title: Effect of 2-methoxyestradiol on the growth of methyl-nitroso-urea (MNU)-induced rat mammary carcinoma.
abstract: The present study investigated the influence of the endogenous estradiol metabolite 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) on the growth of methyl-nitroso-urea (MNU)-induced mammary carcinoma in the rat. 2ME was administered by means of subcutaneously implanted osmotic pumps for a period of 4 weeks. The dosages of 2ME were 1 and 5mg/kg per day, the control animals received saline. At the low dosage of 2ME a stimulation of tumor growth was observed, whereas at the high dosage an inhibition was found. The urinary excretion of 15 estradiol metabolites revealed that 2ME triggered strong changes in estrogen metabolism in the organism. Our data show that 2ME may elicit both stimulation and inhibition of tumor growth depending on the dosage used, a fact which should be considered in case of therapeutic use.
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72 076 Tuebingen, Germany. endo.meno@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adlercreutz
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seeger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Elger
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Mueck
mesh_terms: D000077584:2-Methoxyestradiol; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D004958:Estradiol; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D000077584:2-Methoxyestradiol