Development of androgen-independent carcinomas from androgen-dependent preneoplastic lesions in the male accessory sex organs of rats treated with 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl and testosterone propionate.

Two kinds of cancer can be induced in rat male accessory sex organs, one a non-invasive carcinoma arising in the ventral lobe and the other an invasive lesion which develops in the dorsolateral and anterior lobe as well as the seminal vesicles. In the present study, one group of male rats were given biweekly s.c. injections of 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) for 20 weeks for induction of non-invasive carcinomas and the other group received DMAB with 40-week testosterone propionate for induction of invasive carcinomas. Half of the animals in each group were then subjected to bilateral orchiectomy at week 41 to remove testicular androgen, in order to examine the androgen dependence of both types of carcinomas as well as precancerous lesions. Animals were killed at weeks 41, 46 and 60. All parts of the prostate complex showed involution and significant weight reduction after castration, with a complete disappearance of atypical hyperplasias and carcinomas of the ventral prostate. However, in spite of suppression of development of atypical hyperplasias in the anterior prostate and seminal vesicles, the incidence of invasive carcinomas was not changed. Normal epithelial cells and atypical hyperplasias of all parts of the prostate and seminal vesicles and carcinomas of the ventral prostate were immunohistochemically positive for nuclear androgen receptor, while invasive carcinomas that developed in either castrated or non-castrated animals were negative. These findings suggest that in the ventral prostate, both precancerous and cancerous lesions are androgen-dependent, but in the anterior and seminal vesicles, cancerous lesions (invasive carcinomas) are androgen-independent while precancerous lesions are hormone-dependent.     

Lobe specific effects of testosterone and estrogen on 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl-induced rat prostate carcinogenesis

We have previously shown that chronic administration of a pharmacological dose of testosterone propionate (TP) after treatment with the carcinogen, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB), results in development of invasive and metastatic adenocarcinomas arising from the dorso-lateral and anterior prostate, as well as the seminal vesicles. Co-administration of ethinyl estradiol (EE) with TP increased the yield of carcinomas in the lateral and anterior lobes. In the present experiment, male F344 rats were treated with DMAB for 20 weeks and then co-administered a pharmacological dose of TP together with various doses of EE for 40 weeks. Without hormone(s) administration, carcinomas were confined to the ventral prostate and all were of intra-acinar type. TP administration suppressed development of the ventral prostate carcinomas but caused invasive carcinomas of the lateral and anterior lobes and of seminal vesicles and intra-acinar carcinomas in the dorsal prostate. The appearance of carcinomas in the lateral and anterior prostate was increased by co-administration of EE in a dose-related fashion but carcinomas of the seminal vesicles were inversely reduced. The suppressive influence of TP on ventral carcinoma development was overcome by only the highest dose of EE. It is concluded that estrogen can modify the enhancing effects of TP on induction of rat prostate and seminal vesicle carcinomas in a dose-related fashion with lobe specificity.     

Sequential Observation of Rat Prostate Lesion Development Induced by 3,2'-Dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl and Testosterone

3,2'-Dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB), when combined with high doses of testosterone propionate (TP) induces invasive adenocarcinomas with metastatic potential in the rat prostate. The processes underlying this tumor development, including the involvement of atypical hyperplasias, were sequentially investigated in F344 rats. DMAB was given subcutaneously at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight 10 times at 2-week intervals. TP was administered chronically (in Silastic tubes) from the beginning of the experiment or after the DMAB administration until termination (week 60). Invasive adenocarcinomas were induced in the lateral and anterior prostate as well as the seminal vesicles. Atypical hyperplasias appeared from an early stage, with the later appearance of cancers being closely associated with such foci of morphological alteration. The findings confirm that combined administration of DMAB and pharmacological doses of TP yields invasive adenocarcinomas in the rat prostate and provide further support for the conclusion that atypical hyperplasias are premalignant lesions.     

Beef Tallow, but Not Perilla or Corn Oil, Promotion of Rat Prostate and Intestinal Carcinogenesis by 3,2-Dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl

The modifying effects of three kinds of fat (corn oil, beef tallow or perilla oil, each at 20% in the diet) on F344 rat prostate carcinogenesis induced by 3,2-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) were investigated. Non-invasive carcinomas of the ventral prostate were induced by DMAB alone and invasive carcinomas of the other prostate lobes and seminal vesicles by DMAB and testosterone propionate (TP). Eight groups of F344 rats were initiated with 50 mg/kg body weight of DMAB at 2-week intervals for the first 20 weeks, four also receiving TP, extended until week 60. The animals received basal chow powder diet or one of three high fat diets throughout the experiment (60 weeks). One further group served as a non-carcinogen-treated control maintained on basal chow powder diet. Beef tallow significantly increased the development of ventral prostate carcinomas with DMAB alone (from 15 to 45%, P<0.05), while perilla oil reduced the incidence of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) in the ventral lobe of rats given DMAB + TP (from 70 to 10%, P<0.01), but not in those given DMAB alone. No other effects of high fats were observed regarding PIN or invasive cancers of the dorsolateral and anterior prostate or seminal vesicles. A satellite experiment demonstrated that all high fat diets for 4 weeks increased the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index of prostate epithelial cells, suggesting that a high fat intake, irrespective of the fatty acid composition, may accelerate cell kinetics in the prostate. Of the three high fat diets, beef tallow was also found to increase intestinal carcinogenesis. Thus, the present data revealed carcinogenesis in the prostate and intestine to be promoted by beef tallow.     

Decrease of Prostaglandin E2 and 5–Bromo–2'–deoxyuridine Labeling but Not Prostate Tumor Development by Indomethacin Treatment of Rats Given 3,2'–Dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl and Testosterone Propionate

The modifying effects of indomethacin (IM) on rat prostate carcinogenesis induced by 3,2'–dimethyl–4–aminobiphenyl (DMAB) were investigated. F344 rats were given 50 mg/kg body weight of DMAB at 2–week intervals for 20 weeks and then received IM at a dose of 20 ppm in the drinking water for 37 weeks. Separate groups additionally received testosterone propionate (TP) in Silastic tubes throughout the experiment. DMAB alone induced carcinomas in situ in the ventral lobe and in combination with TP caused invasive carcinomas of the dorso–lateral and anterior lobes and seminal vesicles. No clear suppression by IM of development of in situ carcinomas or in vasive carcinomas was observed. In a short–term satellite experiment, it was revealed that prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) levels in the dorso–lateral prostate and seminal vesicles, but not the ventral prostate, were significantly reduced by IM and that TP itself also suppressed PGE₂ levels. The 5–bromo–2'–deoxyuridine labeling index in the ventral prostate was significantly decreased by IM administration. These results indicate that while IM can efficiently suppress tissue PGE₂ levels, it does not inhibit tumor development in the prostate or seminal vesicles of rats in the present model.     

Beef tallow, but not perilla or corn oil, promotion of rat prostate and intestinal carcinogenesis by 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl.

The modifying effects of three kinds of fat (corn oil, beef tallow or perilla oil, each at 20% in the diet) on F344 rat prostate carcinogenesis induced by 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) were investigated. Non-invasive carcinomas of the ventral prostate were induced by DMAB alone and invasive carcinomas of the other prostate lobes and seminal vesicles by DMAB and testosterone propionate (TP). Eight groups of F344 rats were initiated with 50 mg / kg body weight of DMAB at 2-week intervals for the first 20 weeks, four also receiving TP, extended until week 60. The animals received basal chow powder diet or one of three high fat diets throughout the experiment (60 weeks). One further group served as a non-carcinogen-treated control maintained on basal chow powder diet. Beef tallow significantly increased the development of ventral prostate carcinomas with DMAB alone (from 15 to 45%, P < 0.05), while perilla oil reduced the incidence of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) in the ventral lobe of rats given DMA + TP (from 70 to 10%, P < 0.01), but not in those given DMAB alone. No other effects of high fats were observed regarding PIN or invasive cancers of the dorsolateral and anterior prostate or seminal vesicles. A satellite experiment demonstrated that all high fat diets for 4 weeks increased the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index of prostate epithelial cells, suggesting that a high fat intake, irrespective of the fatty acid composition, may accelerate cell kinetics in the prostate. Of the three high fat diets, beef tallow was also found to increase intestinal carcinogenesis. Thus, the present data revealed carcinogenesis in the prostate and intestine to be promoted by beef tallow.     

Direct Effects of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone and Estrogen on 3,2'-Dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl-induced Prostate Carcinogenesis in Castrated F344 Rats

The present experiment was carried out to explore the effect of endogenous androgen on rat prostate carcinogenesis induced by 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) and testosterone propionate (TP) or 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with or without ethinyl estradiol (EE). In order to eliminate the influence of endogenous androgen, F344 rats were orchiectomized just after initiation with the prostate carcinogen, DMAB, and then given TP, DHT, TP plus EE or DHT plus EE for 40 weeks. The results demonstrated that while administration of TP following DMAB treatment causes invasive carcinomas in the lateral and anterior prostate and seminal vesicles, DHT does not exhibit equivalent effects. Synergistic enhancement was also evident with TP plus EE, but not with DHT plus EE. The incidences of prostatic and seminal vesicle lesions in all groups of the present experiment, except for the group given castration without hormonal supplement, were equivalent to those previously found in non-castrated animals. Therefore, the present findings indicate that endogenous testosterone may not be required for promotion hy TP/EE of DMAB-initiated prostate carcinogenesis and that it may not contribute to the actions of DHT.     

Lack of tumorigenic response in the prostate gland of castrated F344 rats by 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl given with methyltestosterone

In an attempt to induce a high incidence of prostate carcinoma, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB), a prostatic carcinogen, was given during the period of cell proliferation of the prostate gland induced by the administration of methyltestosterone (MT) to castrated F344 rats. Three weeks after the surgical castration, rats were given diet containing 300 ppm of MT for 2 weeks and basal for 2 weeks alternately 12 times. During each treatment with MT, one (group 1) or two (group 2) subcutaneous injections of 50 mg/kg body wt. of DMAB was given. After the last treatment of MT, a pellet of testosterone propionate (TP) was implanted in the subcutis of all animals until the end of the experiment (week 60). No carcinomas developed in the prostate gland of any of the rats. Atypical hyperplasia of the ventral lobe of prostate was found in 4 of 22 rats in group 1 and 2 of 20 rats in group 2. The incidences of atypical hyperplasia of the seminal vesicles in groups 1 and 2 were 64% and 75%, respectively. No pathological lesions in the prostate were observed in 32 rats given DMAB without MT treatment.     

Induction of invasive carcinomas in the accessory sex organs other than the ventral prostate of rats given 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl and testosterone propionate

The promotion effects of testosterone propionate (TP) on prostate carcinogenesis were investigated in F344 rats given the prostatic carcinogen, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB). One group of animals received s.c. DMAB injections at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight at 2-week intervals for a total of 10 injections along with s.c. implantations of TP-containing Silastic tubes. A second experimental group of rats was given DMAB at the same dose and intervals but each injection of DMAB was combined with 3 prior consecutive daily 100-mg/kg body weight s.c. injections of TP. After cessation of carcinogen administration, animals in these two groups received TP implants from week 21 to the end of the experiment. All surviving animals were killed at week 56 and accessory sex gland tumor incidences were compared to those in DMAB alone and other appropriate control groups. The groups given TP plus DMAB and subsequent long term administration of TP developed lesions of the dorsolateral prostate, seminal vesicles, and coagulating glands which were all invasive adenocarcinomas. Incidences were 84.2% (16 of 19 rats) and 66.7% (12 of 18 rats), respectively. Macroscopic large tumors were induced in 13 animals among which 8 demonstrated metastasis to the abdominal cavity, liver, or lung. None of the control groups except for the group given TP injections plus DMAB had equivalent tumors. Development of carcinomas of the ventral prostate, which were all of in situ type, were not increased by subsequent treatment with TP. These data thus clearly showed that TP can exert strong enhancing effects on tumor development in the dorsolateral prostate, seminal vesicles, and coagulating glands but not in the ventral prostate.     

Lack of modification by naturally occurring antioxidants of 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl-initiated rat prostate carcinogenesis

The modifying effects of 6 naturally occurring antioxidants on 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB)-initiated rat prostate carcinogenesis were investigated in male F344 rats. Animals were pretreated with DMAB in a 20-week initiation protocol and then administered basal diet containing 0.8% catechol, 0.8% resorcinol, 0.8% hydroquinone, 2 ppm selenium, 2% gamma-orysanol or 1% alpha-tocopherol for 40 weeks. The experiment was terminated at week 60 for histopathological assessment of lesion development. Atypical hyperplasias and carcinomas of the prostate were observed in the ventral lobe in all groups treated with DMAB. However, the incidences of these lesions were not significantly different between carcinogen control and antioxidant-treated groups. There were also no significant increases or decreases in the incidences of tumors in any other organs.     

Carcinogenicity of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in the rat prostate and induction of invasive carcinomas by subsequent treatment with testosterone propionate.

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) at 400 ppm in the diet for 52 weeks was found to induce non-invasive microscopic carcinomas in the ventral prostate of the treated rats, in addition to colon and mammary carcinomas. The current experimental data demonstrate that only a 20-week period of PhIP treatment is sufficient for induction of ventral carcinomas and that long-term pharmacological dosing with testosterone propionate which applied through a Silastic tube embedded in the subcutis after PhIP treatment can induce invasive carcinomas in the anterior prostate and seminal vesicles. Thus, PhIP may provide the basis for a good two stage carcinogenesis model for investigation of prostate carcinogenesis.     

Characterization of adenocarcinomas of the dorsolateral prostate induced in Wistar rats by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, and 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl, following sequential treatment with cyproterone acetate and testosterone propionate

Carcinomas of the rat prostate induced by a single injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, and 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl, after sequential treatment with cyproterone acetate and testosterone propionate, were evaluated as potential animal models for prostatic cancer. All ten carcinomas examined were located in the dorsolateral prostate region and did not involve the distal parts of the seminal vesicles and coagulating glands. The incidence of urinary obstruction leading to the animals' death was 6 of 10 rats, and metastases in the lung, abdominal lymph nodes, and/or liver also occurred in 6 of 10 rats. The tumors were invasive adenocarcinomas, showing frequent perineural invasion and a variable degree of differentiation. There were ultrastructural similarities with human prostatic carcinomas, such as intracellular lumina. Plasma acid phosphatase was increased. Enzyme histochemical analysis revealed similarities with the Dunning R3327H and -HI prostatic carcinomas but was not helpful in determining the site of origin of the tumors. The gross and microscopic appearance of the tumors and the observation of preneoplastic lesions exclusively located in the dorsolateral prostate suggest this lobe as site of origin of the carcinomas. Preneoplastic lesions (n = 9) included atypical hyperplasias (n = 5) and lesions with all histological characteristics of carcinoma except for local invasion and metastases, which were classified as carcinoma in situ (n = 4). Although androgen sensitivity could not be assessed, the observed characteristics of the tumors [their long latency time (46-80 weeks), the presence of preneoplastic lesions, and the short duration of the treatment, leaving the animals intact] all indicate that the present approach is a valid animal model for the study of prostatic carcinogenesis.     

Suppressive Effects of Dietary Genistin and Daidzin on Rat Prostate Carcinogenesis

High intake of phytoestrogens through soybeans and their products is thought to be associated with low incidences of prostate and/or breast cancer in Asian countries. Possible chemopreventive effects of genistin or daidzin on rat prostate carcinogenesis were therefore investigated. Male F344 rats were given 10 biweekly subcutaneous injections of 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) and then either genistin or daidzin in the diet at a concentration of 0.1% for 40 weeks. Other groups of rats given DMAB were treated with genistin or daidzin together with a high dose of testosterone propionate (TP). Both genistin and daidzin reduced the numbers of ventral prostate carcinomas (P<0.05), with a tendency for decrease in incidence. Invasive carcinomas which developed in the anterior prostate and seminal vesicles with TP were, however, not influenced by the two isoflavones. Thus, the present data suggest that genistin and daidzin possess anti-cancer effects at relatively early stages of prostate cancer development, providing experimental support for epide-miological findings.     

Suppressive effects of dietary genistin and daidzin on rat prostate carcinogenesis.

High intake of phytoestrogens through soybeans and their products is thought to be associated with low incidences of prostate and / or breast cancer in Asian countries. Possible chemopreventive effects of genistin or daidzin on rat prostate carcinogenesis were therefore investigated. Male F344 rats were given 10 biweekly subcutaneous injections of 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) and then either genistin or daidzin in the diet at a concentration of 0.1% for 40 weeks. Other groups of rats given DMAB were treated with genistin or daidzin together with a high dose of testosterone propionate (TP). Both genistin and daidzin reduced the numbers of ventral prostate carcinomas (P < 0.05), with a tendency for decrease in incidence. Invasive carcinomas which developed in the anterior prostate and seminal vesicles with TP were, however, not influenced by the two isoflavones. Thus, the present data suggest that genistin and daidzin possess anti-cancer effects at relatively early stages of prostate cancer development, providing experimental support for epidemiological findings.     

Ki-ras mutations with frequent normal allele loss versus absence of p53 mutations in rat prostate and seminal vesicle carcinomas induced with 3,2′-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl

We have developed a prostate carcinogenesis model in Fischer 344 rats using 3,2′-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) as a carcinogen to examine various potential modifying factors. In this study, mutational changes in the ras and p53 genes were assessed in DMAB-induced rat prostate and seminal vesicle carcinomas by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and subsequent direct DNA sequencing. Eight of 22 prostate adenocarcinomas (three of nine (33.3%) from the ventral lobe and five of 13 (38.5%) from the dorsolateral lobe, including three transplantable tumors) and one of 11 seminal vesicle adenocarcinomas (9.1 %) demonstrated point mutations in the Ki-ras gene. One prostate malignant fibrohistiocytoma examined was negative. Among the positive cases, five (three ventral prostate carcinomas and two transplantable tumors) also showed loss of the normal allele. In contrast, other than one mutation in the p53 gene in the malignant fibrohistiocytoma, there were no mutations in the Ha-ras or p53 genes. These results indicate that mutational activation of the Ki-ras gene, but not of the Ha-ras or p53 genes may play a mechanistic role in prostate and seminal vesicle carcinogenesis by DMAB and that a loss of the normal allele of the Ki-ras gene may also be involved in the process. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Induction at high incidence of ductal prostate adenocarcinomas in NBL/Cr and Sprague-Dawley Hsd:SD rats treated with a combination of testosterone and estradiol-17{beta} or diethylstilbestrol

This study determined the incidence of prostate adenocarcinomafollowing long-term treatment of NBL and Sprague-Dawley ratswith estradiol-17ß or diethylstilbestrol (DES) plustestosterone and it defined the origin of these tumors. NBLand Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with two Silastic tubingimplants (i.d. 1.6 mm, o.d. 3.2 mm) containing a 2 cm long fillingof testosterone and one implant containing a 1 cm long fillingof estradiol-17ß or DES. Control animals receivedempty implants. Treated animals were killed when moribund andcontrols were killed at 91 (NBL) or 75 (Sprague-Dawley) weeksafter initiation of treatment and accessory sex glands weresampled for histopathological examination of multiple step sections.Prostatic adenocarcinoma occurred in 100% of NBL rats aftertreatment with estradiol-17ß or DES plus testosteronefor 44 and 59 weeks (group means) respectively. Adenocarcinomaincidences were lower in Sprague-Dawley rats. The adenocarcinomaswere small, microscopic, invasive tumors and they were spatiallyclosely associated with the periurethral ducts of the dorsal,lateral and/or anterior (= coagulating gland) prostate, butnever with the ducts of the ventral lobe and seminal vesicles.One adenocarcinoma was of uncertain origin. Duct-acinar dysplasticlesions occurred in the periphery of the dorsal and lateralprostate of all hormone-treated NBL and many Sprague-Dawleyrats, but did not appear to give rise to carcinoma. Althoughsome adenocarcinomas were contiguous with dysplastic ducts ofthe peripheral dorsolateral prostate, the main mass of theseneoplasms was located in the periurethral area. Also, most adenocarcinomaswere only connected with the periurethral ducts, in which atypicalhyperplasia occurred following hormone treatment for 36 weeksor longer. Thus atypical hyperplasia of the periurethral prostateducts, but not peripheral duct-acinar dysplasia, appeared tobe the likely precursor of the induced carcinomas. Testosteroneplus DES, but not estradiol-17ß), induced marked dysplasia-likelesions in the acini of the ventral prostate of all NBL andmany Sprague-Dawley rats. These lesions had progressed to carcinomain situ (or adenoma) in 46% of NBL rats.     

Immunohistochemical demonstration of carcinogen-DNA adducts in target and non-target tissues of rats given a prostate carcinogen, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl

An immunohistochemical procedure was applied which allows accurate localization of DNA lesions within organs and tissues of rats given 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) using polyclonal antibodies against DMAB-DNA adducts. Dose-related nuclear staining was observed in organs regardless of DMAB-carcinogenic organotropism. In the male accessory sex organs, the lateral lobe of the prostate, a non-target site, demonstrated a similar staining intensity to that found for the ventral prostate and seminal vesicle, target sites. Orchiectomy and pretreatment with ethinyl estradiol resulted in a moderate to slight decrease in binding in the accessory sex organs. No observable decrease in staining intensity was evident in most organs 168 h after the administration of DMAB. These findings suggest that DNA adduct formation itself is not necessarily sufficient for tumor induction.     

Expression of tumor-associated antigen (DF3) in atypical hyperplasias and in situ carcinomas of the human breast

The monoclonal antibody (MoAb) DF3 prepared against a membrane-enriched fraction of human breast carcinoma has previously shown a differential reactivity to cytoplasmic antigen in carcinomas versus antigen concentrated on apical borders in benign lesions of the breast. In the present report the cytoplasmic reactivity of MoAb DF3 within a spectrum of benign and malignant breast lesions was studied to define whether the DF3 antigen is expressed in the cytoplasm of potentially premalignant lesions, i.e., atypical hyperplasias, or early malignant lesions, i.e., in situ carcinomas. Biopsy specimens of breast lesions from 108 women, including 28 patients with invasive carcinoma, 12 with in situ carcinoma, 17 with atypical hyperplasia, 25 with proliferative lesions without atypia, and 26 with nonproliferative lesions, were examined for DF3 antigen expression with the use of an indirect immunohistochemical method. Atypical hyperplasias were less reactive with MoAb DF3 than invasive carcinomas (P = .05 by Wilcoxon rank sum test). No significant statistical differences were observed, however, between invasive carcinomas and in situ carcinomas or between in situ carcinomas and atypical hyperplasias on the basis of cytoplasmic DF3 reactivity. Invasive carcinomas, in situ carcinomas, and atypical hyperplasias, however, demonstrated significantly higher reactivity with MoAb DF3 in the cytoplasm than proliferative lesions without atypia and nonproliferative lesions (P less than .01). These studies demonstrate that atypical hyperplasias express elevated levels of a given tumor-associated antigen and thus provide further immunologic evidence that these lesions are premalignant.     

氟他胺（Flutamide）的抗雄性素作用及抗肿瘤作用

采用去势加睾丸酮处理的雄性大鼠，观察了氟地胺（Ｆｌｕｔａｍｉｄｅ）对其附性器官－精囊、前列腺及提肛肌重量的影响，以及免疫组织化学染色法，探讨了Ｆｌｕｔａｍｉｄｅ作用机理。结果表明，对照组与实验组大鼠前列腺及精囊湿重比较均有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。免疫组化结果证明Ｆｌｕｔａｍｉｄｅ能明显抑制靶器官对雄性素的吸收及利用，影响了前列腺细胞的生长。     

Expression of caspases 3, 6 and 8 is increased in parallel with apoptosis and histological aggressiveness of the breast lesion

The aim of this investigation was to study the expression of caspases 3, 6 and 8 and their association to apoptosis in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the breast. The material consisted of nine benign breast epithelial hyperplasias, 15 atypical hyperplasias, 74 in situ and 82 invasive carcinomas. The extent of apoptosis was assessed by the TUNEL method and caspase 3, 6 and 8 expression by immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies. Increased caspase 3 immunopositivity, as compared to staining of normal breast ductal epithelium, was seen in 22% of benign epithelial hyperplasias, 25% of atypical hyperplasias, 58% of in situ carcinomas and 90% of invasive carcinomas. The corresponding percentages for caspase 6 and 8 were 11%, 25%, 60%, 87% and 22%, 57%, 84%, 83% respectively. In high-grade in situ lesions there were significantly more cases with strong caspase 3, 6 and 8 immunoreactivity than in low- and intermediate-grade lesions (P = 0.0045, P = 0.049 and P = 0.0001 respectively). In invasive carcinomas, however, no association between a high tumour grade and caspase 3, 6 or 8 expression was found (P = 0.27, P = 0.26 and P = 0.69 respectively). The mean apoptotic index was 0.14 +/- 0.14% in benign epithelial hyperplasias, 0.17 +/- 0.12% in atypical hyperplasias, 0.61 +/- 0.88% in in situ carcinomas and 0.94 +/- 1.21% in invasive carcinomas. In all cases strong caspase 3, 6 and 8 positivity was significantly associated with the extent of apoptosis (P < 0.001, P = 0.015 and P = 0.050 respectively). The results show that synthesis of caspases 3, 6 and 8 is up-regulated in neoplastic breast epithelial cells in parallel to the increase in the apoptotic index and progression of the breast lesions.