Control of metastases in the Nb rat prostatic adenocarcinoma model.

Chemotherapeutic agents, as well as acetyl-salicylic acid, heparin, and indocin, were evaluated in regard to their effect on the rate of metastasis in the androgen-insensitive Noble rat prostate adenocarcinoma system. Acetyl salicylic acid, heparin and indocin were similar to the chemotherapeutic agents cyclophosphamide and adriamycin in reducing the incidence of metastases, but had less effect on tumor volume. In the heparin and indocin groups, the rate of metastases was approximately one half that of the control group (25% vs. 59%). In all three experiments evaluating heparin and indocin, there was a decrease in the number of animals with metastasis compared with control groups.