Effect of glucocorticoid replacement on tumor growth after adrenalectomy in mice.

We studied the effects of glucocorticoid replacement on tumor growth after adrenalectomy of Meth A sarcoma in mice. Tumor growth was inhibited in the adrenalectomized mice when a minimum dose of corticosterone, 0.3 mg/day, was given for replacement, and higher doses led to an even greater inhibition. Corticosterone had no effect on tumor growth in the irradiated mice. Sinecomitant immunity in the case of growth of the retransplanted excised tumor was compromised in the adrenalectomized mice. In vivo neutralization and immunosuppressive activities were absent in the spleen cells of the adrenalectomized mice. It would thus appear that adrenalectomy suppresses tumor growth by mechanisms other than glucocorticoid ablation. For optimum tumor control, glucocorticoid replacement after adrenalectomy should be in excess of the minimum daily requirements.