Antitumor effects of bis(ethyl) polyamine analogs on mammary tumor development in FVB/NTgN (MMTVneu) transgenic mice

We studied the therapeutic potential of two polyamine analogs on breast can cer using FVB/NTgN (MMTVneu), a transgenic mouse model with neulerb-B2 onco gene overexpression. Treatment was initiated at 31 weeks of age with bis(et hyl)norspermine (BE333) and its higher homolog, BE3333 as i.p. injections o nce weekly. There was a 40% reduction in the average number of tumors per m ouse in both treatment groups, by 10 weeks of treatment. BE3333-treated mic e had 70-75% lower tumor volume than controls. Spermidine/spermine acetyl t ransferase activity was significantly higher in tumor tissues and kidneys o f treated animals, whereas polyamine levels were lower than controls. Benef icial effects were also evident from the mortality rates in control and tre atment groups. Our results suggest a potential use of selected bis(ethyl) p olyamine analogs as antitumor agents in breast cancer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.