Nitrosamine carcinogenicity: A quantitative relationship between molecular structure and organ selectivity for a series of acyclic N-nitroso compounds

A mathematical model has been developed which describes the selectivity between liver and other target organs for a series of carcinogenic N-nitrosodialkylamines. The relationship requires structural terms for the parent molecule as well as for the potential metabolites. This suggests that the nitrosamine metabolites are involved in tumor induction and that they participate directly in the mechanisms responsible for selecting the target organ.