Mouse mammary tumors induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate: immunohistochemistry and hormonal receptors

Mammary adenocarcinomas induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in female BALB/c mice were investigated as to their morphology and immunohistochemistry and their content of steroid, prolactin (PRL), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. Histologically, these tumors were mainly of ductal origin, since hyperplastic alveolar nodules were observed only in 3 cases. No viral particles were encountered in electron microscopic studies. Estrogen and/or progesterone, PRL, and EGF receptors were detected in MPA-induced tumors, as well as in the occasional spontaneous mammary tumors of multiparous females. EGF was detected, by a radioimmunoassay, in the cystic fluid of 12 mammary adenocarcinomas. MPA treatment was found to induce uterine secretory changes, glandular cystic hyperplasia, and eventually deciduomas that stained strongly for desmin and to a lesser degree for vimentin, suggesting a muscular differentiation. Consequently, MPA-induced adenocarcinomas can be considered as ductal tumors that possess estrogen and/or progesterone, PRL, and EGF receptors. Whether MPA induces tumor growth directly via progesterone receptors remains to be investigated.