Mifepristone treatment improves length and quality of survival of mice with spontaneous leukemia.
BACKGROUND
Mifepristone was found to suppress expression of the progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF). Progesterone-induced blocking factor suppresses natural killer cell activity. The objective of the present study was to determine if treatment of mice with spontaneous murine lymphocyte leukemia with the progesterone receptor antagonist mifepristone could improve length and quality of life.


METHODS
Sixty-one mice were gavaged with mifepristone and 33 controls with olive oil. Quality of life was determined by body conditioning score (BCS). Treatment was initiated when the mice were 6 months old.


RESULTS
Within 2 weeks of therapy only 11.4% of the mifepristone treated mice died vs. about 50% of controls. The BCS was 5 (highest quality) in 82% of treated mice vs. 11% of controls after 2 weeks of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Mifepristone therapy should be further evaluated for treating leukemia and lymphoma.
Check
Jerome H
JH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey, USA. laurie@ccivf.com
Sansoucie
Lynn
L
Chern
Joshua
J
Amadi
Nkechinyere
N
Katz
Youval
Y
D000818:Animals; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D015735:Mifepristone