Comparative chemopreventive activity of ibuprofen and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide against the development and growth of rat mammary adenocarcinomas

The chemopreventive effects of Ibuprofen on the development and growth of 7 , 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced mt mammary tumors were examin ed A well known breast cancer chemopreventive retinoid, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) was also included in this study for comparison. At 7 da ys prior to receiving a single intragastric dose of 15 mg DMBA, rats were f ed a control chow diet, as well as diets containing either 1000 mg/kg diet of Ibuprofen or 1.5 mmol/kg diet of 4-HPR. Ibuprofen and 4-HPR markedly inc reased tumor latency. At 112 days post DMBA intubation, armor incidence was 86% in cona ol rats as compared to 74% and 62% in rats receiving Ibuprofen , and 4-HPR diets respectively (p<0.05). Ibuprofen and 4-HPR reduced tumor burden and tumor volume almost to the same extent. The control rats had an average of 2.26 tumors/ rat compared to 1.42 and 1.46 tumors/ mt in the Ibu profen or I-HPR groups respectively (p<0.05). Similar-ly, average tumor vol ume was 3.25 cm(3) in the control mts compared to 0.86 cm3 and 0.83 cm(3) i n rats receiving Ibuprofen and 4-HPR diets respectively (p<0.05). These res ults suggest that Ibuprofen may have potential in the chemoprevention and t reatment of breast cancer.