Enhanced cytostatic effectiveness of aniline mustard against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors during regression in response to ovariectomy

Abstract

Sprague-Dawley rats bearing 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors were treated with either of two aromatic alkylating agents, aniline mustard or melphalan, alone or combined with ovariectomy. Both drugs were applied once a week for 8 weeks. Eight-four percent of the tumors responded to ovariectomy, 38% regressing completely and 46% regressing partially. Aniline mustard, though virtually ineffective as a single agent, appeared synergistic with ovariectomy: a 100% regression rate (72% complete, 28% partial) was observed for this combination. Treatment with melphalan was as effective as ovariectomy, but the combination of melphalan with ovariectomy was no more effective than either treatment alone. The end product of aniline mustard metabolism, p-hydroxyaniline mustard O-glucuronide, may be more extensively activated by beta-glucuronidase in hormonally regressing than in growing or stationary tumors. Intratumoral levels of beta-glucoronidase occurring in DMBA-induced tumors 4 days after ovariectomy were found to be similar to those in the aniline mustard-sensitive mouse plasma cell tumor ADJ/PC6. It remains to be more extensively studied whether an effect of endocrine treatment on tumor beta-glucuronidase levels, and possibly on intracellular distribution of enzyme, could be used therapeutically. An effectively scheduled cytostatic treatment (with a drug conjugate such as that formed metabolically from aniline mustard) in conjunction with ovariectomy might be effective in the treatment of hormone-responsive breast cancer.