Immune reactive proteins in patients irradiated for cervical cancer. One year follow up.

The parameters of nonspecific humoral immunity--serum immunoglobulins and immune complexes--were evaluated in irradiated group of patients with uterine cervix carcinoma (Stages IIB and IIIB), during one year follow up. The concentrations of IgA, which were elevated in patients before therapy, slowly declined after the radiotherapy, at the end of the follow up being returned to the normal range. The concentrations of IgG, which were significantly decreased in patients immediately after the therapy, were sharply and transiently elevated two months after the therapy; afterwards, the levels of IgG gradually decreased to the values which did not differ from their pre- or post-RT levels, as well as from control ones. The levels of CIC were not significantly changed after radiotherapy, although a transient increase was found seven months after radiotherapy, being not different from controls at the end of the follow up. The serum IgM remained in the range of control values immediately after radiotherapy, as well as during monitoring. The slow normalization of the serum IgA and CIC levels might reflect the success of the therapy.

Immune reactive proteins in renal cell carcinoma patients treated by IFN alpha alone or in combination with vinblastine.

Immunoreactive proteins--serum immunoglobulins and immune complexes were evaluated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. The analyses were done after radical nephrectomy before, at the end, and six months after the therapy, with IFN alpha alone (in patients in Stage II) or IFN alpha in the combination with vinblastine (in patients in Stage III and IV of the disease). Data obtained before immuno- or immunochemotherapy show significant increase in IgG and IgA concentrations in RCC patients in all stages of the disease investigated--in comparison to controls, while circulating immune complexes were significantly elevated only in patients in the advanced Stages of the disease (III and IV). The unchanged IgM level was found in all untreated RCC patients regarding the controls. Immuno- or immunochemotherapy did not affect the immunoreactive proteins (Ig and CIC) in the investigated patients, without respect to their clinical response to the applied therapy.

Prostate cancer. From the general practitioner's point of view.

The study was supported by the County of Halland and the Department of Public Health of the County. The information about prostate cancer in the community of Kungsbacka was obtained from the Regional Cancer Registry of the Oncological Center, Lund, Sweden. In the community of Kungsbacka, Sweden, with about 48,000 inhabitants, a study was made comprising all subjects with prostate cancer during a five-year period. The incidence was 36 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Most patients first visited a general practitioner. The most common symptoms which brought the patient to the doctor were urinary urgency, nycturia, starting problems, poor stream of the urinary flow, terminal dribbling and urinary retention. The prostatic gland had as judged from digital palpation a pathological shape or consistency or both in 95% of the cases. Means of patient's delay and doctor's delay were very long, 17.5 and 14.6 months, respectively. The mortality during the study period was 100% in patients in whom the cancer had spread extracapsularly. General practitioners have an important role in the diagnostic process. It is important to increase public knowledge about the symptoms of prostate cancer in order to obtain a shorter patient's delay, and to palpate the prostate whenever symptoms appear from the prostate region, in order to diagnose the prostate cancer at an earlier stage.

The effect of tamoxifen treatment on serum cholesterol fractions in breast cancer women.

Serum levels of total, free, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were determined in 45 postmenopausal breast cancer women treated with tamoxifen (TAM) from 6 to 73 months (mean duration of TAM treatment was 21.3 months) as an adjuvant therapy after mastectomy, and in the control group of 33 breast cancer women at the time of diagnosis before any treatment. The mean age of patients was 63 years in the TAM treated group and 70 years in the untreated breast cancer patients. TAM treated patients were found to have significantly lower concentration of serum total cholesterol (5.43 mmol/l vs. 6.44 mmol/l; p < 0.02) and LDL-cholesterol (3.54 mmol/l vs. 4.32 mmol/l; p < 0.01). There were 8 (18%) hypercholesterolemic patients in the TAM treated group vs. 13 (39%) in the untreated breast cancer patients (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in serum concentrations of free and HDL-cholesterol in the two evaluated groups. We conclude that the TAM-induced changes in serum lipid concentrations are due to an estrogen-like activity of the agent and the reduction of total and LDL-cholesterol level seems to be an additional advantage of TAM treatment.

Gonadectomy abrogates sex differences in the effectiveness of chemical carcinogenesis in mice.

Sham-gonadectomized and gonadectomized male and female mice were given methylcholanthrene s.c. to assess the influence of sex hormones on carcinogenesis. Gonadectomy decreased the concentration of the respective sex hormone and increased the concentration of the opposite sex hormone. The results showed that androgens enhanced the effectiveness of carcinogenesis, while estrogens had the opposite effect. Gonadectomy effectively abrogated the sex differences in tumor induction.

Clastogenic effects of N-nitrosodimethylamine and dinitrosoglycolurile in murine bone marrow cells and cow lymphocytes.

The clastogenic effects of N-nitrosodimethylamine (N-DMA) and dinitrosoglycolurile (DNSGU) were studied in the bone marrow of mice and in peripheral blood lymphocytes of cows. None of the tested compounds showed significant enhancement of chromosome aberrations at doses 1/2 LD50 and 1/10 LD50 in murine bone marrow cells. Treatment of cow peripheral blood lymphocytes with N-DMA at concentration of 6 x 10(-5) mol/l (or 12 x 10(-5) mol/l for DNSGU) produced statistically significant increase of chromosomal breaks. The clastogenic effect was also observed in cultures treated with DNSGU at the highest tested concentration (12 x 10(-4) mol/l), but the exposure to N-DMA at parallel concentration had a toxic effect. At the lowest doses of N-DMA and DNSGU (6 x 10(-6) and 12 x 10(-6) mol/l, respectively) no clastogenic effect was obtained.

Immunotherapy of superficial bladder tumors: preliminary results with ImmuCyst--BCG Connaught, Toronto.

A clinical study has been started in 1991 with ImmuCyst (BCG Connaught) as a secondary prophylaxis in urothelial superficial bladder tumors (SBT) patients. Till now 31 patient have been entered into the trial and the results seem to be promising. Only 2 patients were excluded from the study. Side-effects did not extend in average the data quoted in literature and were easily managed. There were 4 recurrences confirmed by cystoscopy. Urinary infection was treated in 7 cases with current chemotherapeutic drugs.

Prevalence of serum IgG and IgM antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen in Indian patients with respiratory tract carcinomas.

Antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen (EBV-VCA) were measured in sera of Indian patients with respiratory tract carcinomas (lung, larynx, laryngopharynx, nasopharynx) using a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Nineteen out of thirty-three (19/33) lung cancer, 12/22 laryngeal cancer, 11/16 laryngopharyngeal cancer, 6/9 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases and 3/29 matched controls were positive for IgG antibody to VCA. None were positive for the IgM antibody to VCA. The antibody positivity was evaluated on the basis of immune status ratio (ISR) of the sera as described in the manual of the kit. Prevalence of the antibody was more pronounced among smokers with laryngeal and laryngopharyngeal carcinoma than among lung cancer cases. The results indicated that the antibody positivity rate among the patients declined with the advanced stages of the diseases. Serum IgG and IgM levels were raised in the patients who were tested positive for the viral antibody.

Evaluation of phthalmustine, a new anticancer compound. I. Effect on Dalton's ascitic lymphoma in mice.

The anticancer property of phthalmustine, a hitherto unknown compound containing N-mustard attached to the phthalimide ethyl chain was evaluated using a murine tumor model. The results indicate that the compound was effective in significantly restraining tumor growth. This was accompanied by marked improvement in host survival. No toxic reactions were apparent as reflected in skin and hair texture, body weight and behavioral pattern (food and water intake and activity). Blood picture showed a shift towards the normal following treatment. DNA synthesis in tumor cells was found to be affected as revealed by radioactive thymidine incorporation.

Lectin cytochemistry in the exfoliative cytology of uterine cervix.

A lectin was isolated from the seeds of jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) and purified using a column of immobilized N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. This jack fruit lectin (JFL) was then conjugated to horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) type VI and used to study the cell surface carbohydrate profile of the cytological smears of the uterine cervix using diaminobenzidine as substrate. Cervical smears from 15 healthy individuals and 65 patients with dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and carcinoma of uterine cervix were used for the study. Normal cells showed weak binding in the membrane as well as cytoplasm, whereas carcinomatous cells showed strong binding towards JFL. Carcinoma in situ cells showed a binding pattern similar to that of carcinoma. Dysplastic cells showed difference in binding in mild, moderate and severe dysplasia. The intensity of binding increased with the severity of the dysplasia. The nature and intensity of binding of jack fruit lectin with cancer tissues suggest that this lectin may be of use as a diagnostic aid in exfoliative cytology.

Case-control study of risk factors in laryngeal cancer.

A case-control study with 100 cases and 100 controls was conducted to test hypothetical risk factors in laryngeal cancer. McNemar's test helped to select 25 variables, 12 of which were indicated by the conditional logistic regression analysis as independently associated with laryngeal cancer. The association was proved to be statistically significant in the case of seven risk factors; smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day (RR = 18.17; 95% CI 1.95-169.76), predominantly tinned food and meat product diet (RR = 2.65; 95% CI 1.02-6.88), long-term work exposure to low temperatures and building, fabric and metal dust (RR = 4.53; 95% CI 1.80-11.37), extended stay in closed space filled with cigarette smoke (RR = 2.67; 95% CI 1.08-6.60), recurrent hoarseness persisting for more than 1 month (RR = 12.68; 95% CI 3.28-49.03), swollen neck lymph nodes over a number of years (RR = 12.81; 95% CI 1.57-104.29). It was inferred that these seven tested variables could represent risk factors in laryngeal cancer.

Enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in human breast carcinoma: relationship with serum hormones.

The enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and their relationship with circulating estradiol (ET2) and prolactin (Prl) were studied in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with fibroadenoma and carcinoma of breast. The activities of all the glycolytic enzymes studied were increased in breast carcinoma tissues except for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase which showed decreased activity. Among the glycolytic enzymes studied, hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were found to be stimulated by elevated levels of serum ET2 and further stimulated by a simultaneous increase in Prl. However, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase was more specifically stimulated by Prl rather than ET2. None of the glycolytic enzymes studied was altered in fibroadenoma breast tissues.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes in leukemia patients: possible role in diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Serum levels of total LDH (T.LDH) and LDH isoenzymes in 145 untreated leukemia patients were examined and compared with those of 150 age and sex matched healthy individuals (controls) and 77 anemia patients (pathological controls). As compared to the controls, T.LDH, LDH-1, LDH-2, LDH-3, LDH-4 and LDH-5 values were significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in untreated leukemia patients. T.LDH, LDH-1, LDH-2 and LDH-3 levels were significantly raised in anemia patients as compared to the controls. A significant increase in the levels of T.LDH, LDH-2, LDH-3 and LDH-4 was observed in untreated leukemia patients as compared to the anemia patients. LDH-4 was most specific (81.0%), while LDH-2 was the most sensitive (84.0%) marker for leukemia. Mean values of all the markers were higher in leukemia patients with persistent leukemic activity/accelerated leukemic phase as compared to the patients in remission. Serum levels of T.LDH as well as all the five isoenzymes were significantly lower in leukemia patients in remission as compared to untreated leukemia patients. The study indicated that alterations in T.LDH and its isoenzymes are useful for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of leukemia.

The effect of purine phosphonomethoxyalkyl derivatives on DNA synthesis in CHO Chinese hamster cells.

The inhibition of incorporation of 3H-thymidine and the changes of the rate of nascent DNA chain elongation were investigated in CHO Chinese hamster cells treated with (S)-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonomethoxypropyl) (HPMP) and N-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl) (PME) derivatives of adenine (A), guanine (G) and 2,6-diaminopurine (DAP). No direct correlation was observed in PME and HPMP derivatives between cytotoxicity, inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation and inhibition of nascent DNA chain elongation. The highest cytotoxicity and inhibition of DNA synthesis were caused by PMEG. The limited extent of inhibition of DNA elongation was encountered in the case of HPMPG and HPMPA. With PMEA, weak inhibition of elongation of DNA was observed only after a prolonged exposure (6 h). None of the investigated drugs induced DNA breaks.

Levels of circulating peptide and steroid hormones in men with lung cancer.

Levels of circulating peptide (FSH, LH, prolactin, ACTH, calcitonin, gastrin and insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]) and steroid (estradiol, progesterone, DHEA-S and testosterone) hormones were estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) in male patients with lung cancer (n = 37) pre-therapeutically and compared with 25 age matched healthy controls. In this retrospective study, FSH, LH, prolactin, ACTH, calcitonin, gastrin and IGF-1 were significantly higher with concomitant lower levels of DHEA-S and testosterone, while the difference was statistically non-significant for estradiol and progesterone in patients with lung cancer when compared with controls. Early stage patients (Stage II) exhibited higher levels of gastrin as compared to advanced stage patients (Stages III and IV). It is suggested that hormonal imbalance might play an important role in the development and progression in male patients with lung cancer.

To the mechanism of spermine-FBS cytotoxicity toward K562 human myelogenous leukemia cells.

The effects of several compounds acting through adenylate cyclase system and/or influencing prostaglandin biosynthesis on spermine-FBS cytotoxicity to human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells were studied. Salbutamol, a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist inhibited to a certain extent spermine-FBS cytotoxic action to K562 cells, and propranolol, a beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, did not affect this inhibition. Aminophylline, an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, acted suppressing spermine-FBS cytotoxicity to K562 cells. Pretreatment of the cells with dexamethasone did not significantly alter salbutamol-related inhibition of spermine-FBS cytotoxicity. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenases directly involved in prostaglandin biosynthesis, did not interfere with protective terbutaline effects against spermine-FBS cytotoxicity to K562 cells during the 24-hour period.

Adhesiveness of granulocyte precursors in chronic granulocytic leukemia.

Adhesiveness of myeloblasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes, metamyelocytes, bands and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN's) from the blood of patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) was studied. The adhesiveness of the cells to the substrate (glass) was tested in the presence of protein under dynamic conditions, i.e. when the suspension of cells was flowing over the substrate. It was found that adhesiveness of the CGL granulocyte precursors increased with maturation except for the myeloblasts. They exhibited a greater adhesiveness than the more mature promyelocytes. Changes in the physical and chemical parameters of CGL granulocytes occurring during maturation are discusses in the aspect of their adhesiveness.

Early diagnosis of breast cancer dissemination by tumor markers follow-up and method of prediction.

A mathematical model of prediction of progression was tested in patients with breast cancer employing long-term monitoring of tumor markers CEA, CA 15-3, MCA and TPA, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (FW), and the enzymes gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) in serum. At the same time, specificity, sensitivity, lead time and positive predictive value were evaluated along with false positivity for all these parameters and their combinations. A model was proposed for the follow-up of patients with breast cancer after the completion of basic therapy.

Location of primary and recurrent superficial bladder tumors and benefits of selective biopsies.

Surgical records and bladder diagrams of 856 patients suffering from superficial bladder cancer were summarized into bladder tumor maps. Areas of high tumor density were created giving thus an opportunity to take selective cold cup biopsies. Two hundred and sixteen tissue samples were taken in a group of 62 patients and 12.1% positive results were obtained. The benefit of routinely performed selective biopsies during the first surgery have been discussed.

Tumor cytotoxicity and production of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor from blood monocytes of cervical carcinoma patients.

To assess the functional integrity of monocytes in patients with cervical carcinoma, cytotoxic potential of peripheral blood monocytes and their ability to secrete interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) after activation with different stimulating agents were studied. Comparable levels of monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity were observed in healthy donors and patients. The production of IL-1 and TNF-alpha by monocytes of healthy donors and patients was similar indicating no defect in monocyte functions in these patients.

Cytoplasmic and surface membrane phenotypic markers in cells of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Peripheral blood cells of twenty-six patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were characterized for their surface membrane and cytoplasmic marker profiles using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. According to surface membrane marker analysis three distinct immunophenotypic subgroups of B-CLL were identified: group I (SIg+, MR+, CD5+, B Ag+, T Ag-; 19 cases), group II (SIg+, MR+, CD5+, B Ag+, TAg+; 3 cases), group III (SIg-, MR+, CD5+, B Ag+, T Ag-; 4 cases). Cells from all patients were positive for the CD19 antigen and at least one of other B cell antigens. Cells from all patients expressed also CD5 and HLA-DR antigens and formed mouse rosettes (MR). Great heterogeneity was found in the membrane and cytoplasmic marking by anti-CD22 MoAb. In four of 23 patients tested, CD22 antigen was expressed in the cytoplasm of CLL cells while it was absent on surface membrane of these cells. This finding was discussed from the point of certain cell heterogeneity in the followed B-CLL cases. Cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (CyIg) detection showed to be very important especially in group III of followed B-CLL cases with undetectable surface immunoglobulins (SIg). Cytoplasmic antigens and immunoglobulin determinations are useful in phenotyping every B-CLL patient, as well as in the immunological study of different maturation stages of B lymphocytes.

Augmentation of NK cell activity and proliferation in cultured lymphocytes of leukemic patients by monoclonal antibodies CD3 and interleukin-2.

The aim of the present study was to induce NK cell activity in peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNC) of normal individuals or of leukemic patients. For this purpose, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) anti-CD3 (MEM 57, OKT 3 and MEM 92), anti-CD59 (MEM 43) and anti-CD43 (MEM 59) were tested. MEM 43, MEM 59, MEM 57 and OKT 3 stimulated markedly the NK activity in fresh isolated PMNC of normal individuals, whereas the cytotoxicity in 3-day cultivated PMNC was enhanced only by MEM 57 and OKT 3. In comparison to interleukin-2 (IL-2), MEM 57 and OKT 3 induced less PMNC cytotoxicity but more cell proliferation. MEM 92 (anti-CD3, IgM) compared to MEM 57 or OKT 3 (anti-CD3, IgG) did not show any effect on both reactions mentioned above. PMNC of untreated leukemic patients exerted very negligible NK cell activity. Following 3-day culture of leukemic PMNC with OKT 3 or IL-2 the anti-K 562 cytotoxicity was markedly enhanced. In some cases the stimulating effect was more pronounced by IL-2, in others by OKT 3. Nevertheless, the best effect was gained in 7 out of 12 patients using a combination of IL-2 and OKT 3. On the other hand, OKT 3 did not synergize with IL-2 in normal PMNC culture.

Aging and radiation induced alterations in liver histones.

Age-related changes in histones in the liver of normal rats and in rats irradiated with 5.7 Gy gamma rays were examined. Quantitative histone changes in growing and aging rats (from 1 to 28 months of age) were found to be mild only. As they paralleled the DNA changes, the histone/DNA ratio remained stable with age. In total extracted histones there was a decrease in the H1 proportion in older age groups with preceding increase in the H10 proportion. Thirty minutes after irradiation the amount of histones was reduced with age, probably due to an impaired extractability of histones. As the quantitative DNA changes were milder, the histone/DNA ratio decreased in aging liver after irradiation. Similar patterns of changes in proportion of the H1 fraction and H10 subfraction were observed in irradiated and nonirradiated animals, in the former with an earlier onset. Irradiation, therefore, accelerated spontaneous age-related alterations.

Papillomavirus genomes in human cervical carcinoma: analysis of their integration and transcriptional activity.

Eighty-four biopsies derived from cervical tissues were analyzed for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA types 6, 16 and 18 using Southern blot hybridization. HPV 6 was found in none of the cervical biopsies, and HPV types 16 and 18 were found in 44% of them. The rate of HPV 16/18 positive samples increased proportionally to the severity of the lesion. In normal tissue there were no positive samples, in mild and moderate dysplasias HPV 16/18 was present in 20% and in severe dysplasias and invasive carcinomas in 37 and 50%, respectively. In biopsies from 13 cases with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and CIN III lesions HPV 16 was integrated within the host genome. It was concluded that the virus could be integrated at variable, presumably randomly selected chromosomal loci and with different number of copies. Transcription of HPV 16 and 18 was detected in one cervical cancer and in HeLa cells, respectively. These results imply that HPV types 16 and 18 play an etiological role in the carcinogenesis of human cervical epithelial cells.

Sialylated Lewis(x) and Lewis(a) determinants expression on human neoplastic cell lines: immunocytometric study with the 5th workshop monoclonal antibodies.

The reactivity of monoclonal antibodies from the 5th workshop Selectins/Selectin Ligands panel, directed to the sialylated Lewis(x) and sialylated Lewis(a) determinants, with the human breast carcinoma (BT-20, ZR-75-1 and MDA-MB-468) cell lines, human ovarian carcinoma cell line A2780, fibrosarcoma (HT-1080, B-6FS) and hematopoietic neoplastic (U-937, HL-60, K-562) cell lines were determined with the aid of flow immunocytofluorometry. The examined monoclonal antibodies to sialylated Lewis determinants reacted with examined breast carcinoma, but not with the examined ovarian carcinoma and fibrosarcoma cell lines.

Influence of liposomal muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine on the changes of nucleic acids in the blood and hemopoietic tissues of irradiated mice.

Effects of liposomal muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (MTP-PE/MLV) on nucleic acid content, and on DNA synthesis and cellularity in the blood and haemopoietic tissues of mice irradiated with a dose of 6 Gy gamma radiation were studied. It was found that injection of MTP-PE/MLV alone (200 micrograms per mouse; i.p.) resulted in a mild decrease in DNA content in the bone marrow as consequence of cellularity diminution in the femur. At the same time, incorporation of 3H-thymidine into bone marrow DNA increased in comparison to the non-stimulated mice. On the basis of simultaneous increase in RNA and DNA concentration in the blood we assume that the changes of nucleic acids and cellularity in the bone marrow of MTP-PE/MLV treated mice are related to the higher release of nuclear cells into the circulation. In mice irradiated 24 h after MTP-PE/MLV injection the decrease in nucleic acid content was similar to that in unprotected mice within the first three days after irradiation. However, during following days, the recovery of RNA and DNA content and cellularity in the bone marrow and blood proceeded at a much faster rate in mice protected by MTP-PE/MLV as compared to unprotected animals. The increase in DNA synthesis in the bone marrow of protected mice preceded the DNA content recovery. In the spleen and the thymus, no effect of liposomal MTP-PE was found.

Expression of the alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor on human neoplastic fibroblastoid cells.

The alpha 2-macroglobulin membrane-associated receptor (alpha 2MR) has been previously detected on hepatocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, syncytiotrophoblasts and recently on human malignant blood cells of myelomonocytic leukemia. In cells growing in vitro from human germ cell tumors alpha 2MR mRNA was detected by Northern blotting. Endocytosis of alpha 2M from culture medium was detected in these cells by indirect immunofluorescence. In cell extracts alpha 2M and its degradation products were detected by immunoblotting. The cells expressing alpha 2MR and internalizing alpha 2M were identified as fibroblasts both by their morphology and expression of vimentin intermediate filaments. The role and function of alpha 2MR receptor in the analyzed neoplastic cells of teratomatous origin is discussed.

Changes of natural killer cytotoxic activity and natural killer sensitivity during growth of Bomirski melanotic (Ma) and amelanotic (Ab) melanomas.

Natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity during the growth of melanotic (Ma) and amelanotic (Ab) variants of Bomirski hamster melanoma, in the blood and the spleen, was examined. The melanoma variants differed in their growth rate and metastatic pattern. Ability to form conjugates by effectors with targets and cytotoxic effects were compared. As targets K562 cells and tumor cells were used. It was found that during the growth of Ma melanoma activity of NK cells was not changing but the sensitivity of tumor cells was decreasing. However, during growth of Ab melanoma both NK activity and NK sensitivity were reduced.

Cathepsin B in predicting the extent of the cervix carcinoma.

The value of cathepsin B activity in determining the extent of disease was investigated in 106 patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri and in 20 women with dysplasia of the cervix uteri. The measurements of serum and tumor cathepsin B activity were performed before treatment. The levels of cathepsin B were estimated by direct fluorimetric assay based on the use of 2-Phe-Arg-NMec as a substrate. The results show that the mean serum and tumor activity of this enzyme increase with progression of neoplastic disease and was closely dependent on clinical stage of cervical carcinoma. Also, we found higher serum and tumor levels of cathepsin B activities in patients with clinical early disease (FIGO Stage Ib and IIa) in whom metastases to pelvic lymph nodes were detected than in patients with disease limited to the cervix uteri (p < 0.001, t-test). Enhanced activity of cathepsin B was observed in 64% of patients with cervical carcinoma.

Combined radioprotective effect of Broncho-Vaxom and WR-2721 on hemopoiesis and circulating blood cells.

Possibilities of combined radioprotection, using preirradiation WR-2721 administration and post- or preirradiation Broncho-Vaxom administration in lethally whole-body gamma-irradiated mice were investigated. Combined modality treatments were more effective than individual treatments alone. The ameliorative influence of the combined radioprotection could be explained by the hemopoietic stem cell protection with WR-2721 and the stimulation by Broncho-Vaxom.