Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on tumor growth.

The growth of C-1300 neuroblastoma was markedly slowed in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated mice. The growth of the A-10 breast adenocarcinoma was also significantly retarded in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated mice but the growth of B-16 melanoma was not affected. In mice axotomized by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine, the growth of C-1300 neuroblastoma was slowed but the growth of the A-10 tumor was not affected. It is suggested that an intact functional sympathetic nervous system may be a factor that determines the rate of growth of certain tumors in vivo.