POTENTIATION OF BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF STEROIDS BY CARCINOGENIC HYDROCARBONS

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Abstract
Recent studies by Huggins and Pollice (J. Exp. Med., Jan. 1958) showed that a mammary fibroadenoma of rats, refractory to steroid therapy alone, responded in a remarkable fashion to combined administration of 3-methyl-cholanthrene and androstan-17[beta]-ol-3-one. These results suggested that administration of carcinogenic hydrocarbons may alter sensitivity of certain cells to steroid hormones. Oral administration of 3-methylcholanthrene, 2-anthramine, benz-[alpha]-pyrene, and 7-methylbenzanthracene, all carcinogenic agents, markedly potentiated both the androgenic and myotrophic effects of 17-methyltestosterone. Non-carcinogenic hydrocarbons in- vestigated were nearly inactive in this regard. Oral and direct administration of 3-methylcholanthrene potentiated both the glyco-genic and antiphlogistic properties of hydrocortisone. Inactive hydrocarbons, anthracene and phenanthrene, failed to induce this type of , phenomenon. Both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that the ability of carcinogenic hydrocarbons to potentiate biological effects of steroids is due to a direct effect of carcinogenic agent at the cellular level and not to a decreased rate of steroid metabolism by the liver.