Biological behavior of MM1 hamster melanoma.
We have reported evidence recently for a high-affinity receptor for glucocorticoid Malignant Melanoma No. 1 hamster melanoma and suggested that tumor growth was facilitated by adrenal steroids. This report characterizes the behavior of Malignant Melanoma No. 1 following manipulation of the pituitary-adrenal axis in vivo. Bilateral adrenalectomy significantly retarded tumor growth. Hypophysectomy also significantly reduced tumor growth. Silastic implants of hydrocortisone in intact hamsters produced a dose (7 to 28 micrograms/day)-related increase in tumor growth. Implants releasing a low dose (3 micrograms/day) of dexamethasone also increased tumor growth. Chronic exposure of adrenalectomized and intact hamsters to a high dose (125 micrograms/day) of desoxycorticosterone acetate also produced a significant increase over adrenalectomized and sham-adrenalectomized controls. In contrast, chronic administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone to intact hamsters did not significantly alter melanoma growth. These observations support the suggestion that adrenocorticosteroids influence the growth of Malignant Melanoma No. 1 hamster melanoma and provide a model for studying the regulation of growth of a glucocorticoid-positive neoplasm originating outside the reticuloendothelial system.
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D008297:Male; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*
D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone