EFFECT OF CATECHOL ESTROGENS ON RAT MAMMARY-TUMORS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (12) , 4882-4886
Abstract
The effect of 1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3, 16.alpha.,17.beta.-triol (estriol), 1,3,5(10)-estratriene-2,3-diol-17-one (2-hydroxyestrone) and 1,3,5(10)-estratriene-2,3,17.beta.-triol (2-hydroxyestradiol) on the growth of dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumor and of R323OAC-transplantable mammary tumor was compared with that produced by estradiol benzoate treatment. Estriol showed minimal inhibition of tumor growth in dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced tumor and no effect on R323OAC tumor while 2-hydroxyestrone showed no effect of tumor inhibition. 2-Hydroxyestradiol showed appreciable inhibition of tumor growth in both tumors studied. Since 2-hydroxyestradiol binds to estrogen receptors in mammary tumors and is uterotropic, the inhibition of tumor growth by 2-hydroxyestradiol may be similar to the mechanism of inhibition of mammary tumors by high concentrations of estradiol.