Summary.-Male mice of inbred strains Swiss and C17 were fed daily 5 times a week by intragastric tube 0-1 ml of betel-nut aqueous extract, betel-leaf aqueous extract and the polyphenol fraction of betel nut. Male mice of corresponding strains fed 0.

Betel quid ingredients--betel nut, betel leaf, lime, catechu and tobacco--were tested separately and in various combinations for carcinogenicity, using hamster cheek pouch as the experimental site. The four modes of administration used were (1) tri-weekly painting of the cheek pouch with aqueous extracts of test materials, (2) deposition of replaceable wax pellets containing the test material, (3) gelatin capsules containing the powdered material and (4) insertion of natural material into the pouch for trauma and direct exposure. Untreated controls and standard carcinogen DMBA-treated controls were also maintained. A total of 317 young adult golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) used for the experiments were killed in two age groups: 6-12 months and 13-24 months, only when signs of general debility were observed. In the untreated controls, animals were free of any malignancy. In the experimental series, various betel quid ingredient combinations under test induced both oral and gastric lesions ranging from massive atypia and precancerous lesions to frank carcinomas. Maximum lesions were observed in the groups receiving betel nut, lime and tobacco combinations and in the polyphenol fraction of betel nut containing major tannins. The mode of administration of test material resulted in distinct differences; tri-weekly paintings giving oral lesions in the range of 22-23% and gastric lesions 39-48%; the same material given either through the replaceable gelatin capsule or in natural form induced 69% oral lesions and 63 to 82% gastric lesions. Overall evaluation of the data of all the four series confirms the potent carcinogenicity of betel nut, particularly its tannin-containing polyphenolic fraction and its combination with lime and tobacco. Maximum oral lesions induced in the hamsters by continuous exposure to capsules and natural material, highlight the direct relationship of frequency of chewing in habitual chewers with oral carcinogenesis. The high incidence of gastric (forestomach) lesions invites special attention.

Summary.-Serum prolactin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays in 98 patients with established carcinoma of breast, 12 patients with cystic mastitis and 10 patients with gynaecomastia and compared with that of age matched normal control women. The serum prolactin levels in the patients with breast cancer, gynaecomastia or cystic mastitis were observed to be similar to that in normal women. It was interesting to note that the levels of prolactin in the Iuteal phase of the cycle were higher than that in the early follicular phase in normal women.

Sun-dried Mangalore betel nut extracts in water and in DMSO, and sun-cured Vadakkan tobacco extract in DMSO, were tested for their carcinogenic potency. Inbred Swiss and C17 mice and golden hamsters were used for the experiments. Control animals treated with either DMSO or water did not show any changes at the sites of administration. On subcutaneous administration of betel nut extract, 60% of Swiss mice developed transplantable fibrosarcomas at the site of injection. Skin application of DMSO extracts of tobacco and of betel nut separately did not result in skin lesions in C17 mice; but when a mixed DMSO extract of tobacco and betel nut was used, skin papilloma and epidermoid carcinoma developed in some animals. Similarly, hamster cheek pouches painted with a DMSO extract of tobacco alone did not develop malignant atypia whereas those painted with a DMSO extract of betel nut showed early malignant changes. DMSO extract of a mixture of tobacco and betel nut positively increased the incidence of early malignant changes in the hamster cheek pouch, indicating the enhancing effect of betel nut in carcinogenesis.

Summary.-The incidence of tumours ectopically producing the human chorionic gonadotrophins was studied in patients with breast cancer. Specific radioimmunoassay of subunits of HCG was utilized. Nine out of 65 patients with carcinoma of breast showed the presence of circulating HCG. Patients with other pathological conditions of breast tissue did not show any evidence of circulating HCG.