EFFECTS OF NANDROLONE PROPIONATE ON EXPERIMENTAL TUMOR-GROWTH AND CANCER CACHEXIA

We studied the tumor host response to excessive doses of an anabolic s teroid (nandrolone propionate, 2.5 mg 20 g intraperitoneally every sec ond day for 11 days) with respect to body composition and tumor cell k inetics in MCG 101 sarcoma-bearing mice (C57BL/6J) with progressive ca chexia. Although survival and food intake were not affected, a signifi cant weight gain was observed that was essentially attributed to water retention. Net protein content was increased only to a minor extent ( 15%), of which only the liver accounted for a significant part of the body compartments. Hepatic protein accumulation was obviously caused b y decreased protein degradation, since hepatic RNA content was unchang ed. After anabolic steroid administration, reduced histochemical stain ing of succinate dehydrogenase was observed in skeletal muscles rich i n oxidative type 1 fibers, but it was not different from that of tumor -bearing control animals, which was also confirmed by measurements of citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase activities in skeletal muscl e and liver tissue. The anabolic steroid had no significant effect on tumor growth in terms of weight progression, energy state, polyamine s ynthesis rate, cell division rate, and cell cycle cytocompartments. We conclude that anabolic steroid supplementation is not therapeutically beneficial in counteracting progressive weight loss in experimental c ancer. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company