Carcinogen that induces O6-methylguanine adducts in DNA leading to G→A transitions. Induces tumorigenesis in the colon of laboratory animals and is used to study the mechanism of cancer progression and chemoprevention.

Azoxymethane (AOM), a gene mutation agent, may be used with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to create cancer models in laboratory animals which can be used to study mechanisms of cancer progression and chemoprevention.