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Antiestrogenic Action of Toremifene on Hormone-dependent, -independent, and Heterogeneous Breast Tumor Growth in the Athymic Mouse¹

Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53792

The antiestrogen toremifene has been used to study the growth control of hormone-dependent (MCF-7), -independent (MDA-MB-231), or mixed tumor cell populations in athymic mice. Maximal MCF-7 tumor growth was produced in ovariectomized athymic mice by circulating estradiol levels of approximately 200 pg/ml (produced by 0.5-cm silastic capsules implanted s.c.). The antiestrogen toremifene (77 ± 4 µg/day from a 2-cm silastic capsule) inhibited estradiol (0.5-cm capsule)-stimulated growth by more than 70%. No tumor growth was observed in mice treated with toremifene alone, although toremifene acted as a weak partial agonist on the mouse uterus.

The growth of hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 breast tumors implanted in athymic mice was not influenced by either estradiol (0.5-cm capsule) or toremifene (2-cm capsule) when administered alone or in combination. Furthermore, even very large doses of toremifene (5 mg/day p.o.) did not alter the rate of MDA-MB-231 tumor growth.

Mixtures of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in 9:1 and 99:1 ratios inoculated into athymic mice produced tumors which grew in the absence of estradiol but responded to estradiol supplementation (0.5-cm capsule) with a more rapid rate of tumor growth. Tumors grown from inoculated MCF-7:MDA-MB-231 cells (99:1 ratio) in the presence of estradiol had estrogen receptor levels of 33.2 ± 9.2 fmol/mg of protein at Day 44 compared to 84.8 ± 4.8 fmol/mg of protein in pure MCF-7 tumors. Toremifene (2-cm capsule) treatment inhibited the estrogen stimulation of these mixed tumors (99:1 starting ratio) to that of toremifene alone. However, toremifene-alone treatment produced a more rapid rate of tumor growth than control or tumors grown from irradiated MCF-7 cells mixed with viable MDA-MB-231 cells. Increasing the ratio of MCF-7:MDA-MB-231 cells (999:1) initially inoculated resulted in tumors which developed less rapidly than the lower ratio (99:1). Toremifene (2-cm capsule) again produced partial inhibition of 17ß-estradiol-stimulated tumor growth while increasing tumor growth above control when the antiestrogen was administered alone.

These results demonstrate that toremifene is effective in inhibiting estrogen stimulation of hormone-dependent tumors and partially successful at controlling mixed hormone-dependent/independent tumors; however, the antiestrogen cannot control the growth of a hormone-independent tumor in this model.

¹ Supported by Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at the Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792.

Received 8/10/88. Revised 11/17/88. Accepted 1/ 3/89.

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