Regression and differentiation of neuroblastoma tumors in mice treated with differentiating agents--prostaglandin E1 and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, RO 20-1724.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE) and d, 1-4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (RO 20-1724, an experimental cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor) cause cell death and cyclic AMP-mediated differentiation of murine neuroblastoma (NB) (cell line C-1300) cells in vitro. We report, for the first time, that these agents can be used in vivo to cause regression of NBs in A/Jax mice. These drugs were also able to slow the growth of primary tumors, prevent metastases, and cause morphological differentiation of tumors. The similarity of the response of human and mouse NB cells to differentiating drugs indicate that these agents have the potential to replace or support conventional chemotherapy in treatment individualized to NB. The mouse model of NB provides an excellent means to study the effectiveness of alternative drug therapy in vivo.