First Author | Anisimov VN | Year | 2002 |
Journal | Int J Cancer | Volume | 101 |
Issue | 1 | Pages | 7-10 |
PubMed ID | 12209581 | Mgi Jnum | J:78418 |
Mgi Id | MGI:2384378 | Doi | 10.1002/ijc.10570 |
Citation | Anisimov VN, et al. (2002) Inhibitory effect of the peptide epitalon on the development of spontaneous mammary tumors in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. Int J Cancer 101(1):7-10 |
abstractText | Female FVB/N HER-2/neu transgenic mice from the age of 2 months were subcutaneously injected with saline, the peptide Epitalon(R) (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) or with the peptide Vilon(R) (Lys-Glu) in a single dose of 1 microg/mouse for 5 consecutive days every month. Epitalon treatment reduced the cumulative number and the maximum size of tumors (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the number of mice bearing 1 mammary tumor was increased, whereas the number of mice bearing 2 or more mammary tumors was reduced in Epitalon-treated in comparison to saline-treated animals (p < 0.05). The size but not the number of lung metastases was reduced in Epitalon-treated compared to saline-treated mice (p < 0.05). The treatment with Vilon produced significant negative effects when compared to the control group, with an increased incidence of mammary cancer development (p < 0.05), a shorter mean latent period of tumors (p < 0.05) and an increased cumulative number of tumors (p < 0.05). A 3.7-fold reduction in the expression of HER-2/neu mRNA was found in mammary tumors from HER-2/neu transgenic mice treated with Epitalon compared to control animals. The expression of mRNA for HER-2/neu was also partially reduced in Vilon-treated mice, but it remained significantly higher in Vilon- than in Epitalon-treated animals (1.9-fold increase). The data demonstrate the inhibitory effect of Epitalon in the development of spontaneous mammary tumors in HER-2/neu mice, suggesting that a downregulation of HER-2/neu gene expression in mammary adenocarcinoma may be responsible, at least in part, for the antitumor effect of the peptide. |