[Experimental studies on the antitumor effect of progesterone and enhancement of the therapeutic effect of anticancer drugs by progesterone--from the aspect of zinc metabolism].

Abstract

Since zinc is essential for the proliferation of tumor cells, the growth of tumor cells is suppressed in the zinc deficient condition. Thus, administration of progesterone, which decreases zinc uptake of tumor cells, to tumor bearing rats may inhibit the tumor growth. From this aspect, the antitumor effect of progesterone alone, or in combination with various anticancer drugs was investigated in the rats bearing Yoshida sarcoma (YS) or ascites hepatoma 109A (AH 109 A). In YS bearing rats, a significant inhibition of the tumor growth in size was observed by progesterone, and a slight inhibition of the tumor growth in AH 109 A bearing rats. A decreased zinc content of YS cells was also observed in YS bearing rats given progesterone in comparison with that of control rats. In combination of progesterone and anticancer drugs, the antitumor effect of methotrexate or vincristine was markedly enhanced by progesterone in YS bearing rats.

• Authors: S Ujiie, Y Mimata, M Okuno, A Wakui
• Journal: Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy (Gan To Kagaku Ryoho) Vol. 16 Issue 7 Pg. 2423-8 (Jul 1989) ISSN: 0385-0684 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 2751319 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Receptors, Progesterone
• Progesterone
• Prednisolone
• Zinc
• Methotrexate

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (pharmacology)
• Liver Neoplasms, Experimental (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Male
• Methotrexate (pharmacology)
• Prednisolone (pharmacology)
• Progesterone (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Receptors, Progesterone (analysis)
• Sarcoma, Yoshida (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Zinc (metabolism)