title: The antineoplastic effect of vitamin D in transgenic mice with retinoblastoma.
abstract: Vitamin D has been shown to inhibit growth of human retinoblastoma in tissue culture and nude mouse heterografts. We have described a heritable transgenic mouse model of retinoblastoma. The in vivo efficacy of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (vitamin D3) was examined by administering this agent to transgenic mice with retinoblastoma. Forty-six 8-10-week-old transgene-bearing mice were injected intraperitoneally for 5 wk. Experimental animals received 0.05 microgram (15 animals) or 0.025 microgram (15 animals) of vitamin D. Sixteen control animals received only a mineral oil vehicle. Eyes were enucleated at 5 mo and were examined histologically by two investigators in a masked fashion. All control animals demonstrated bilateral involvement of retinoblastoma. Four eyes in the low-dose group and six eyes in the high-dose group had no evidence of retinoblastoma. Eyes treated with vitamin D3 showed less extensive involvement of the retina by retinoblastoma. Vitamin D-treated animals demonstrated tumors confined to the retina, whereas control animals demonstrated larger tumors, more often invading the vitreous, anterior chamber, and choroid. Thus, Vitamin D inhibited the growth and local extension in a dose-dependent fashion.
authors.affiliation: David G. Cogan Eye Pathology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School, Boston.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium