Heterotransplantation of Nb rat prostatic adenocarcinomas into congenitally athymic nude mice: Chemotherapy of autonomous tumors

Although Nb rat prostatic adenocarcinoma rarely occurs spontaneously, the frequency of occurrences is increased by hormone induction. In this study, the Nb rat autonomous prostatic adenocarcinomas, Pr-90 and 13-Pr-12, were heterotransplanted into congenitally athymic (nude) mice for the purpose of evaluating the response of these tumors to chemotherapeutic agents. Adriamycin and methotrexate were evaluated in treating both tumors, and cyclophosphamide and BCNU + 5 FU were evaluated in 13-Pr-12. This paper reviews the treatment of autonomous tumors at varying tumor volume, as well as the use of chemotherapeutic modalities at various dosage levels. Significance was observed in animals treated with cyclophosphamide, as well as methotrexate, and at the highest dose of Adriamycin (P < 0.05). Complete tumor regression and marked tumor volume decrease were observed in animals treated with cyclophosphamide and methotrexate. Recent reports have led to some optimism in treating human prostatic adenocarcinoma with Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide.