INFLUENCE OF ESCULETIN ON INCIDENCE, PROLIFERATION, AND CELL-KINETICSOF MAMMARY CARCINOMAS INDUCED BY 7,12-DIMETHYLBENZ[A]ANTHRACENE IN RATS ON HIGH-FAT AND LOW-FAT DIETS

The effects of a high-fat diet and esculetin were investigated on 7,12 -dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinogenesis in fe male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were given a 5-mg dose of DMBA. Seven d ays later, they were fed either a high-fat (20% soybean oil) or low-fa t (0.5% soybean oil) diet. A half of the rats received diets containin g 0.03% esculetin. Esculetin significantly inhibited tumor incidence, growth and cell kinetics of the tumor in the rats fed the high-fat and the low-fat diets. Our findings indicate that DMBA-induced mammary tu morigenesis is affected by lipoxygenase products.