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Detection of RNA-instructed DNA polymerase and high molecular weight RNA in malignant tissue.

An experimental procedure is detailed that permits the detection of 70S RNA-directed DNA synthesis in mouse mammary carcinomas. The DNA synthesized is complementary to the RNA of the mouse mammary tumor virus by molecular hybridization, thus, completing the proof that an RNA-instructed DNA polymerase has been identified. Further, RNA-instructed DNA polymerase and its 70S RNA template are physically associated in a particle that has a density characteristic of oncornaviruses. These experiments now provide the technology required to perform similar examinations of human neoplasias.

Animals↗

Caloric restriction perturbs the pituitary-ovarian axis and inhibits mouse mammary tumor virus production in a high-spontaneous-mammary-tumor-incidence mouse strain (C3H/SHN).

Dietary restriction (DR) retards aging and extends maximum life span. It is also known to decrease the incidence of hormone-dependent tumors. In the present investigation, we focussed primarily on the influence of DR on the pituitary-ovarian axis, and subsequently on gene expression of the mouse mammary tumor virus. F1 females from the mating of SHN female and C3H male mice were used in this study, since these hybrids display a very high incidence of mouse mammary tumors. The mice weaned at 3 weeks were raised on either a calorically-restricted diet (DR: 50 kcal/week; N = 5) or on a control diet (C: 95 kcal/week N = 5) for 5 weeks. Three C57BL/6J Jcl ad libitum-fed female mice, 8 weeks of age, were used as reference animals since this strain has a very low incidence of mammary tumors. The mean cellular contents of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) in the pituitary, as determined by immunohistochemistry, were found to be reduced in mice raised on the DR diet. The decrease in the mean cellular content of PRL (50% of the mean control value) was accompanied by a decrease in the number of lactotrophs (17% of the mean value of control diet mice). However, the decrease in cellular content of GH (53% of the mean control value) was not accompanied by a decrease in the number of somatotrophs (no. of somatotrophs in DR = 103% of mean control value). Histologically, ovaries from DR mice showed many growing and atretic follicles, with few corpora lutea. In contrast, both control-diet and reference (C57BL/6J Jcl) mice showed two or three corpora lutea per ovarian section. In accordance with this finding, DR mice had not established stable estrus cycles by 8 weeks of age, in contrast to both control-diet and reference mice. Since caloric restriction has been shown to decrease mammary tumor virus (MMTV) gene expression, MMTV production was investigated by electron microscopy to confirm the validity of our experimental conditions. In DR or reference C57BL/6J Jcl mice, MMTV particles were rarely found in the mammary gland samples, but were always found in samples from control mice. The development of mammary glands, as indicated by the number of villi or the development of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, was delayed in DR mice. Thus, it was concluded that caloric restriction decreases the number of lactrotrophs, inhibits ovulation and delays mammary gland development. This immature status is considered to be due to perturbations in the pituitary-ovarian axis by caloric restriction.

Animals↗

Correlations between chemically related site-specific carcinogenic effects in long-term studies in rats and mice.

We examined a database of 379 long-term carcinogenicity studies in rats and mice to evaluate sex and species correlations in site-specific carcinogenic responses. Within a species, most target sites showed a strong correlation between males and females. For example, chemicals producing forestomach or liver tumors in males were likely to produce these same types of tumors in females. There was also a significant correlation between species for certain site-specific carcinogenic effects, most notably tumors of the forestomach, liver, and thyroid gland. In contrast, adrenal pheochromocytoma, preputial/clitoral gland neoplasms, and lung tumors showed no significant interspecies correlation. Many chemicals produced a syndrome of carcinogenic effects involving tumors of the skin, Zymbal gland, preputial/clitoral gland, mammary gland, and/or oral cavity. Regarding different target sites, there appeared to be a correlation between thyroid and liver tumors both within and between species. Further, all chemicals producing mesotheliomas in male rats also produced mammary gland neoplasms in female rats. In contrast, kidney and urinary bladder tumors showed no significant association with any other tumor type in rats or mice. If a chemical produced a site-specific carcinogenic effect in female rats or mice, there was approximately a 65% probability that the chemical would also be carcinogenic at that same site in males. The interspecies correlation was somewhat lower: approximately 36% of the site-specific carcinogenic effects observed in one species (rats or mice) were also observed in the other species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Parity-induced mammary epithelial cells facilitate tumorigenesis in MMTV-neu transgenic mice.

Using a Cre-lox-based genetic labeling technique, we have recently discovered a parity-induced mammary epithelial subtype that is abundant in nonlactating and nonpregnant, parous females. These mammary epithelial cells serve as alveolar progenitors in subsequent pregnancies, and transplantation studies revealed that they possess features of multipotent progenitors such as self-renewal and the capability to contribute to ductal and alveolar morphogenesis. Here, we report that these cells are the cellular targets for transformation in MMTV-neu transgenic mice that exhibit accelerated mammary tumorigenesis in multiparous animals. The selective ablation of this epithelial subtype reduces the onset of tumorigenesis in multiparous MMTV-neu transgenics. There is, however, experimental evidence to suggest that parity-induced mammary epithelial cells may not be the only cellular targets in other MMTV-promoter-based transgenic strains. In particular, the heterogeneous MMTV-wnt1 lesions predominantly express the ductal differentiation marker Nkcc1 that is absent in MMTV-neu-derived tumors. Our observations support the idea that tumors originate from distinctly different epithelial subtypes in selected MMTV-promoter-driven cancer models and that diverse oncogenes might exert discrete effects on particular mammary epithelial subtypes.

Animals↗

Effect of tumors with different growth rates on enzymes in host liver.

In response to extrahepatic neoplasms, ornithine aminotransferase, malic enzyme, alanine aminotransferase and glucokinase activity of the 'uninvolved' liver is diminished and that of hexokinase is increased. Comparison of rats at various times after the implantation of ascites tumor, mammary carcinoma, fibrosarcoma and Morris hepatomas indicate that the faster the growth rate of tumors, the earlier the onset of these hepatic changes. The results also show that, when the different tumors are the same size, the magnitude of the enzymic deviations in the liver is directly related to characteristic growth rate of the tumor lines. These and previous observations on other host tissues suggest that tumor-doubling time, which is a known factor in metastatic spread and survival, may also be a variable in the production of systemic agents through which neoplasms affect the metabolic state of the cancer host.

Animals↗

Diverse spectrum of tumors in male Sprague-Dawley rats following single high doses of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU).

In this study, 30-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, were inoculated intraperitoneally with a single dose of 45, 90, and 180 mg/kg of N-ethyl-N-Nitrosourea (ENU). A wide spectrum of neoplasms occurred. The most common tumors were those of the mammary gland and of the nervous system. Although the incidence of mammary tumors was highest in the two high-dose groups (90 and 180 mg/kg ENU), the incidence of neurogenic tumors was highest in the 45 mg/kg dose group. Mammary tumor development led to early death and precluded development of tumors of the nervous system, which require a longer latency period. A variety of neoplasms of other organs have been associated particularly with high doses of ENU, including ameloblastic tumors, carcinomas of the thyroid, prostate, kidney, pancreas, intestine, and lung, hemilymphatic tumors, and sarcomas. It is concluded that large doses of ENU are capable of expanding the tumor spectrum in young male rats beyond the target organs generally affected with lower doses, as described in earlier reports.

Animals↗

Celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor, protects against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)/neu-induced breast cancer.

Cyclooxygenase 2 (HER-2) (Cox-2), an inducible form of Cox, is overexpressed in HER-2/neu-positive human breast cancers. The aim of this study was to determine whether celecoxib, a selective Cox-2 inhibitor, protected against HER-2/neu-induced experimental breast cancer. Cox-2 protein was detected in breast carcinomas from mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)/neu mice. Treatment with celecoxib (500 ppm) significantly reduced the incidence of mammary tumors in MMTV/neu mice (P = 0.003) and caused about a 50% reduction in mammary prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. Because mammary glands from MMTV/neu mice expressed all four PGE2 receptor subtypes, we speculate that signaling through PGE2 receptors is important for mammary tumorigenesis. These results strengthen the rationale for developing clinical trials to determine whether selective Cox-2 inhibitors possess anticancer properties in humans at risk for breast cancer.

Animals↗

Humoral and cellular immune responses to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) in experimental animal models (review).

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has been implicated in the etiology of mouse mammary tumors although genetic, hormonal and environmental factors appear to be involved in the mechanism of carcinogenesis. Strains from mice harboring the exogenous MMTV have higher incidences of spontaneous mammary tumors than those who are devoid of the B type particles. However, multiple copies of MMTV provirus are detectable in all inbred strains of mice regardless of whether they develop spontaneous tumors or not. Studies by several investigators have demonstrated humoral and cell mediated immune responses in mice which harbor the endogenous virus and in strains that possess the exogenous MMTV in addition to the provirus. These immune responses are in some cases modulated by the development of mammary tumors. In analogy with the results in mice, there have been several studies where human breast cancer patients have shown responses to mouse mammary tumor virus antigens. Furthermore, MMTV related sequences have been detected in DNA from human cells. The animal systems therefore, appear to be valid models for the understanding of human mammary carcinogenesis and to establish protocols for its eventual control.

Animals↗

Treatment of cancer using Corynebacterium parvum: similarity of two preparations in four animal tumor models.

The tumor inhibitory properties of Corynebacterium parvum obtained from Burroughs Wellcome (CP-BW) or from Institut Merieux (CP-IM) were compared in four animal tumor models: the CaD2 mouse mammary carcinoma treated by intravenous (I.V.) or intratumoral (I.T.) injection of C. parvum; 13762A rat mammary adenocarcinoma treated by I.T. injection of C. parvum either alone or combined with excision of the primary tumor; LSTRA murine leukemia and line 10 cavian hepatoma, each treated with vaccines containing irradiated tumor cells and C. parvum. Both preparations were active against each tumor. In most comparisons the potency of the two materials was not different, but in a few cases the CP-BW was effective at a lower dose than was the CP-IM. These results demonstrate the versatility of C. parvum for use in a variety of immunotherapy procedures and show that the potencies of the two major types of C. parvum are very similar.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Caffeine suppresses metastasis in a transgenic mouse model: a prototype molecule for prophylaxis of metastasis.

A significant fraction of cancer patients have occult disseminated tumors at the time of primary diagnosis, which usually progress to become clinically relevant lesions. Since the majority of cancer mortality is associated with metastatic disease, the ability to inhibit the growth of the secondary tumors would significantly reduce cancer-related morbidity and mortality. We have investigated whether caffeine, which has been shown to suppress tumor cell invasiveness and experimental metastasis, can suppress metastasis in a spontaneous transgene-induced mammary tumor model. Chronic exposure to caffeine prior to the appearance of palpable mammary tumors significantly reduced both tumor burden and metastatic colonization. However, when caffeine exposure began after the appearance of frank tumors, caffeine suppressed metastasis without changing primary tumor burden. The means by which caffeine suppressed metastatic activity may be associated with inhibition of malignant transformation of mammary epithelial cells, inhibition of conversion of dormant tumor cells to micrometastases, micrometastases to macrometastases, or inhibition of tumor cell adhesion and motility. Gene and protein expression patterns resulting from caffeine treatment showed that metastasis suppression may be associated with up-regulation the mRNA expression of multiple extracellular matrix genes, including Fbln1, Bgn, Sparc, Fbn1, Loxl1, Colla1, Col3a1, Col5a1, ColS5a2, ColSa3, Col6a1, Col6a2, and Col6a3. These data suggested that caffeine or other methyl xanthine derivatives may improve the clinical outcome in patients prior to and following the diagnosis of metastatic disease, and could potentially reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with disseminated tumors.

Animals↗

Influence of hormone antagonists on chromatin remodeling and transcription factor binding to the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter in vivo.

Steroid hormones act via a group of high affinity receptors that regulate transcription by binding to hormone response elements located in the promoters of hormone-inducible genes. Our understanding of these processes has been greatly enhanced by the use of steroid hormone antagonists in both clinical and experimental procedures. However, despite their usefulness in these applications, much about their mechanisms of action remains to be elucidated. Using in vivo analysis techniques, we investigated the influence of type I (ZK98299) and type II (RU486 and ZK112993) steroid hormone antagonists on glucocorticoid-regulated transcription from the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. Both type I and type II antagonists substantially reduced glucocorticoid-induced expression from the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter stably maintained as chromatin. Concurrent treatment with glucocorticoid and type I or type II antagonists reduced the receptor-dependent chromatin remodeling and loading of transcription factor NF1 that are signature responses of this promoter in the context of chromatin. Treatment with either type I or type II antagonists alone did not induce chromatin remodeling or transcription factor loading. Although type II antagonist-occupied receptor can bind DNA, our results show that this binding is not functionally equivalent to that of agonist-occupied receptor, as it can not interact productively with the cellular apparatus required to open a repressive chromatin structure.

Animals↗

The effect of body weight on tumor incidence and carcinogenicity testing in B6C3F1 mice and F344 rats.

Associations between animal body weights and tumor incidence were examined using individual control animal data from 55 mouse and 53 rat studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program. Several statistically significant associations were found, the strongest of which were positive relationships between body weight and risk of liver tumors in both sexes of mice, pituitary gland tumors in both sexes of rats, and mammary gland tumors in female rats. The most compelling evidence that these relationships were causal in nature was the replication of the correlations across individual experiments. In addition, significant correlations between tumor occurrence and body weights occurred in animals as young as 9 weeks of age. Logistic regression models relating 12-month body weight to tumor risk were developed for the strongest relationships, and utilized in the reanalysis of tumor data from two National Toxicology Program studies with treatment-related decreases in body weight. A simulation study based on the logistic regression models indicated that statistical power to detect a treatment-related increase in tumor incidence can be seriously diminished when mean body weight in treated animals is depressed by as little as 10%. Conversely, when mean body weight in control animals is 10% lower than that of treated animals, false positive rates can increase to 20-30%. The severity of the effects of such commonly observed treatment-related disparities in body weight suggests that alternative data analysis methods or experimental designs should be considered to address this potential problem in carcinogenicity testing.

Animals↗

[New discoveries in experimental cancer].

This 7th International Symposium organized by the National Academy of Medicine on New directions in cancer management, was sponsored by IUCC (International Union against Cancer) and received important financial assistance from the Fritz Bender Foundation. In 1996 and 97, the first two Symposia also dealt with cancer, specifically with tumor immunology and with the relation of human breast cancer with MMTV (murine mammary tumor virus). The aim of these introductory remarks is to emphasize recent breakthroughs related to these two subjects, which are also those of my laboratory. Although with inhibitors of angiogenesis it had been possible to block neovascularization without, however, attacking the tumor, recently the addition of low but continuous chemotherapy, so-called "metronomic therapy", has led to the reabsorption of established tumors. On the other hand, MMTV homologous viral sequences are being detected in human mammary tumors along with occasional viral particles. Moreover, a correlation has been encountered between the presence of Mus domesticus and a high incidence of human breast cancer in Occident and its absence in Orient where there is a low incidence of this cancer. It is to be hoped that new breakthroughs--or even conclusions from this meeting--will keep adding data towards finding solutions to the difficult problem of cancer.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies against a 65-kDa tumor-associated phosphoprotein: development and use in cancer detection.

Five hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to a 65-kDa tumor-associated phosphoprotein (p65) were established. Purified to homogeneity, p65 was used as an immunogen to induce immune response in C57BL/6N mice. Splenocytes were fused with mouse myeloma cells and hybridoma lines were selectively subcloned. A rapid and sensitive sandwich type ELISA, using purified MAbs was established to measure markedly elevated amounts of p65 in sera obtained from both tumor-bearing rats and from cancer patients. The p65 from rat and human sources was added quantitatively to normal sera to construct standard curves. The average level of p65 in normal rat sera was 38 ng/ml +/- 13 ng/ml (mean +/- SD), and in sera from rats bearing mammary adenocarcinomas, the average value was 1005 +/- 140 ng/ml. In normal human sera the mean level of p65 was 34 +/- 35 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) and sera of patients with variety of cancers had an average p65 value of 344 +/- 57 ng/ml. More than 80% of tested sera from adenocarcinoma-bearing rats (20/24) as well as from cancer patients (82/98) had p65 levels elevated two standard deviations above the mean. Overall the assay had a sensitivity of 80.9% and specificity of 85%. The purified IgG1 MAbs, with high titers and strong anti p65 specificities were also used to develop an immunohistochemical method to visualize the expression of p65 in rat tumor tissue sections. The HB2, HF11 and RE6 cell lines have proved to be quite stable in the ability to secrete anti-p65 MAbs.

Animals↗

Transcription factor AP-2gamma stimulates proliferation and apoptosis and impairs differentiation in a transgenic model.

AP-2 transcription factors play pivotal roles in orchestrating embryonic development by influencing the differentiation, proliferation, and survival of cells. Furthermore, AP-2 transcription factors have been implicated in carcinogenesis, a process where the normal growth and differentiation program of cells is disturbed. To experimentally address the potential involvement of AP-2 in mammary gland tumorigenesis, we generated mice overexpressing AP-2gamma by transgenesis using the mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat as the transgene-driving promoter unit. In the mammary gland, transgene expression elicited a hyperproliferation that, however, was counterbalanced by the enhanced apoptosis of epithelial cells leading to a hypoplasia of the alveolar epithelium during late pregnancy. In addition, secretory differentiation was impaired, resulting in a lactation failure. In male transgenic mice, the seminal vesicles were sites of strong transgene expression. There the effects of AP-2gamma on proliferation and apoptosis were even more pronounced, and differentiation was impaired, too, as revealed by the absence of androgen receptor immunoreactivity. In both tissues, the mammary gland and the seminal vesicles, enhanced steady-state transcript levels of the AP-2 target gene IGFBP-5 were detected, revealing a potential mechanism of AP-2-induced apoptosis. Our results suggest a role of AP-2 transcription factors in the maintenance of a proliferative and undifferentiated state of cells, characteristics not only important during embryonic development but also in tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

Calories, parity, and prolactin influence mammary epithelial kinetics and differentiation and alter mouse mammary tumor risk.

Reduced calorie intake (RCI) suppresses mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) transcription and reduces mammary tumor (MT) incidence in C3H/Ou mice. Since efficient retroviral expression requires cell division, we investigated whether the suppression of MMTV and MT by RCI reflects changes in mammary histogenesis and lowered epithelial kinetics. Prolactin (PRL) augments MMTV transcription. Since PRL levels may be lowered by RCI, we evaluated whether lowered PRL in ad libitum-fed mice alters mammary histogenesis and MT incidence in a manner comparable to RCI. Pregnancy augments MMTV transcription. Hence, we also determined the effect of parity on mammary histogenesis, kinetics, and MT risk. One hundred thirty-five C3H/Ou mice were fed ad libitum or a RCI level and separated into six experimental groups. Twenty ad libitum-fed mice were injected with a dopaminomimetic to lower PRL, and 20 RCI mice were engrafted with adenohypophyses to elevate PRL. Twenty-seven ad libitum-fed mice and twenty-eight RCI mice experienced a single parturition. RCI protected nulliparous (P = 0.0001) and parous mice (P = 0.005) from MT development. Reduced calories or lowered PRL with ad libitum feeding similarly influenced mammary histogenesis, kinetics and MT risk (P > 0.5). Mammary glands of RCI mice or of ad libitum-fed mice with lowered PRL were histologically comparable and principally ductular with a low DNA-labeling index (DNA-LI) (P < 0.001). In contrast, the parenchyma of ad libitum-fed mice or of RCI mice with elevated PRL had exuberant alveoli formation, an elevated DNA-LI (P < 0.001), and preneoplastic lesions. Parity did not change the elevated DNA-LI and MT risk of ad libitum-fed mice but increased the mammary DNA-LI (P < 0.001) and MT incidence (P = 0.01) of RCI mice. Prevention of mammary tumorigenesis in C3H/Ou mice by RCI may result from modulated serum PRL activity and reduced mammary epithelial kinetics which suppress MMTV transcription and minimize the risk of activating protooncogenes.

Animals↗

Overexpression of aurora kinase A in mouse mammary epithelium induces genetic instability preceding mammary tumor formation.

Aurora-A/STK15/BTAK, which encodes a centrosome-associated kinase, is amplified and overexpressed in multiple types of human tumors, including breast cancer. However, the causal relationship between overexpression of Aurora-A and tumorigenesis has not been fully established due to contradictory data obtained from different experimental systems. To investigate this, we generated a mouse strain that carries an MMTV-Aurora-A transgene. We showed that all the MMTV-Aurora-A mice displayed enhanced branch morphogenesis in the mammary gland and about 40% developed mammary tumors at 20 months of age. The tumor incidence was significantly increased in a p53(+/-) mutation background with about 70% MMTV-Aurora-A;p53(+/-) animals developed tumors at 18 months of age. Of note, overexpression of Aurora-A led to genetic instability, characterized by centrosome amplification, chromosome tetraploidization and premature sister chromatid segregation, at stages prior to tumor formation. Most notably, the severe chromosomal abnormality did not cause cell death owing to the activation of AKT pathway, including elevated levels of phosphorylated AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin, and nuclear accumulation of cyclin D1, which enabled continuous proliferation of the tetraploid cells. These data establish Aurora-A as an oncogene that causes malignant transformation through inducing genetic instability and activating oncogenic pathways such as AKT and its downstream signaling.

Animals↗

Effect of high fat diet on body weight and mammary tumor latency in MMTV-TGF-alpha mice.

OBJECTIVE: The role of high fat diets in breast cancer/mammary tumor (MT) development is controversial. This may be partially attributable to variable effects of high fat diets on body weight. Here, we used a moderately high fat diet (32.5% fat calories) expected to cause obesity in most mice, but predicted to result in some mice remaining in the weight range of mice fed the low fat diet (11% fat calories). This provided the opportunity to compare mice fed the high fat diet exhibiting different body weights and mice of similar weight consuming high vs low fat diets. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS: Transgenic MMTV-TGF-alpha mice, a model of postmenopausal breast cancer, consumed a low fat diet, that is, chow-fed (n=25) or a moderately high fat diet from 10 weeks of age (n=51). Body weight at 34 weeks of age was used to assign high fat diet mice to obesity-prone>overweight>obesity-resistant groups (n=17) (P<0.0001). Mice were euthanized when MTs developed or at 85 weeks of age. RESULTS: Final body weights were highest in obesity-prone>overweight >obesity-resistant=chow-fed mice. Fat pads and fat pad:carcass were heaviest in obesity-prone followed by overweight mice. However, obesity-resistant mice had fat pad weights and fat pad:carcass three-fold greater than chow-fed mice. All groups had MT incidences between 72 and 82%. Obesity-prone mice exhibited the shortest MT latency (P<0.0001), but obesity-resistant mice had significantly shorter latency than chow-fed mice. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of a high fat diet increased adiposity and shortened MT latency in relation to its effect on body weight. These results indicate a complex role of dietary fat level on mammary tumorigenesis.

Animals↗