SUPPRESSION BY AMILORIDE OF BOMBESIN-ENHANCED PERITONEAL METASTASIS OF INTESTINAL ADENOCARCINOMAS INDUCED BY AZOXYMETHANE

The effects of concomitant administration of bombesin and of the diuretic drug amiloride on the development of large and small intestinal tumors induced by azoxymethane (AOM), the incidence of their metastasis to the peritoneum and the labeling index of intestinal adenocarcinomas were investigated in inbred Wistar rats. From the start of the experiment, rats were given weekly s.c. injections of AOM for 10 weeks and s.c. injections of bombesin and/or a higher or lower dose of amiloride hydrochloride (amiloride) every other day until the end of the experiment in week 45. Administration of bombesin significantly increased the incidence of intestinal tumors and cancer metastasis to the peritoneum in week 45. It also significantly increased the labeling index of intestinal adenocarcinomas. Although administration of both doses of amiloride with bombesin had little or no influence on the enhancement of intestinal tumorigenesis by bombesin, the location, histological type, depth of involvement or labeling index of intestinal adenocarcinomas, a higher dose of amiloride significantly reduced the incidence of cancer metastasis to the peritoneum. Our findings indicate that amiloride possesses an anti-metastatic activity. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.