The carcinogenic potential of caffeic acid was investigated in both sexes of F344 rats and C57BL/6N x C3H/HeN F1 mice. After groups of 30 animals received diet containing 0 and 2.0% caffeic acid for 104 weeks in rats or 96 weeks in mice, detailed histopathological examination revealed induction of forestomach squamous cell papillomas or carcinomas in rats at high incidence (77% for males; 80% for females) and in mice at low incidence (13% for males; 3% for females). Invasion to the abdominal cavity of these squamous cell carcinomas was observed in three rats and two mice. In addition, renal tubular cell hyperplasias and adenomas, clearly related to toxic lesions, were found in treated rats at high incidence for males (73 and 13%) and low incidence for females (20 and 0%). In mice, renal tubular cell hyperplasias and tumors also occurred in treated females (97 and 28%), and at a lower incidence in treated males (27 and 3%). No toxic renal injuries were apparent in mice. Alveolar type II cell tumors also developed in treated male mice (27%) with statistical significance. Thus, the current investigation showed caffeic acid to exert carcinogenic activity for the forestomach squamous cell epithelium in both sexes of F344 rats and C57BL/6N x C3H/HeN F1 mice, for the renal tubular cell in male rats and female mice, and for the alveolar type II cell in male mice.