Effect of D,L-2-difluoromethylornithine and endocrine manipulation on the induction of mammary carcinogenesis by 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea

The purpose of this investigation was to establish an efficientroute and dose regime for the long-term administration of tamoxifenin the study of mammary tumorigenesis in the rat. The secondobjective of this work was to determine whether treatment withD, L-2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a synthetic inhibitorof the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, would reduce the occurrenceof mammary cancers in tamoxi-fen-treated or ovariectomized rats.A total of 265 female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to oneof two experimental protocols. All animals were injected with50 mg 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU) per kg body wt at 50 daysof age. In experiment 1, beginning 7 days after the injectionof the carcinogen, animals were assigned to one of six groupswhich received either 0, 1 or 5 mg tamoxifen citrate per kgAIN-76A purified diet in addition to either no DFMO or a 0.125%w/v solution of DFMO as the drinking water. The experiment wasterminated 180 days following carcinogen treatment. Treatmentwith tamoxifen resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in cancerincidence, and the number of cancers induced and significantlyprolonged the median cancer-free time. This effect was alsoaccompanied by a decrease in the rate of body weight gain. Treatmentwith DFMO delayed latency and reduced tumor number. DFMO inaddition to tamoxifen (1 mg/kg diet) further prolonged latency.In experiment 2 each animal was assigned to one or four treatmentgroups when its first palpable mammary tumor was detected. Atthat time each was either ovariectomized or sham-operated. Inaddition, the rats were either provided no DFMO or a 0.5% w/vsolution of DFMO as the drinking water. The study was terminated35 weeks following carcinogen injection. Ovariec-tomy significantlyinhibited the occurrence of additional mammary tumors. Ovariectomyplus DFMO was more effective than ovariectomy alone in reducingtumor number. Collectively, these observations indicate thatsuppression of polyamine biosynthesis via the systemic administrationof DFMO inhibits the development of ovarian hormone insensitivemammary tumors.     

Effect of tamoxifen and D,L-2-difluoromethylornithine on the growth, ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine content of mammary carcinomas induced by 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea

The effect of combined treatment with D,L-2-difluoromethylornithine(DFMO) and tamoxifen on the growth status, ornithine decarboxylase(ODC) activity and polyamine content of established 1-methyl-l-nitrosourea(MNU)-induced mammary tumors was investigated. DFMO treatment,a 0.125% solution provided as drinking water, inhibited therate of tumor occurrence and reduced the number of mammary tumorsinduced by a high dose of MNU (50 mg/kg body weight) duringthe first 120 days post-carcinogen treatment. Tamoxifen wasadministered daily via s.c. injection (25 µ/100 g bodyweight) to tumor-bearing rats in both treatment groups, i.e.control and DFMO-treated, for a 30-day period beginning 120days after carcinogen. Tamoxifen treatment induced tumor regressionbut the percentage of regressing, static or growing tumors wasno different in the presence or absence of DFMO. Whereas themammary tumors of DFMO-treated rats had reduced ODC activityand lower polyamine concentrations in comparison to the tumorsof untreated animals, tamoxifen had no effect on these parametersindependent of its effect on tumor growth status. DFMO did notincrease the efficacy of tamoxifen in inducing tumor regression.     

Influence of caffeine on development of benign and carcinomatous mammary gland tumors in female rats treated with the carcinogens 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea

The effect of chronic caffeine consumption (500 mg/liter of drinking water) on the initiation and promotion stages of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) (a low dose, 0.5 mg/100 g body weight, i.v.) and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) (a standard dose, 2.5 mg/100 g body weight, i.v.) induced mammary gland tumorigenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats was determined. In the initiation studies, caffeine was administered for 30 days prior to and for 3-4 days after carcinogen treatment (carcinogens administered at 55-57 days of age); in the promotion studies, caffeine was administered beginning 3-4 days after carcinogen treatment and until experiment termination (DMBA study and MNU study, 48 and 26 weeks after carcinogen treatment, respectively). In the DMBA study, there were 62-73 rats/group, in the MNU study, 40 rats/group. Eighty-nine % of the mammary tumors induced by DMBA were benign (adenomas, fibroadenomas, often with cystic secretory activity), 11% were carcinomas (intraductal and invasive); virtually all of the MNU-induced mammary tumors were carcinomas (approximately 99%). Caffeine consumption during the initiation stage in the DMBA-treated rats resulted in a significant decrease in the mean number of mammary carcinomas per rat (50% reduction, P less than 0.01) and mean number of benign mammary tumors per rat (28% reduction, P less than 0.05); caffeine consumption during the promotion stage significantly decreased the mean number of benign mammary tumors per rat (57% reduction, P less than 0.001) while not significantly influencing mammary carcinoma number. In contrast, caffeine consumption during either the initiation or promotion stages of MNU-treated rats did not significantly influence this tumorigenic process. The influence of caffeine on urinary and fecal excretion of tritiated DMBA and on rat mammary gland development at the time of carcinogen treatment also was determined. Slightly reduced levels of tritium in 24-h urinary samples were observed in caffeine-treated animals (P = 0.06). No significant effect of caffeine on 24- to 96-h fecal or 48- to 96-h urinary excretion of the isotope was observed. No apparent effect of caffeine on rat mammary gland development (number of ducts, degree of lobuloalveolar development) was observed. That caffeine significantly suppresses the initiation stage of DMBA-induced rat mammary gland tumorigenesis, while not influencing this stage when MNU is used as a carcinogen, suggests that caffeine acts via an alteration in carcinogen (DMBA) activation. The lack of a pronounced effect of caffeine on tritiated DMBA excretion, however, does cast some doubt on this mechanism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Role of polyamines in the growth of hormone-responsive experimental breast cancerin vivo

Summary We have provided evidence for a critical role of polyamines in the growth of the hormone-responsive N-nitrosomethyl-urea (NMU)-induced rat mammary tumorin vitro. The present experiments were designed to test whether polyamines are involved in the growth of this experimental tumorin vivo. To test this hypothesis, groups of rats bearing NMU-induced mammary cancers were randomly allocated to receive no treatment or escalating doses of the polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor -difluoromethyl-ornithine (DFMO) (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% in drinking water). DFMO inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent fashion and consistently reduced tumor putrescine level. To evaluate the time dependency of this effect, additional groups of rats received either no treatment or 2% DFMO for 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. At all times DFMO suppressed tumor putrescine level as well as spermidine to spermine ratio. Finally, exogenous administration of putrescine (200 mg/kg/i.p./day × 21 days) given concomitantly with DFMO restored tumor growth, partially repleted tumor putrescine level, and raised the spermidine to spermine ratio to control levels. Putrescine, given alone, had no significant effect on either tumor polyamine levels or tumor growth. Except for modest weight loss, no major toxicity was encountered. These results indicate that polyamines play an important role in the growth of the NMU rat mammary tumorin vivo. The interaction between polyamines and hormones in supporting NMU mammary tumor growthin vivo remains to be elucidated.     

Chemoprevention of MNU-induced mammary tumors in the mature rat by 4-HPR and tamoxifen.

The chemopreventive efficacies of the retinoid all-trans-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-retinamide (4-HPR) and the anti-estrogen tamoxifen citrate were evaluated against N-methyl-N'-nitrosourea (MNU) induced mammary cancer in 120-day old female Sprague-Dawley rats. The agents were tested alone and in combination. They were administered in a modified AIN-76A diet, beginning 60 days prior to a single i.v. dose of 50 mg MNU/kg-bw and continuing until the end of the study, 180 days post-carcinogen treatment. At 782 mg/kg diet, 4-HPR alone significantly inhibited the induction of mammary adenocarcinomas compared with carcinogen controls. At 0.250 mg/kg diet, tamoxifen alone reduced tumor incidence compared with carcinogen controls. At 0.125 mg/kg diet, tamoxifen was ineffective. Combinations of 782 mg 4-HPR/kg diet with either 0.250 or 0.125 mg tamoxifen/kg diet were effective in inhibiting MNU-induced adenocarcinomas. The reductions in tumor incidence were greater for these combinations than for either agent alone. 4-HPR and 0.250 mg tamoxifen/kg diet decreased tumor incidence 81% (p less than 0.005), whereas 4-HPR and 0.125 mg tamoxifen/kg diet decreased tumor incidence 72% (p less than 0.005) compared with carcinogen controls. The combination of 391 mg 4-HPR/kg diet and 0.500 mg tamoxifen/kg diet was also tested and was effective in reducing tumor incidence.     

Effect of carcinogen dose and age at administration on induction of mammary carcinogenesis by 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea.

The objective of the work reported in this paper was to determine if the tumorigenic response to 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU) in the mammary gland varied with age of administration and was dose dependent when the carcinogen was injected prior to 50 days of age. Using a recently developed method for mammary tumor induction, MNU was injected i.p. at doses ranging from 25 to 75 mg/kg at 35 days of age or 50 mg/kg at 28, 35 or 42 days of age. Treatment with MNU resulted in induction of both benign and malignant mammary tumors. The incidence of mammary gland adenocarcinomas was 100% at and above the 50 mg/kg dose of MNU, irrespective of the age at which carcinogen was administered. The number of cancers increased in proportion to carcinogen dose, whereas cancer latency decreased as the MNU dose increased. In rats injected with 50 mg MNU/kg body weight at 28, 35 or 42 days of age, differences among groups in cancer incidence, number or latency were not statistically significant. Metastases of mammary neoplasms to lung, liver and spleen were observed in rats injected with MNU at 35 or 42 days of age. These data indicate (i) the dose responsiveness of MNU-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats initiated prior to 50 days of age; (ii) the lack of effect of age at initiation if prior to 50 days on final tumor outcome; and (iii) that the age at which MNU is injected may affect the metastatic potential of the mammary carcinomas that are induced.     

Inhibition of rat mammary gland chemical carcinogenesis by dietary dehydroepiandrosterone or a fluorinated analogue of dehydroepiandrosterone.

The chemopreventive efficacy of p.o. administered dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA plus N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR), or 16 alpha-fluoro-5-androsten-17-one (DHEA analogue 8354) was examined in rats treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU; 50 mg/kg body weight, i.v.) at 50 days of age. Semipurified diet (AIN-76A) containing each steroid alone, or DHEA plus 4-HPR, was administered during initiation (-1 week to +1 week post-MNU), promotion/progression (+1 week post-MNU to termination), or both phases (-1 week post-MNU to termination) of the carcinogenic process. Neither DHEA nor DHEA analogue 8354 (0.2%, w/w) significantly affected the initiation of mammary cancer when administered alone; however, DHEA (0.2%, w/w) plus 4-HPR (1 mmol/kg diet) significantly reduced cancer multiplicity (26%) when given during initiation. All three treatments were strongly effective when given during promotion/progression, significantly reducing mammary cancer multiplicity by 77% (DHEA), 84% (DHEA/4-HPR), and 66% (DHEA analogue 8354), relative to carcinogen controls. Cancer incidence was significantly inhibited by DHEA (33% inhibition) and DHEA/4-HPR (24% reduction) during promotion/progression. However, the most effective chemopreventive treatment encompassed both phases of carcinogenesis. Thus, under these conditions, DHEA (0.2% or 0.1%, w/w) reduced cancer incidence (52% and 32% reductions, respectively) and multiplicity (91% and 86% reductions, respectively). Further reduction in mammary cancer incidence was observed in animals that received DHEA (both doses) plus 4-HPR (1 and 0.5 mmol/kg diet, respectively). DHEA analogue 8354 (0.2% or 0.1%, w/w) given for the duration of the study reduced only cancer multiplicity (61% and 56% reductions, respectively). Tumor-related mortality was significantly lower in rats that received long-term treatment with DHEA or DHEA/4-HPR, when compared with carcinogen controls. Except for a slight, but significant, postcarcinogen decrease in the mean body weights of rats treated concomitantly with DHEA (plus or minus 4-HPR) and MNU, additional gross manifestations of steroid-induced toxicity were not observed.     

Interspecies analysis of the chemopreventive efficacy of dietary alpha-difluoromethylornithine

The anticarcinogenic efficacy of the polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), was assessed in three rodent models of human epithelial cancer. In DMBA-induced female, Sprague-Dawley rats, DMFO treatment (3.2 or 6.4 g/kg diet) for 180 days significantly inhibited mammary carcinogenesis and reduced tumor-related intercurrent mortality compared to untreated controls. In male, C57BL/6x DBA/2F1 mice induced with N-butyl-N(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (OH-BBN), DFMO treatment (2 or 4 g/kg diet) concurrent with the period of carcinogen administration significantly reduced the incidence and severity of urinary bladder carcinomas. In methylnitrosourea (MNU)-induced male Syrian golden hamsters, DFMO (3.2 g/kg diet) numerically reduced the incidence and size of tracheal carcinoma relative to untreated controls. DFMO-mediated toxicity was not evident in any of the animals on study, although a slight reduction in mean body weight gain was evident in rats and mice.     

Treatment of hamster pancreatic cancer with alpha-difluoromethylornithine, an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis

Polyamines are essential for cell division and growth. Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) on the growth of hamster H2T pancreatic cancer was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Cell-doubling time (TD) and survival fraction were determined after a single treatment with DFMO (5 mM). We examined the ability of putrescine to reverse the growth-inhibitory effect of DFMO. The TD for cells treated with DFMO in vitro was 49.6 +/- 5.7 versus 25.4 +/- 2.6 hours for control. The addition of putrescine to DFMO-treated H2T cells showed a reversal of the growth-inhibitory effect of DFMO. Cytotoxicity in vitro increased with prolonged treatment; the survival fraction after 24 hours of treatment was 32%; after 48 hours, 19%; after 72 hours, 13%; and after 92 hours, 8%. We performed two separate animal experiments. In experiment I, H2T cells were injected into the cheek pouch of male Syrian golden hamsters; controls did not receive DFMO. Continuous treatment with 3% DFMO in the drinking water was begun 7 days before, on the day of, or 7 days after tumor cell injection. In experiment II, 4 groups were treated identically to those in experiment I. An additional group of 10 hamsters received 3% DFMO and no tumor, and another additional group of 10 hamsters were housed individually with 3% DFMO begun 7 days after tumor cell injection. Tumor size, body weight, water, and food intake were measured. DFMO treatment in vivo significantly inhibited tumor size and inhibited growth of pancreatic cancer by as much as 50% of control. Our results demonstrate a significant antiproliferative effect of DFMO on the growth of pancreatic adenocarcinoma both in vitro and in vivo.     

Inhibition of the development of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in protein kinase C epsilon transgenic mice by alpha-difluoromethylornithine accompanied by marked hair follicle degeneration and hair loss

The role of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated polyamine biosynthesis in the development of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (mSCC) in protein kinase C epsilon (PKC epsilon) transgenic mice was determined. TPA treatment induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and putrescine levels approximately 3-4-fold more in PKC epsilon transgenic mice than their wild-type littermates. Development of mSCC by the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (100 nmol)-TPA (5 nmol) protocol in PKC epsilon transgenic mice was completely prevented by administration of the suicide inhibitor of ODC alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO, 0.5% w/v) in the drinking water during TPA promotion. However, DFMO treatment led to marked hair loss in PKC epsilon transgenic mice. DFMO treatment-associated hair loss in PKC epsilon transgenic mice was accompanied by a decrease in the number of intact hair follicles. These results indicate that TPA-induced ODC activity and the resultant accumulation of putrescine in PKC epsilon transgenic mice are linked to growth and maintenance of hair follicles, and the development of mSCC. Severe hair loss observed in PKC epsilon transgenic mice on DFMO during skin tumor promotion has not been reported before in the prevention of cancer in other animal models or in human cancer prevention trials.     

Effects of acute and chronic body weight gain reductions in the evaluation of agents for efficacy in mammary cancer prevention

Studies were performed to determine the effects of moderate decreases in body weight gain on mammary carcinogenesis. The levels of depressions in weight gain were those often observed in the evaluation of chemopreventive agents. In the first experiment, the effects of acute and chronic reductions of body weight gain when started after carcinogen treatment were examined in young rats (MNU at 50 days of age). Significant decreases (36%) in mammary cancers occurred in groups of rats that underwent a 12% acute reduction in body weight gain as compared with ad libitum controls. In contrast, chronic weight reductions of up to 12% had minimal effects on cancer multiplicities, while a 15% chronic reduction significantly decreased cancer numbers (26%). A second experiment evaluated the efficacy of toremifene (7.0 mg/kg diet), an estrogen/anti-estrogen, and the effect of toremifene-matched body weight gain reduction that occurred during the study. Toremifene caused a chronic reduction in body weight that resulted in a 10% decrease in final body weight at the end of the study. While toremifene-treated rats exhibited a 67% decrease in the number of mammary cancers, the rats which similarly exhibited a 10% decrease in final body weight showed only a 14% decrease in cancer number. Thus, the weight effects observed with toremifene, similar estrogens/anti-estrogens, and other classes of chemopreventive compounds (where chronic body weight reductions are 10% or less) imply that the body weight reduction has a limited effect on overall chemopreventive activity. A third study examined the effect of chronic body weight gain reduction on mammary cancers induced in older rats (MNU given at 100 days of age). This model more closely resembles the status of the breast tissue of mature women currently enrolled in clinical trials of chemopreventive agents. Under these conditions chronic reductions in body weight up to 15% had minimal effects on mammary carcinogenesis. These data further demonstrated that acute body weight reductions in young rats at the time of carcinogen treatment can be a concern in interpretation of the chemopreventive activity of an agent, but that moderate chronic depressions of body weight gain probably do not play a significant role.     

Dose-responsive induction of mammary gland carcinomas by the intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea

Dose-response relationships for the induction of mammary tumors by a single i.p. injection of 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU) were studied. Groups of 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats were given i.p. injections of 50, 37.5, 25, 12.5, or 0 mg MNU/kg body weight at 50 days of age. Animals were palpated for tumor detection twice weekly throughout a 28-week observation period. Administration of MNU i.p. caused no acute toxicity. Both benign and malignant mammary tumors were induced by MNU, but malignant tumors appeared earlier and at a faster rate than benign tumors. The incidence and numbers of mammary carcinomas increased whereas median cancer-free time decreased with increasing dose of MNU. Approximately twice as many mammary cancers were observed in the cervical-thoracic as in the abdominal-inguinal mammary gland chains irrespective of carcinogen dose, while the frequency of tumor occurrence in the left versus right chains was similar. Tumor latency decreased with increasing dose of MNU, but the quartiles for time to detection of all tumors within each carcinogen dose group were similar irrespective of anatomical region in which the tumors occurred. The mammary tumor response attained via i.p. injection was similar but the coefficient of variation for tumor multiplicity within a carcinogen dose group was lower in comparison to that observed when MNU was administered i.v. or s.c. Among these techniques for carcinogen injection, the i.p. route is the most rapid method and offers an added advantage of ease of administration with quantitative, reproducible delivery of the desired amount of carcinogen and a decrease in variability of tumor response among animals within a treatment group. This method is well suited for the technically less experienced investigator and for those in need for a rapid method of injecting MNU to large numbers of animals.     

Effects of D,L-2-difluoromethylornithine and indomethacin on mammary tumor promotion in rats fed high n-3 and/or n-6 fat diets

Virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats (50 days of age) were administered a single intragastric 10-mg dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Twenty-one days later they were placed on diets containing either 20% corn oil (CO), 15% menhaden oil plus 5% corn oil (MO + CO), 20% CO plus 0.5% w/w of the irreversible ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, D,L-2-difluoromethylornithine (CO + DFMO), 20% CO plus 0.004% w/w of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (CO + INDO), 20% CO + 0.004% INDO + 0.5% DFMO (CO + INDO + DFMO), or 15% MO + 5% CO + 0.5% DFMO (MO + CO + DFMO). The incidence of DMBA-induced mammary tumors was significantly reduced in rats fed diets containing DFMO but not in rats fed the diet containing indomethacin. Incidences of mammary tumors at 16 weeks post-DMBA were 86% in rats fed the CO diet, 83% in rats ingesting the diet containing CO + INDO, 28% in rats fed CO + DFMO, 32% in rats fed diet containing CO + INDO + DFMO, 59% in rats fed the MO + CO diet, and 24% in rats fed the MO + CO + DFMO diet. The average number of tumors and tumor burden per tumor-bearing rat were reduced and tumor latency was increased in all rats fed diets containing DFMO. Body weight gain, but not food intake, of rats fed the 20% fat + 0.5% DFMO diets was significantly less than in rats fed the 20% fat diets. Prostaglandin E and leukotriene (LTB4) syntheses, ODC activity and mammary tumorigenesis were significantly inhibited by feeding the diet containing menhaden oil or by adding 0.5% DFMO to any of the high fat diets. Feeding a 20% CO diet containing 0.004% INDO significantly reduced prostaglandin synthesis and ODC activity and increased LTB4 synthesis of mammary tumors but did not inhibit mammary tumorigenesis. This study suggests that the 5-lipoxygenase product LTB4 may be involved in mammary tumor production. Whereas a decrease in LTB4 appears to be associated with a decrease in tumorigenesis, an increase (as seen in the indomethacin group) was not associated with any change in the tumorigenic response.     

In vitro carcinogenesis of hamster pancreatic duct cells: cellular and molecular alterations

Neoplastic transformation of Syrian golden hamster (SGH) pancreaticduct cells was induced by in vitro treatment with the direct-actingcarcinogens N-methylnitrosourea (MNU) and N-(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosourea(HPNU), with subsequent selection by sustained culture in serum-and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-deprived medium. The presentstudy examines the efficacy of serum and EGF deprivation asa selection pressure and the effect of the carcinogen dose,frequency and interval of exposure on tumorigenesis and K-rasmutation. Selection of carcinogen-initiated duct cells by serumand EGF deprivation is highly reproducible and effective, increasingthe incidence of tumors from 26 to 93% for MNU or from 0 to100% for HPNU. SGH pancreatic duct cells exposed to 0.5 mM MNUfor 13 weeks (long-treatment schedule) produced K-ras mutationsat codon 12 in six of six tumors. However, when cells were exposedto 0.125, 0.25 or 0.5 mM MNU daily for 5 days (short-treatmentschedule), mutations of K-ras at codon 13 were identified infour of 16 tumors, the remaining 12 showing no mutations. Ductcells exposed to 0.5 mM HPNU by the short-treatment scheduleproduced K-ras mutations in codon 13 in six of six tumors, ascontrasted to 12 tumors that developed from cells exposed to0.125 or 0.25 mM HPNU, which all contained K-ras codon 12 mutations.The current experiments demonstrate that K-ras mutation in pancreaticcarcinogenesis in vitro by MNU or HPNU can be modified by thenature and dose of the carcinogen as well as the frequency andduration of exposure.     

Treatment with chemopreventive agents, difluoromethylornithine and retinyl acetate, results in altered mammary extracellular matrix

The effect of treatment with D-L-2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)plus retinyl acetate (RA) on the promotion stage of 1-methyl-l-nitrosourea(MNU)-induced mammary carcinogenesis was evaluated in femaleSprague—Dawley rats. Combined treatment was more effectivethan single agent treatment in decreasing cancer incidence andmultiplicity and in prolonging cancer latency. Increased efficacywas associated with reduced morphological complexity of thegland and increased mammary extracellular matrix. Using ovarianhormones to model mitogen stimulation in the mammary gland,DFMO plus RA treatment reduced mammary gland complexity in theabsence of an effect on bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) labeling indexmeasured immunohistochemically. Morphological and biochemicalevaluation of these glands revealed increased levels of extracellularmatrix in rats treated with chemopreventive agents. Tenascinexpression and fibronectin levels were elevated and lamininlevels were decreased. The fact that matrix degrading proteinaseactivity was also increased indicated that tissue remodelingwas modulated by these chemopreventive agents. These data provideevidence of alterations in epithelial cell-extracellular matrixinteractions that could account in part for the chemopreventiveeffects of DFMO plus RA.     

Chemopreventive efficacy of combined retinoid and tamoxifen treatment following surgical excision of a primary mammary cancer in female rats

Dietary N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR; 3 mmol/kg diet) and s.c. injections of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen (Tx; 10 micrograms or 20 micrograms per rat, thrice weekly) were used together as adjunct chemopreventive therapy in groups of 39-40 female, Sprague-Dawley rats that each received an i.v. injection (50 mg/kg b.w.) of the mammary gland carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Treatment was started immediately following the surgical excision of the first (primary) mammary carcinoma from each MNU-treated rat and was continued for 180 days. When compared to the effect of treatment with 4-HPR or Tx (30 micrograms/wk) alone, the combination treatments significantly enhanced terminal survival and reduced nonrecurrent mammary cancer incidence and multiplicity. Data showing the incidence of rats bearing the first through fifth additional cancers to appear following surgical resection of a primary lesion demonstrate that combined treatment with 4-HPR/Tx was immediately and consistently more efficacious than either agent per se in suppressing subsequent tumor appearance. This effect was apparently related to the dose of Tx. These results suggest that combined treatment with 4-HPR/Tx is superior to that of either agent alone in blocking progression of incipient neoplastic lesions at both early and later stages of the process.     

Effect of intravenous alpha-difluoromethylornithine on the polyamine levels of normal tissue and a transplantable fibrosarcoma

The effect of a continuous i.v. infusion of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) on the polyamine metabolism of tumor and normal host tissue was determined. Non-tumor-bearing Fischer 344 rats or rats bearing a transplantable fibrosarcoma received continuous infusions of DFMO through a central venous catheter at three dose levels. Treatment with DFMO resulted in a time- and dose-dependent, cytostatic effect on the growth of the tumor. In fibrosarcoma-bearing rats the tumor putrescine levels were reduced after 6 and 12 days of DFMO treatment. Tumor spermidine levels were consistently reduced after 6 and 12 days of treatment with the reduction being dose dependent. The decrease in tumor ornithine decarboxylase activity was dose dependent. Erythrocyte putrescine levels were decreased in tumor- and non-tumor-bearing rats, suggesting that DFMO reduces the tumor contribution to the erythrocyte pool. Erythrocyte spermidine levels of fibrosarcoma- and non-tumor-bearing rats were elevated at the lower DFMO doses administered for 12 days but returned to normal as the dose was increased. Erythrocyte spermine levels were elevated in both groups of rats at all DFMO doses. Although normal host tissue weights were not affected by treatment with DFMO, the putrescine and spermidine levels of liver, spleen, and kidney and ornithine decarboxylase activity of the liver and kidney were decreased. These data demonstrate that i.v. DFMO has a cytostatic effect toward a rapidly growing fibrosarcoma associated with the depletion of both tumor putrescine and spermidine levels.     

Chemoprevention of mouse colon tumors with difluoromethylornithine during and after carcinogen treatment

alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) treatment has been shown to modify carcinogenesis in many experimental tumor models, including skin, breast, and colon. This study was designed to determine whether DFMO treatment can inhibit experimental mouse colon tumors after carcinogen treatment and whether an associated effect of DFMO on cell proliferation in colon mucosa occurs. Male CD1 mice (40 per group) received dimethylhydrazine (30 mg/kg/week x 6 weeks, s.c.) and various schedules of DFMO, 1% in drinking water: Group A, none; Group B, following dimethylhydrazine treatment; Group C, during dimethylhydrazine treatment; and Group D, continuously throughout the study. Measurements of RBC polyamine levels showed that DFMO treatment ablated putrescine levels and confirmed that a systemic biological effect was achieved. Analysis of tumor data showed a significant inhibitory effect of DFMO treatment on colon tumor (adenomas and adenocarcinomas) incidence in Groups B (24%) and D (20%) compared to control Group A (52%, P less than 0.05 A versus B, P less than 0.02 A versus D) and on squamous cell carcinomas of the anus in all groups (P less than 0.001 A versus B, P less than 0.05 A versus C, A versus D). No consistent effect of DFMO treatment on cell proliferation in colon mucosa was identified. This study supports the hypothesis that DFMO treatment alters events in the postinitiation phases of mouse colon tumorigenesis.     

Antimetastatic activity of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine, an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, in mice

Our earlier studies indicated a role for polyamines (namely, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) not only in tumor growth but also in tumor metastases. We have observed that administration of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, resulted in significant inhibition of visually detectable pulmonary metastases in mice implanted with Lewis lung carcinoma. The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of DFMO on other spontaneous and experimental metastatic models and also to determine which step(s) in the tumor metastatic cascade is sensitive to DFMO. The results presented in this study with malignant mouse B16 amelanotic melanoma (B16a) showed a dose-dependent effect of DFMO on the inhibition of both tumor growth and grossly detectable pulmonary metastases. DFMO, when administered as 0.5, 1, and 2% solution in drinking water, resulted in 0, 24.5, and 60% inhibition of tumor growth, respectively, whereas at the same doses an inhibition of 55, 83, and 96% of visible metastases was observed. At treatment levels of 1 and 2% DFMO, 30 and 65% of the animals were free of metastases. DFMO, at 0.5%, did not show any effect on tumor growth, while a significant 55% inhibition of visible pulmonary metastasis was observed, suggesting a specific role for polyamines in tumor metastasis. DFMO treatment also resulted in a significant reduction of putrescine and spermidine levels with a slight increase in spermine concentration in the tumor tissue. DFMO administration did not inhibit the experimental metastases induced as a result of i.v. injection of B16 melanoma (line F10) tumor and Lewis lung carcinoma cells into the tail vein. These results provide preliminary evidence to indicate that tumor cell polyamine depletion by DFMO might affect the first step in the metastatic cascade, intravasation (i.e., prevent the invasion of metastatic tumor cells into lymphatics or blood vessels), although the effect of DFMO on other steps in the metastatic cascade cannot be ruled out.     

Effect of molybdenum and tungsten on mammary carcinogenesis in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats

Virgin female rats of SD strain were given ad libitum a nutritionally adequate semipurified diet containing 0.026 ppm molybdenum and deionized water (groups 1-3) or the same diet with 150 ppm tungsten and the drinking water (group 4). Group 1 was used as control. After 15 days, all the animals in groups 2-4 received an intravenous injection of N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) 5 mg/100 g body weight. One week after administration of carcinogen, 10 ppm Mo was added to the drinking water in group 3. After 125 days, the mammary cancer incidence in group 4 (79.2%) was significantly higher than that in group 2 (50.0%) or group 3 (45.5%) (P less than 0.05). After 198 days, the average number of mammary cancer in each animal and mammary cancer incidence in group 3 (1.5 and 50.0%) were obviously lower than those in group 2 (2.0 and 90.5%) or group 4 (2.6 and 95.7%). The first palpable mammary tumor was found in the W-supplemented group only 56 days after the injection of NMU, whereas in the W-unsupplemented and Mo-supplemented groups, the first mammary tumor was observed 71 and 85 days after NMU treatment. Of these 181 mammary tumors, 177 (97.8%) were adenocarcinoma or papillary carcinoma, only 4 (2.2%) fibroadenocarcinoma. The results of this study show, for the first time, the inhibitory effect of Mo on the mammary carcinogenesis and promoting effect of Tungsten, an antagonist of molybdenum, on the tumor growth.