Experimental chemotherapy with N'N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea (BCNU) in autochthonous neurogenic tumors of the rat transplacentally induced by ethylnitrosourea

Abstract

Autochthonous neurogenic tumors of the rat induced by transplacental application of ethylnitrosourea were used for the first time to study their suitability as tumor models for experimental chemotherapy. Of 189 transplacentally treated rats, 87% developed neurogenic tumors. After the initial clinical diagnosis of a neurogenic tumor, additional malignant tumors often occurred. The mean number of neurogenic tumors from 62 untreated control rats increased from 1.0 per rat at the time of randomization to 1.2 as revealed by autopsy and 1.5 tumors by histological examinations. Out of all neurogenic tumors, tumors of the brain were observed in 31%, tumors of cranial nerves in 36% (90% tumors of trigeminal nerve), tumors of spinal cord in 21%, and tumors of peripheral nerves in 10%. The median survival time until natural death of 62 control rats was 228 days. Rats with tumors of peripheral nerves lived shortest, followed by rats with tumors of cranial nerves, tumors of the spinal cord, and brain tumors. Brain tumors were mainly astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. The survival time of untreated rats from randomization to natural death was longest for those with brain tumors, followed by tumors of peripheral nerves, cranial nerves, and tumors of the spinal cord. There was great variation in survival time from a few days to more than 6 months. To study the responsiveness to chemotherapy, 62 rats received BCNU as a single intravenous dose of 9 and later 10 mg/kg. Sixty-two untreated control rats had a median survival time of 36 days (95% confidence interval 26-52 days), the treated rats 43.5 days (26-62 days). The difference was not statistically significant. BCNU produced a remission or a no change of neurologic symptoms in 60% (37 out of 62) in comparison to 39% (24 out of 62) in the control group (p less than 0.05). The advantages and disadvantages of the present models are discussed. Due to methodical problems and the marginal response to BCNU, autochthonous neurogenic tumors of the rat are not suitable as models for chemotherapeutic studies.