Changes in the hormone receptors of human breast carcinoma xenografts in nude mice by treatment with cytotoxic agents.

We examined the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on the estrogen receptors (ER) of breast carcinomas in vivo using human breast carcinoma strains (Br-10, T-61) serially transplanted into nude mice. When the tumor size reached approximately 1 X 1 X 1 cm, mitomycin C (MMC) at doses of 1, 2 and 4.5 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide (CPA) at a dose of 120 mg/kg, were administered once intraperitoneally, and the ERs of the tumors were measured sequentially by the dextran-coated charcoal method. Four days after the MMC administration at above doses, the binding sites of ER in Br-10 were not reduced and binding affinity was not affected. When the changes in ER content with time after the treatment with 4.5 mg/kg MMC and 120 mg/kg CPA were investigated, the ER content was found to be stable until 4 days after the treatment with both drugs, although the growth of T-61 had been significantly inhibited by the drugs. From these findings, it seems reasonable to initiate chemotherapy before endocrine therapy, since the chemotherapeutic agents did not reduce the ER content of the breast cancer strains.