Prevention and Treatment of Experimental Prostate Cancer in Lobund-Wistar Rats: Effects of Estradiol, Dihydrotestosterone, and Castration
January 1989
in “
The Prostate/The prostate
”
TLDR Estradiol and castration reduced prostate cancer development in rats when applied at early stages, but were ineffective after cancer was established.
The study investigated the prevention and treatment of prostate adenocarcinomas (PAs) in Lobund-Wistar rats. A single IV inoculation of methylnitrosourea (MNU) induced PAs in 20% of rats within 12 months, while combining MNU with testosterone propionate (TP) implants increased the incidence to 50-90% within 11.5 months. Early treatment with estradiol or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) reduced PA development, though results were not statistically significant. Intermediate treatments with estradiol, DHT, or castration significantly reduced PA incidences. However, treatments were ineffective in rats with established PAs after 12 months of TP exposure, indicating early stages of tumorigenesis were sensitive to these agents.
