| Title: | "AFPep, a novel drug for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, does not disrupt the estrous cycle or fertility in rats" |
| Author(s): | Tower AM; Trinward A; Lee K; Joseph L; Jacobson HI; Bennett JA; Andersen TT; |
| Address: | "Laboratory for Cancer Control, Center for Cardiovascular Science, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1021-335X (Print) 1021-335X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Pregnancy lowers the risk of breast cancer, largely attributable to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). A small AFP-derived peptide (AFPep) which mimics the active site of AFP has been developed and may be useful for decreasing the risk of breast cancer for women. AFPep has been shown previously to stop the growth of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer xenografts in mice and prevent carcinogen-induced breast cancer in a rat model. Since AFPep disrupts an estrogen-responsive pathway, it is essential to assess its effects on the female reproductive cycle and fertility. Ten cycling female Sprague-Dawley rats (age 81 days) were given 100 microg AFPep in saline s.c. daily for 20 days. A second group of ten rats was given 50 microg tamoxifen s.c. daily and a third group received saline only. Vaginal smears were obtained twice per day and stained to assess estrous cycle phase. After completion of estrous cycle assessment (five cycles, 21 days), rats were maintained on drug and allowed to mate. Effects on birth of offspring and maternal body weights were assessed. AFPep had no significant effect on the incidence or duration of any estrous cycle phase, and no effect on reproductive potential or maternal body mass. Tamoxifen significantly increased the length of diestrus, locking the cycle in this phase for most animals. Only half of the tamoxifen-treated rats mated, and none became pregnant. Tamoxifen significantly slowed the rate of body mass increase. In rats, AFPep has no toxicity and no effect on female reproduction. This molecule may be developed into an attractive modality for prevention of breast cancer in women" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Animals, Newborn Anticarcinogenic Agents/administration & dosage/*toxicity Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/administration & dosage/*toxicity Birth Weight/drug effects Body Weight/drug effects Breast Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*prevention & control Es;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineTower, Amanda M Trinward, Andrea Lee, Katie Joseph, Leroy Jacobson, Herbert I Bennett, James A Andersen, Thomas T eng 5 R01 CA 102540/CA/NCI NIH HHS/ 5 R25 GM 062460/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Comparative Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Greece 2009/06/11 Oncol Rep. 2009 Jul; 22(1):49-56. doi: 10.3892/or_00000405" |
