Hormone dependence of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumor growth: correlation with prostaglandin E2 content.

Prostaglandin content in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors was correlated with growth responses to alterations in endogenous estrogen and prolactin. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content varied inversely with tumor latency. Ovariectomy of tumor-bearing Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in regression of tumors in 90% of the castrated rats. PGE2 content in tumors from ovariectomized rats was elevated twofold (P less than 0.05) compared to PGE2 content in tumors from intact controls. Haloperidol treatment promoted tumor growth even after ovariectomy and returned tumor PGE2 values to control levels. Tumors grouped by growth status irrespective of hormone status showed an inverse relationship between PGE2 content and growth response.