[Precancerous and cancerous lesions and their gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase expression in 3-methylcholanthrene-induced lung carcinogenesis in rats]

Abstract

Lung precancerous and cancerous lesions were induced in Wistar rats by one intrabronchial injection of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC). The incidences of atypical hyperplasia of bronchiolar epithelium, adenoid hyperplasia or adenomas, and squamous cell carcinoma were 88.2% (15/17), 70.6% (12/17) and 17.7% (3/17) respectively by the 30th day after 3-MC treatment, and 83.3% (15/18), 23.5% (4/17) and 38.9% (7/18) by the 60th day. Positive expression of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) was identified histochemically in all of the above precancerous lesions and carcinomas. GGT might be used as a marker of precancerous and cancerous lesions of the lung.