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Effect of toremifene on the growth, hormone receptors and insulin-like growth factor-1 of hormone-dependent MCF-7 tumors in athymic mice

  • Original Articles
  • Torernitene, MCF-7 tumor, Athymic Mice
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Abstract

Toremifene given in different sizes of silastic capsules was used to treat MCF-7 tumors in athmic mice. Toremifene inhibited the estradiol-stimulated growth of MCF-7 tumors in athymic mice. Average serum concentrations of toremifene obtained using a sustained-release preparation of the drug (in 0.5-, 1.0-, and 2.0-cm silastic capsules) increased gradually in a capsule-size-dependent fashion. Much higher levels of toremifene orN-demethyltoremifene were detected in tumors(target tissues of estrogen) as compared with muscles (non-target tissues of estrogen). The concentration of toremifene in serum (i.e., 10–30 ng ml−1) was sufficient to inhibit the estrogen-stimulated growth of MCF-7 tumors at physiological (i.e., 200–400 pg ml−1) serum estradiol concentrations in premenopausal women. No significant difference in estrogen receptor (ER) levels was found between the estradiol-alone group and the toremifene-treated groups. However, the ER levels in the toremifene-alone group and the no-treatment group (no toremifene or estradiol) tended to increase as compared with the estradiol-alone group. Toremifene blocked the estradiol-induced increase in progesterone receptor levels in a dose-dependent fashion. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in the MCF-7 tumors significantly decreased in the toremifene-alone group as compared with the estradiol-alone group. These results show the antiestrogenic action of toremifene on hormone-dependent MCF-7 tumors in athymic mice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second Department of Surgery, Gunma University School of Medicine, 3-39-15, Showamachi, 371, Maebashi, Japan

    Yuchi Iino, Yoshiki Takai, Tatsumasa Ando, Noritaka Sugamata, Michio Maemura, Takeshi Takeo, Susumu Ohwada & Yasuo Morishita

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  1. Yuchi Iino
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  2. Yoshiki Takai
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  3. Tatsumasa Ando
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  4. Noritaka Sugamata
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  5. Michio Maemura
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  6. Takeshi Takeo
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  7. Susumu Ohwada
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  8. Yasuo Morishita
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Iino, Y., Takai, Y., Ando, T. et al. Effect of toremifene on the growth, hormone receptors and insulin-like growth factor-1 of hormone-dependent MCF-7 tumors in athymic mice. Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 32, 353–358 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735918

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735918

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