nalyot, a mutation of the Drosophila myb-related Adf1 transcription factor, disrupts synapse formation and olfactory memory

nalyot (nal) is a novel olfactory memory mutant of Drosophila, encoding Adf1, a myb-related transcription factor. Following extended training sessions, Adf1 mutants show normal early memory but defective longterm memory. Adf1 shows widespread spatiotemporal expression, yet mutant alleles reveal no discernible disruptions in gross morphology of the nervous system. Studies at the larval neuromuscular junction, however, reveal a role for Adf1 in the modulation of synaptic growth-in contrast to the role established for dCREB2 in the control of synaptic function (Davis et al., 1996). These findings suggest that Adf1 and dCREB2 regulate distinct transcriptional cascades involved in terminal stages of synapse maturation. More generally, Adf1 provides a novel link between molecular mechanisms of developmental and behavioral plasticity.

Multi-institutional phase II randomized trial of integrated therapy with cisplatin, dacarbazine, vindesine, subcutaneous interleukin-2, interferon alpha2a and tamoxifen in metastatic melanoma. BREMIM (Biological Response Modifiers in Melanoma)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of a monochemotherapy regimen of dacarbazine (DTIC), tamoxifen , interferon-alpha2a and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and two polychemotherapy regimens of cisplatin, DTIC, vindesine, tamoxifen, interferon-alpha2a with or without IL-2 in patients with metastatic melanoma. Consecutive patients with metastatic melanoma were enrolled in this trial and were randomized to arm A, consisting of DTIC 800 mg/m2 every 21 days, IL-2 9 MIU subcutaneously days 1-5 and 8-12, arm B, consisting of cisplatin 30 mg/m2 days 1-3, DTIC 250 mg/m2 days 1-3 and vindesine 2.5 mg/m2 day 1 every 28 days (CVD), or arm C, consisting of CVD plus IL-2 6 MIU days 1-5 and 8-12 every 28 days. In all three arms Interferon 3 MU subcutaneously three times a week and tamoxifen 20 mg orally were given throughout. Ninety-two patients were included in this study. Patient characteristics in the three groups were well balanced. The three regimens were delivered on an outpatient basis without major toxicity. The toxicities that did occur consisted primarily of flu-like symptoms in the IL-2 arms (A and C) and haematological toxicities in the CVD arms (B and C). No grade IV toxicities were encountered and no treatment-related deaths occurred. The total response rate was 13% in arm A, 35% in arm B and 37% in arm C. The median duration of response was 6 months and the median survival was 11 months. According to this phase II randomized trial polychemoimmunotherapy with CVD has an objective response rate of 35-36%, while monochemoimmunotherapy with DTIC has a response rate of 13%.