goal of correlating structure and activity. In addition, there has been during this period a large amount of biological experimentation motivated by entirely different considerations but nevertheless having a direct bearing on the problem.