Androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione

Carcinogenicity

Description of key information

A carcinogenic potential is assumed for androstadiendion based on two carcinogenicity studies in rats and mice with the read-across substance androstendion (NTP, 2010). These studies reveald an equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity in rats and a clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in mice after administration of androstendion over 2 years in oral doses up to 50 mg/kg bw. Steroid hormones in general can promote the growth of specific hormone dependent tissues and tumors.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Carcinogenicity: via oral route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

carcinogenicity: oral

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP guideline study (supervised by NTP)

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: NTP laboratory health and safety guidelines

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 451 (Carcinogenicity Studies)

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Cited from report: "The NTP conducts its studies in compliance with its laboratory health and safety guidelines and FDA Good Laboratory Practice Regulations and must meet or exceed all applicable federal, state, and local health and safety regulations. Animal care and use are in accordance with the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Animals. Studies are subjected to retrospective quality assurance audits before being presented for public review."

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Species:

mouse

Strain:

B6C3F1

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Strain: B6C3F1
- Source: Taconic Farms, Inc. (Germantown, NY, USA)
- Age at study initiation: 5 to 6 weeks old
- Weight at study initiation (mean): males 23.3 g, females 19.1 g
- Housing: singly (males) or in groups of five (females) per cage (solid bottom polycarbonate cages)
- Diet and Water: ad libitum
- Acclimation period: 12 days

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): approx. 22 +/- 1.6 (72 +/- 3 °F)
- Humidity (%): 50 +/- 15
- Air changes (per hr): 10
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12/12

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose)

Details on exposure:

Administration volume: 10 mL/kg

VEHICLE: 0.5 % aqueous methylcellulose

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

Dose formulations were analysed every 2 to 3 months during the 2-year studies; animal room samples were also analysed. The analytical method used was HPLC.

Duration of treatment / exposure:

104 to 106 weeks

Frequency of treatment:

once daily, 5 days/week

Post exposure period:

no, animals were sacrificed on the day after the last dosing

Remarks:

Doses / Concentrations:
10, 20, and 50 mg/kg bw
Basis:
other: males; actual ingested

Remarks:

Doses / Concentrations:
2, 10, 50 mg/kg bw
Basis:
other: females; actual ingested

No. of animals per sex per dose:

50

Control animals:

yes, concurrent vehicle

Details on study design:

- Dose selection rationale: For dose selection results from previously conducted 2-week and 3-month studies were used. The lower dose group of 2 mg/kg in females was selected due to suspected ovarian atrophy observed in the 3-month study; however, this finding was not confirmed upon reexamination.

Observations and examinations performed and frequency:

CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS: Yes, all animals
- Time schedule: observed twice daily; clinical findings were recorded every 4 weeks

BODY WEIGHT: Yes, all animals
- Time schedule for examinations: animals were weighed on day 1, day 4 (males), day 5 (females), weekly for 13 weeks, monthly thereafter, and at the end of the studies.

CLINICAL PATHOLOGY: No

Sacrifice and pathology:

GROSS PATHOLOGY: Yes, complete necropsies were performed on all rats

HISTOPATHOLOGY: Yes, complete histopathology was performed on all animals
In addition to gross lesions and tissue masses, the following tissues were examined: adrenal gland, bone, brain, clitoral gland, esophagus, eye, gallbladder, harderian gland, heart, large intestine (cecum, colon, rectum), small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), kidney, liver, lung, lymph nodes (mandibular and mesenteric), mammary gland, nose, ovary, pancreas, parathyroid gland, pituitary gland, preputial gland, prostate gland, salivary gland, seminal vesicle, skin, spleen, stomach (forestomach and glandular), testis with epididymis, thymus, thyroid gland, trachea, urinary bladder, and uterus.

Statistics:

Survival Analysis: The probability of survival was estimated by the product-limit procedure of Kaplan and Meier (1958). Statistical analyses for possible dose-related effects on survival used Cox¿s (1972) method for testing two groups for equality and Tarone¿s (1975) life table test to identify dose-related trends. All reported P values for the survival analyses are two sided.
Calculation of Incidences were performed: Incidences of neoplasms or nonneoplastic lesions as the numbers of animals bearing such lesions at a specific anatomic site and the numbers of animals with that site examined microscopically.
Analysis of Neoplasm and Nonneoplastic Lesion Incidences: Poly-k test (Bailer and Portier, 1988; Portier and Bailer, 1989; Piegorsch and Bailer, 1997) to assess neoplasm and nonneoplastic lesion prevalence. Tests of significance included pairwise comparisons of each dosed group with controls and a test for an overall dose-related trend. Continuity-corrected Poly-3 tests were used in the analysis of lesion incidence, and reported P values are one sided.
Analysis of Continuous Variables: Two approaches were employed to assess the significance of pairwise comparisons between dosed and control groups in the analysis of continuous variables. 1) Parametric multiple comparison procedures of Dunnett (1955) and Williams (1971, 1972). 2) Nonparametric multiple comparison methods of Shirley (1977) (as modified by Williams, 1986) and Dunn (1964).

Details on results:

CLINICAL SIGNS AND MORTALITY
Survival of dosed groups was similar to that of the vehicle control groups.

BODY WEIGHT AND WEIGHT GAIN
Mean body weights of 10 and 50 mg/kg females were generally less than those of the vehicle controls after weeks 81 and 17, respectively.

HISTOPATHOLOGY:
The incidences of hepatocellular adenoma in males and females were significantly increased in the 50 mg/kg groups. In females, the incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly increased in all dosed groups. Incidences of hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in males and females were significantly increased in the 50 mg/kg groups. Incidences of hepatoblastoma were marginally increased in dosed males. Incidences of multiple hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas were significantly increased in 10 and 50 mg/kg males, and there was an increased incidence of multiple hepatocellular adenomas in 50 mg/kg females. The incidence of eosinophilic focus was significantly increased in 50 mg/kg males, and the incidences of mixed cell focus and cytoplasmic vacuolization were significantly increased in 50 mg/kg females.
There was a marginally increased incidence of pancreatic islet adenoma in 50 mg/kg males and in 10 and 50 mg/kg females, with an earlier day of first incidence in males. The incidences of clitoral gland hyperplasia and clitoral gland duct dilatation were significantly increased in 10 and 50 mg/kg females. The incidence of glomerular metaplasia of the kidney was significantly increased in 50 mg/kg females, and the incidences of cytoplasmic alteration of the submandibular salivary gland were significantly increased in all dosed female groups. The increased incidences of cytoplasmic alteration of the submandibular salivary gland and glomerular metaplasia of the kidney in female mice indicated a masculinizing effect from androstenedione treatment.
In 50 mg/kg females, the incidence of malignant lymphoma was significantly decreased.

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Remarks on result:

not determinable

Remarks:

no NOAEL identified

Cited from NTP report:

"There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of androstenedione in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of multiple hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma and increased incidence of hepatoblastoma. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of androstenedione in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Increased

incidences of pancreatic islet adenoma in male and female mice were also considered chemical related."

Executive summary:

Cited from NTP report:

"Groups of 50 male and 50 female mice were administered 0, 2 (females only), 10, 20 (males only), or 50 mg androstenedione/kg body weight in a 0.5% aqueous methylcellulose solution by gavage, 5 days per week for at least 104 weeks. Survival of dosed groups was

similar to that of the vehicle control groups. Mean body weights of 10 and 50 mg/kg females were generally less than those of the vehicle controls after weeks 81 and 17, respectively."

"There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of androstenedione in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of multiple hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma and increased incidence of hepatoblastoma. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of androstenedione in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Increased incidences of pancreatic islet adenoma in male and female mice were also considered chemical related."

Androstenedione administration caused increased incidences in nonneoplastic lesions of clitoral gland, kidney, and submandibular salivary gland of female mice. Decreases in the incidences of malignant lymphoma in female mice were considered related to androstenedione administration.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

adverse effect observed

Study duration:

chronic

Species:

mouse

Quality of whole database:

The study is GLP compliant and is of high quality (Klimisch score=1)

Organ:

liver

pancreas

Carcinogenicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Carcinogenicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Justification for classification or non-classification

In analogy to the read-across substance androstendion the following self classification for androstadiendion is recommended according to Regulation (EC) No.1272/2008 (CLP) :

Carc. 2 ( H351: Suspected of causing cancer)

Published carcinogenicity studies with androstendion, conducted within the scope of NTP (NIH, US) assessment, revealed equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity in rats and clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in mice based on increased incidences of multiple hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma and increased incidence of hepatoblastoma as well as increased incidence of pancreatic islet adenoma. However, for classification of androstendion it has to be taken into account that steroids hormones in general can promote the growth of specific hormone dependent tissues and tumors.

The classification is in accordance with German legislation for classification of androgenic steroids. The German Committee on Hazardous Substances (AGS) recommended for androgenic steroids classification as Carc. Cat. 3 for carcinogenic effects according to criteria of Directive 67/458/EEC (see argumentation for the assessment of steroid hormones, Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances 905; elaborated by the German Committee on Hazardous Substances (AGS) and published by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, version of 2008/2005/1999, only available in German, http://www.baua.de/de/Themen-von-A-Z/Gefahrstoffe/TRGS/Begruendungen- 905-906.html).

Additional information

For androstadiendion (CAS No. 897-06-3) no carcinogenicity data are available. Therefore, carcinogenicity data of androstendion (CAS No. 63-05 -8) were used. A search for structure-analogue substances using the QSAR Toolbox 3.3.5 recommended androstendion as one out of 11 category substances for a read-across approach (for details see QSAR OECD Toolbox Report on Androstadiendion attached in chapter 7, Endpoint Summary: Toxicological information).

Results of 2-year carcinogenicity studies with androstendion on rats and mice were published within the scope of National Toxicology Program (NIH, US) assessment (NTP, 2010). In these studies androstendion was administered by gavage to male and female rats and male mice at dosages of 0, 10, 20, or 50 mg/kg body weight each day and to female mice at dosages of 0, 2,10, or 50 mg/kg body weight for two years. At the end of the study tissues from more than 40 sites were examined for every animal.

Cited from NTP report: "Under the conditions of these 2-year gavage studies, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of androstenedione in male F344/N rats based on increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma and alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined). There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of androstenedione in female F344/N rats based on increased incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of androstenedione in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of multiple hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma and increased incidence of hepatoblastoma. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of androstenedione in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Increased incidences of pancreatic islet adenoma in male and female mice were also considered chemical related.
Androstenedione administration caused increased incidences in nonneoplastic lesions of the liver in male and female rats and mice; pancreatic islets and exocrine pancreas of female rats; and clitoral gland, kidney, and submandibular salivary gland of female mice. Decreases in the incidences of testicular interstitial cell adenoma in male rats, mammary gland fibroadenoma, cysts, and hyperplasia in female rats, and malignant lymphoma in female mic were considered related to androstenedione administration."

However, for the assessment of carcinogenicity it has to be taken into account that steroid hormones in general can promote the growth of specific hormone dependent tissues and tumors. Overall, androstendion caused liver cancer (variety of liver tumors, including adenomas, carcinomas and hepatoblastomas) and pancreatic islet cancer (adenomas) in male and female mice. The occurrence of lung tumors (a few adenomas and one carcinoma) in male rats and mononuclear cell leukemia in female rats may have been related to androstendion exposure. Increases in non-neoplastic lesions of the pancreas in female rats and of the clitoral gland, kidney, and salivary gland in female mice were attributed to androstendion exposure. Androstendion treatment reduced the incidence of neoplasms in several tissues that are well known endocrine targets (decreases in the incidences of testicular interstitial cell adenoma in male rats, mammary gland fibroadenoma, cysts, and hyperplasia in female rats, and malignant lymphoma in female mice).

For an assessment of steroid hormones see also the argumentation for steroid hormones related to the Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances 905, which was elaborated by the German Committee on Hazardous Substances (AGS) and published by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (version of 2008/2005/1999, only available in German, http://www.baua.de/de/Themen-von-A-Z/Gefahrstoffe/TRGS/ Begruendungen-905-906.html). In this argumentation 73 steroid hormones or precursors of steroid hormones were each allocated to one of seven hormone classes based on their predominant pharmacological activity (i.e. androgenic, mild androgenic, anabolic, estrogenic, gestagenic, mild gestagenic or glucocorticoide), and recommendations for their classification were elaborated. Androstendion was allocated to group 1 (androgenic steroids) resulting in a classification with Carc. Cat. 3 according to criteria of Directive 67/458/EEC.

Justification for selection of carcinogenicity via oral route endpoint:
The carcinogenicity study in mice is selected since it revealed clear evidence of carcinogenic activity compared to the study in rats, which revealed equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity.