Inhibition of mutant p53 phosphorylation at serine 15 or serine 315 partially restores the function of wild-type p53

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is a phosphoprotein and has growth and transformation suppression functions. Phosphorylation of wild-type p53 is known to modulate its function. To investigate the role of phosphorylation in modulating the functions of mutant p53, we constructed a series of phosphorylation site mutants based on mutant p53 Ala143 (p53-143) and p53 His175 (p53-175). When transfected into p53-negative Saos-2 cells, parental mutant p53-143 and p53-175 abolished both growth suppression and induction of apoptosis. However, DNA-activated protein kinase (DNA-PK) or cyclin-dependent kinase (cdks) phosphorylation site double mutants partially restored the growth suppression and induction of apoptosis and recovered the p53-specific DNA binding activity. We also observed a difference in sensitivity to calpain from parental mutants p53-175 and p53-175/15 or p53-175/315. These results suggest that the lack of phosphorylation at either the DNA-PK or cdks site in p53 mutants partially restores the wild-type functions by altering their conformation.

Decreased host-cell reactivation of UV-irradiated adenovirus in human colon tumor cell lines that have normal post-UV survival

An ongoing study in our laboratories is to examine the relationship of DNA repair defects to human cancer. Our underlying hypothesis has been that human tumors may arise that lack interesting DNA repair pathways if these pathways are important in preventing cancer. In this study, we found that the UV-irradiated adenoviruses showed hypersensitivity when assayed on monolayers of certain human colon tumor cell lines, including three that are reported to have defects in long patch DNA mismatch repair genes and one with no reported defect in mismatch repair. The survival curves showed two components. The first sensitive component was characteristic of 77-95% of the infections depending upon the cell line and the experiment and had an average slope indicating 4.8-fold hypersensitivity to UV. The average of the second-component slopes indicated that the remainder of the infections was accompanied by near-normal repair. Although the value of the first component indicated that the colon tumor lines supported the growth of UV-damaged adenoviruses poorly, the cell lines themselves showed the same post-UV colony-forming ability as did normal human fibroblasts, and their ability to support the growth of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-damaged adenoviruses was normal, i.e. it parallelled their ability to repair O6-methylguanine in vitro. We previously observed two-component survival curves when assaying UV-irradiated adenovirus on monolayers of all of seven strains of fibroblasts from Cockayne's syndrome patients. By contrast, single-component curves have been obtained using 21 strains of normal human fibroblasts and seven other tumor lines. We interpret the two-component survival curves in terms of the defective transcription-coupled repair of UV-induced DNA damage that is characteristic both of Cockayne's and certain colon tumor cell lines. In addition, four mismatch repair-deficient colon tumor lines were resistant to killing by elevated levels of dG.

Tumor vascular targeting using a tumor-tissue endothelium-specific monoclonal antibody as an effective strategy for cancer chemotherapy

In this study, we attempted to develop tumor vascular targeting with a tumor tissue endothelium-specific monoclonal antibody. TES-23, which strongly and selectively recognizes tumor tissue endothelial cells, was chemically conjugated with Neocarzinostatin (NCS), and the anti-tumor effect was examined. The immunoconjugate, TES-23-NCS, showed, through the use of tumor hemorrhagic necrosis, a marked anti-tumor effect on KMT-17 tumors in rats at a dosage of 17 micrograms/kg (NCS equivalent) without any side effects, probably due to specific tumor vascular injury. By contrast, TES-23 alone (107 micrograms/kg), NCS alone (17 micrograms/kg), and Mopc-NCS (Mopc, 107 micrograms/kg; NCS, 17 micrograms/kg), the immunoconjugate of control antibody, did not have any anti-tumor activities. By tissue distribution analysis, TES-23 and TES-23-NCS showed high accumulation in KMT-17 tumors 1 h after intravenous administration. Moreover TES-23 also accumulated in Sarcoma-180 tumors in mice 1 h after intravenous administration. These results suggest that TES-23 may be a candidate for a potential tumor vascular targeting agent that is applicable to a wide variety of tumor types.

Enhanced antitumor potency of polyethylene glycolylated tumor necrosis factor-alpha: a novel polymer-conjugation technique with a reversible amino-protective reagent

We attempted to develop a novel method for the chemical modification of cytokines with synthetic polymers to increase in vivo therapeutic efficacy. A pH-reversible amino-protective reagent, dimethylmaleic anhydride (DMMAn), was used for polymer conjugation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The novel PEGylated TNF-alpha, PEG-TNF-alpha(+), which was pretreated with DMMAn before PEGylation, had 20% to 40% higher specific activity than PEG-TNF-alpha(-) (not treated with DMMAn) in vitro. Moreover, PEG-TNF-alpha(+) more potently caused tumor necrosis in Meth-A solid tumors in mice than did PEG-TNF-alpha(-). The middle fraction (M) of PEG-TNF-alpha(+), which was of the optimal degree of modification among PEG-TNF-alpha(+)s with different molecular weights, caused the highest degree of tumor hemorrhagic necrosis: 30-fold higher than native TNF-alpha and 2-fold higher than the most potent MPEG-TNF-alpha(-) that also had nearly the same molecular weight. Significantly, improvements in antitumor activity in vivo were more marked than were changes in specific activity. Furthermore, native TNF-alpha caused a dose-dependent body weight loss in mice, whereas no obvious side effects were observed in any PEG-TNF-alpha-treated mice. These results suggest that PEGylation using DMMAn is a useful for clinical cytokine delivery.

Schedule-dependent interactions between vinorelbine and paclitaxel in human carcinoma cell lines in vitro

Vinorelbine and paclitaxel are new anticancer agents that bind to distinct sites on tubulin and affect microtubules in opposite ways. Clinical studies of combinations of these agents have been in progress against breast cancer and some solid tumors. To clarify the optimal schedule for this combination, we studied the schedule-dependent cytotoxic effects of vinorelbine and paclitaxel against the human lung carcinoma cell line A549, the breast carcinoma cell line MCF7, the ovarian carcinoma cell line PA1, and the colon carcinoma cell line WiDr in vitro. Tumor cells were incubated with vinorelbine and paclitaxel simultaneously for both 24 h and 5 days. Cells were also incubated with vinorelbine for 24 h, followed by a 24-h exposure to paclitaxel and vice versa. Cell growth inhibition after 5 days was determined by MTT assay. The effects of drug combinations at the concentration producing 80% cell growth inhibition (IC80) were analyzed by the isobologram method (Steel and Peckham). The simultaneous exposures to vinorelbine and paclitaxel for both 24 h and 5 days produced additive effects for all four cell lines. The sequential exposure to vinorelbine followed by paclitaxel produced additive effects for the PA1 and WiDr cells, additive and antagonistic effects for the A549 cells, and antagonistic effects for the MCF7 cells. The sequential exposure to paclitaxel followed by vinorelbine produced additive effects for the A549, and PA1 cells, additive and antagonistic effects for the MCF7 cells, and antagonistic effects for the WiDr cells. Our findings suggest that the simultaneous rather than the sequential administration of vinorelbine and paclitaxel may be the optimal schedule for this combination of these two agents. Applications of this schedule dependency may be beneficial for the treatment of breast cancer and other solid tumors.

Frequent alterations of cell-cycle regulators in astrocytic tumors as detected by molecular genetic and immunohistochemical analyses

Alterations of CDKN2A, RB, and cyclin D1 genes and expression of their products in astrocytic tumors were studied using a combination of molecular genetic and immunohistochemical assays. In addition, the association of gene status with clinical outcome was evaluated. Alterations of CDKN2A and RB gene in 30 lesions were analyzed by single-strand conformation polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSCP), direct sequencing, and Western blotting. Methylation of the CDKN2A promoter was detected by methylation-specific PCR. Immunohistochemistry was applied to determine the expression of gene products in tumors from 94 patients for whom clinical outcome was also evaluated. Analyses of the CDKN2A gene revealed 12 homozygous or hemizygous deletions, one mutation in exon 1, and three methylations in the promoter. Expression of p 16 protein was not detected in 18 of 30 cases. RB mutations leading to loss of expression of the pRb were found in four (13%) cases, and six were immunohistochemically negative for this protein. Overexpression of cyclin D1 was obtained in 51 (54%) of 94 cases. Patients with pRb-negative tumors had a significantly greater risk of earlier death than those with p16 and cyclin D1 alterations, Both p16 and pRb immunohistochemistry provides useful complementary information and may provide valuable predictive information in screening. The biological consequences of deregulating individual components along cell control pathways are unequal, perhaps reflecting their hierarchical roles in the G1 checkpoint.

Molecular design of conjugated tumor necrosis factor-alpha: synthesis and characteristics of polyvinyl pyrrolidone modified tumor necrosis factor-alpha

We conjugated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) with the synthetic polymeric modifier polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) to facilitate its clinical use for anti-tumor therapy. TNF-alpha was chemically conjugated with the terminal carboxyl-bearing PVP at one end of its main chain, which was radically polymerized via the formation of an amide bond between the lysine amino groups of TNF-alpha and carboxyl group of PVP. In vitro specific bioactivity of PVP-conjugated TNF-alpha (PVP-TNF-alpha) relative to that of native TNF-alpha gradually decreased with increases in the degree of PVP attachment. In contrast, PVP-TNF-alpha in which 40% of TNF-alpha lysine residues were coupled with PVP (MPVP-TNF-alpha) exhibited the highest anti-tumor activity among the conjugated derivatives examined. MPVP-TNF-alpha had more than 200-fold higher anti-tumor efficacy than native TNF-alpha, and the anti-tumor activity of MPVP- TNF-alpha was more than 5-fold stronger than that MPEG- TNF-alpha which had the highest anti-tumor activity among PEG-conjugated TNF-alphas examined. Additionally, a high dose of native TNF-alpha induced toxic side-effects such as body weight reduction, piloerection and tissue inflammation, while no side effects were observed following i.v. administration of MPVP-TNF-alpha. The plasma half-life of MPVP-TNF-alpha (360 min) was about 80 and 3-fold longer than those of native TNF-alpha (4.6 min) and MPEG-TNF-alpha (122 min), respectively. These results suggested that PVP is a useful polymeric modifier for increasing the anti-tumor activity of PVP.

Prolonged sympathetic reflex latency on skin nerves in sporadic cerebellar degeneration

BACKGROUND

Many physiological or pharmacological evaluations of autonomic function have been performed in patients with various types of cerebellar degeneration (CD). Few studies have been done, however, using neurographic recordings in patients with CD, especially of sudomotor or vasoconstrictor nerves.

OBJECTIVE

To confirm the clinical importance of sympathetic reflex latencies on the skin nerves of patients with various types of CD.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Case-comparison study at an academic center.

PARTICIPANTS

We studied 12 patients who had sporadic CD (cerebellar cortical atrophy, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, and Shy-Drager syndrome) and 15 healthy volunteers as controls.

METHODS

Skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA), sympathetic skin response, and skin vasomotor reflex were simultaneously recorded using randomly administered electrical stimuli.

RESULTS

In controls, SSNA reflex latency ranged from 640 to 864 milliseconds. Patients with cerebellar cortical atrophy exhibited slight but significant (P<.01) prolongation of reflex latency to the onset of reflex bursts. In patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy, latency to the onset and the peak of reflex bursts was significantly prolonged (P<.001). Patients with Shy-Drager syndrome had no SSNA, sympathetic skin response, or skin vasomotor reflex, even with supramaximal electrical stimuli.

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged reflex latency or the absence of reflex bursts on SSNA can be observed in patients with CD with various forms of autonomic dysfunction. The measurement of SSNA reflex latency may be a useful method of evaluating sympathetic function, including the central pathway.

Effect of renal disease and hemodialysis on foscarnet pharmacokinetics and dosing recommendations

BACKGROUND

Foscarnet is an antiviral agent commonly used for managing patients with cytomegalovirus infection. Despite its clinical usefulness, foscarnet is associated with substantial adverse effects including nephrotoxicity. Moreover, foscarnet is primarily eliminated unchanged through the kidneys, thus requiring aggressive dose adjustment during kidney failure. To develop specific dosage guidelines, information on the disposition of this compound in patients with varying degrees of renal function and those requiring dialysis is essential.

DESIGN

Twenty-six subjects were enrolled in this study and divided into five groups depending on their degree of renal dysfunction. Group 1 included subjects with normal renal function; group 5 included subjects requiring maintenance hemodialysis. Nondialysis study subjects received a single 60-mg/kg intravenous dose of foscarnet whereas hemodialysis subjects received two intravenous doses, separated by 1 week, to compare the effects of conventional and high-flux dialysis methods.

RESULTS

Mean plasma clearance in control subjects averaged 2.1+/-0.7 ml/minute/kg and declined proportionally with changing renal function as indicated by the regression equation: Clp (ml/minute/kg) = 1.48 [CrCl (ml/minute/kg)]-0.08 (r2 = 0.82). Mean half-life averaged 1.9+/-0.1 hours in normal subjects and increased to a mean of 25+/-19 hours in study subjects with severe impairment not on dialysis. Foscarnet dialysis clearance (based on dialysate recovery) averaged 183 ml/minute with conventional dialysis methods and 253 ml/minute during high-flux procedures, which resulted in removal of 37% and 38% of a dose for the two methods, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that substantial dosage adjustments must be made in renal failure patients. Therefore, a patient-specific dosage nomogram has been developed.

Schedule-dependent synergism and antagonism between paclitaxel and methotrexate in human carcinoma cell lines

Paclitaxel and methotrexate are active against a variety of solid tumors. Because of differences in their mechanisms of action and toxicity profiles, the combination of these two agents has clinical potential. Clinical studies of this combination are in progress. We studied the optimal schedule of paclitaxel and methotrexate in combination at various schedules in vitro using human lung cancer A549, breast cancer MCF7, ovarian cancer PA1, and colon cancer WiDr cells. Cells were simultaneously exposed to paclitaxel and methotrexate for 24 h and sequentially exposed to paclitaxel for 24 h followed by methotrexate for 24 h or vice versa. Cell growth inhibition after 5 days was determined by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The effects of drug combinations at the concentration of drug that produced 80% cell growth inhibition (the IC80 level) were analyzed by the isobologram method. The simultaneous exposure to paclitaxel and methotrexate produced additive to antagonistic effects in the A549 and PA1 cells, and antagonistic effects in the MCF7 and WiDr cells. The sequential exposure to paclitaxel followed by methotrexate produced additive effects in all four cell lines. The reverse sequence produced synergistic effects in the A549, MCF7, and WiDr cells, and additive effects in the PA1 cells. These findings suggest that a sequential administration of methotrexate followed by paclitaxel may be the appropriate schedule for this combination. On the basis of the observed in vitro synergism, further in vivo and clinical studies are necessary to clarify the toxicity and proposed antitumor effects of this schedule.

Involvement of prostaglandins in histamine H1 receptor-operated Ca2+ entry in human gingival fibroblasts

In the absence of external Ca2+, 100 microM histamine evoked a transient increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), and subsequent addition of Ca2+ to the medium resulted in a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i in fura-2-loaded human gingival fibroblasts. These Ca2+ mobilizations are attributed to Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and Ca2+ entry, respectively. When the histamine H1 antagonist chlorpheniramine was added after the histamine-induced transient increase in [Ca2+]i, the Ca2+ entry induced by the addition of Ca2+ was inhibited. In the fibroblasts pretreated with cyclooxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin (1 microM) or aspirin (100 microM), histamine-induced Ca2+ entry was significantly inhibited, but not the transient [Ca2+]i increase. These results suggest that the histamine-induced Ca2+ entry requires the continuous binding of histamine to the H1 receptors and is regulated by prostaglandins, which are probably produced due to the H1 receptor activation.

Bioconjugation of laminin peptide YIGSR with poly(styrene co-maleic acid) increases its antimetastatic effect on lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells

A comb-shaped polymeric modifier, SMA [poly(styrene comaleic anhydride)], which binds to plasma albumin in blood was used to modify the synthetic cell-adhesive laminin peptide YIGSR, and its inhibitory effect on experimental lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells was examined. YIGSR was chemically conjugated with SMA via formation of an amide bond between the N-terminal amino group of YIGSR and the carboxyl anhydride of SMA. The antimetastatic effect of SMA-conjugated YIGSR was approximately 50-fold greater than that of native YIGSR. When injected intravenously, SMA-YIGSR showed a 10-fold longer plasma half-life than native YIGSR in vivo. In addition, SMA-YIGSR had the same binding affinity to plasma albumin as SMA, while native YIGSR did not bind to albumin. These findings suggested that the enhanced antimetastatic effect of SMA-YIGSR may be due to its prolonged plasma half-life by binding to plasma albumin, and that bioconjugation of in vivo unstable peptides with SMA may facilitate their therapeutic use.

Genetic variations in recurrent astrocytic tumors detected by restriction landmark genomic scanning

The genetic mechanisms associated with recurrence of advanced astrocytic tumors are poorly understood. We therefore analyzed 24 biopsy specimens from 12 patients with a recurrent astrocytic tumor by a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis method, termed restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS). Four spot changes were commonly present in the primary astrocytomas, indicating that the corresponding gene alterations were early events in the development of this tumor type. Altered spots were more frequent and of different distribution in recurrent tumors than in the primary astrocytomas. In particular, specifically increased intensity for spots on chromosomes 9-12 and 18 were observed in the secondary tumors, suggesting a relation with recurrence. The same spot changes observed in primary tumors were also found in the respective secondary lesions but with strikingly different densities in some cases, suggesting increased genetic instability. The altered segments provide important candidate regions for the search for genes involved in events leading to progression and more malignant recurrent tumors.

Identification of tumor vascular antigens by monoclonal antibodies prepared from rat-tumor-derived endothelial cells

We have reported the isolation and specific in vitro properties of tumor-derived endothelial cells (TEC) from rat KMT-17 fibrosarcomas transplanted into rats. To develop antibody-based tumor vascular targeting therapy for solid tumors, we have generated monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) using passive immunization of outside-out membrane vesicles of rat epididymal-fat-pad-derived capillary endothelial cells (FCEC) followed by active immunization of those of rat TEC. The MAbs produced were screened against TEC and FCEC. Of all cultured hybridomas, 75 (3.3%) of the secreted MAbs preferentially recognized TEC. We selected a total of 7 MAbs which detected antigens highly abundant in TEC, although 5 of the 7 MAbs were weakly positive for FCEC in cell-ELISA and FACS analyses. The antigens recognized by these MAbs, with the exception of MAb TES-7, were present on endothelial cells of tumor blood vessels in KMT-17 fibrosarcoma tissues, as shown by immunohistochemical analysis. Antigens of 40- and 80-kDa were recognized by MAbs TES-1, 7, 17, 21 and 26 and by MAbs TES-23 and 27 respectively. Although the function of these antigens, which are preferentially expressed on rat tumor-derived endothelial cells, is still unknown, we believe that future studies of such antigens will help elucidate the role of endothelial cells in tumor vasculature. Our results indicate that MAbs may provide a novel tool for the development of antibody-based therapy targeting tumor vasculature.

Specificity in signaling pathways: assembly into multimolecular signaling complexes

A critical issue in the field of signal transduction is how signaling molecules are organized into different pathways within the same cell. The importance of assembling signaling molecules into architecturally defined complexes is emerging as an essential cellular strategy to ensure specificity and selectivity of signaling. Scaffold proteins function as the pillars of these transduction complexes, bringing together a diversity of signaling components into defined ultramicrodomains of signaling.

Identification of tumor vascular antigens by monoclonal antibodies prepared from rat-tumor-derived endothelial cells

We have reported the isolation and specific in vitro properties of tumor-derived endothelial cells (TEC) from rat KMT-17 fibrosarcomas transplanted into rats. To develop antibody-based tumor vascular targeting therapy for solid tumors, we have generated monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) using passive immunization of outside-out membrane vesicles of rat epididymal-fat-pad-derived capillary endothelial cells (FCEC) followed by active immunization of those of rat TEC. The MAbs produced were screened against TEC and FCEC. Of all cultured hybridomas, 75 (3.3%) of the secreted MAbs preferentially recognized TEC. We selected a total of 7 MAbs which detected antigens highly abundant in TEC, although 5 of the 7 MAbs were weakly positive for FCEC in cell-ELISA and FACS analyses. The antigens recognized by these MAbs, with the exception of MAb TES-7, were present on endothelial cells of tumor blood vessels in KMT-17 fibrosarcoma tissues, as shown by immunohistochemical analysis. Antigens of 40- and 80-kDa were recognized by MAbs TES-1, 7, 17, 21 and 26 and by MAbs TES-23 and 27 respectively. Although the function of these antigens, which are preferentially expressed on rat tumor-derived endothelial cells, is still unknown, we believe that future studies of such antigens will help elucidate the role of endothelial cells in tumor vasculature. Our results indicate that MAbs may provide a novel tool for the development of antibody-based therapy targeting tumor vasculature.

In vitro schedule-dependent interaction between paclitaxel and SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan) in human carcinoma cell lines

Paclitaxel and irinotecan are important new anticancer agents. The combination of these two agents has been considered for use against a variety of advanced solid tumors. Since the schedule-dependent effects of this combination may be crucial to its use, we studied the interaction of paclitaxel and SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan) in various schedules in four human cancer cell lines in culture. Cell growth inhibition after 5 days was determined using an MTT assay. The effects of drug combinations at the IC80 level were analyzed by the isobologram method. Simultaneous exposure to paclitaxel and SN-38 for 24 h produced antagonistic (subadditive and protective) effects in the human lung cancer cell line A549, the breast cancer cell line MCF7, and the colon cancer cell line WiDr, and produced additive effects in the ovarian cancer cell line PA1. Sequential exposure to paclitaxel for 24 h followed by SN-38 for 24 h, and the reverse sequence, produced additive effects in all four cell lines. These findings suggest that sequential administration, not simultaneous administration, may be the appropriate schedule for the therapeutic combination of paclitaxel and irinotecan. Continued preclinical and clinical studies should provide further insights and assist in determining the optimal schedule for this combination in clinical use.

Bone marrow involvement in lymphoma: the importance of marrow magnetic resonance imaging

Detection of bone marrow involvement is important for staging and treatment decisions in patients with lymphoma. Although routine bone marrow evaluation is based on aspirates and bone marrow biopsies, new diagnostic tools are required to improve diagnostic accuracy. Visual and quantitative assessment of the bone marrow by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is useful for the detection of occult lymphomatous marrow involvement. MRI is also suitable for the evaluation of disease extent in the bone marrow. Furthermore, abnormal images on marrow MRI may be associated with a significantly poorer survival in patients with lymphoma, regardless of histologic findings in the marrow. Evaluation of the bone marrow by MRI is essential to assess disease status in patients with lymphoma.

[Molecular design of polymer-conjugated cytokines and its application for drug delivery systems]

In recent years, clinical application of recombinant cytokines has been expected as a novel drug for various diseases. However, cytokines have generally poor stability in vivo, so they required of very high doses to achieve sufficient clinical effect. In addition, because cytokines have pleiotropic functions, they would cause unfavourable side-effects. Therefore an drug delivery system (DDS) is necessary for clinical use, which stabilizes the cytokines and potentiates only the expected function from other unfavorable ones in vivo. Then we performed the chemical modification of cytokines with water-soluble polymers to overcome such problems as poor stability and pleiotropic activities. This approach includes some advantages that decrease renal excretion rate of proteins and prevent the degradation by proteases. This would result in prolonging the half-lives of bioactive proteins and potentiating their clinical effects. Interestingly, we found that the polymer-conjugated cytokines, that we named hybrid-cytokines, for instance, polyethylene glycol-modified interleukin-6 (PEG-IL-6), were able to increase selectively in their function of promoting platelet production, but not in other unfavourable functions. This effects were suggested for a result of the change in the systemic distribution pattern by pegylation of proteins. In this review, we proposed that the DDS using hybrid-cytokines would be able to increase the stability and regulate the spectrum of the functions of the cytokines by controlling the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in vivo. This will provide a fundamental information enabling us to design the hybrid-proteins applicable to therapeutic use.

Sleep apnoea in well-controlled myasthenia gravis and the effect of thymectomy

We conducted overnight polysomnographic sleep studies of 16 patients (5 men and 11 women) with clinically well-controlled myasthenia gravis (MG). The subtypes of MG were IIA (3 patients), IIB (11 patients), IV (1 patient) and V (1 patient). Twelve patients were found on polysomnography to have obstructive and/or central types of the sleep apnoeas (SA). Their mean age was 42.4, SD 16.4 years, and the mean duration of MG was 7.4, SD 6.96 years. SA was not detected in 4 patients whose mean age was 30.8, SD 10.71 years and who had manifested MG for a mean duration of only 0.9, SD 0.65 years. Thus, patients with a longer duration of MG tended to have more SA. In 9 of the 12 SA patients, polysomnographic studies were repeated following thymectomy. SA had resolved in 6 patients, but persisted in 3. These findings suggest that SA is a possible clinical manifestiation of MG and that nocturnal dysfunction of both peripheral and central colinergic systems may be involved.

Genomic alterations of human gliomas detected by restriction landmark genomic scanning

Alterations of genomic DNA in eight primary astrocytic tumors and two glioma cell lines were examined using a recently developed two-dimensional gel electrophoresis method called restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS). RLGS allows us to detect amplifications, deletions, and methylation in genomic DNA in one procedure without requiring any polymorphic markers. Approximately 2000 spots (landmark sites) in tumor specimens were compared with those in normal brain tissue. The 10 spots with intensified signal were reproducibly detected in at least 50% of primary tumors, implying amplification of corresponding DNA sequences. Conversely, 12 spots with reduced signal were observed in more than 50% of all tumors, suggesting inactivation by allelic loss, homozygous deletion, or CpG island methylation. These results suggest that common genetic alterations are closely correlated with the genesis or progression of human gliomas.

Antitumor activity of tumor necrosis factor alpha conjugated with divinyl ether and maleic anhydride copolymer on solid tumors in mice

The purpose of this study is to further explore the usefulness of conjugation with functional polymeric modifiers for clinical application of bioactive proteins and to increase the therapeutic efficacy of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by conjugation in vivo. We synthesized TNF-alpha conjugated with the copolymer of divinyl ether and maleic anhydride (DIVEMA), which has intrinsic antitumor activity as a synthetic biological response modifier. The synthesis of DIVEMA-TNF-alpha could be controlled by the addition of 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride (DMMAn), which binds to or separates from amino groups when the pH is changed. The specific activity of DIVEMA-TNF-alpha (+) synthesized with DMMAn was hardly decreased in vitro. However, DIVEMA-TNF-alpha (-), which is conjugated without blocking by DMMAn, had a markedly diminished specific activity. DIVEMA-TNF-alpha (+) caused a dramatic hemorrhagic necrotic effect on the tumor when compared to native TNF-alpha 24 h after i.v. injection into mice bearing Sarcoma-180 solid tumors. In addition, DIVEMA-TNF-alpha (+) at a dose of only 100 Japan reference units per mouse revealed a dramatic antitumor effect that is approximately 100 times greater than native TNF-alpha and that could induce complete regression in all five mice bearing Meth-A solid tumors without any apparent side effects. Because neither DIVEMA alone nor a mixture of TNF-alpha and DIVEMA caused antitumor activity with i.v. administration, the increase in antitumor potency of TNF-alpha may be caused by the covalent conjugation with DIVEMA. DIVEMA-TNF-alpha at low dose revealed dramatic antitumor potency. Because TNF-alpha injected in vivo is extremely low-dose, concentration of intrinsic TNF-alpha in vivo is not influenced. Therefore, the cytokine network in vivo is not destroyed. These results suggest that DIVEMA is a useful polymeric modifier for conjugation of TNF-alpha to increase its antitumor activity.

Effects of Sasa Health, extract of bamboo grass leaves, on spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis in SHN mice

Chronic treatment with Sasa Health, extract of bamboo grass leaves obtained by alkaline hydrolysis, in drinking water at the concentration of 0.044%-0.088% Fe-Chlorophyllin Na resulted in the significant inhibition of both development and growth of spontaneous mammary tumours in a high mammary tumour strain of SHN virgin mice. Limited treatment for 12 days in mice with palpable sizes of mammary tumours also markedly retarded the growth of the tumours. The end-bud formation and thymidylate synthetase activity of normal mammary glands were stimulated, but the formation of preneoplastic mammary hyperplastic alveolar nodules was inhibited by the treatment. Chronic ingestion of Sasa Health stimulated the excretion of urine components and decreased and increased the prolactin level and superoxide dismutase activity in serum, respectively. It showed no deleterious effects on food and water intake, body growth and any external appearance and all findings indicate that Sasa Health could be a promising agent for the protection and therapy of breast and other types of tumours.