Search

Fibroblast-derived tumor cytotoxic factor (F-TCF), isolated from human embryonic lung fibroblasts, is cytotoxic against various human and mouse tumor cells. Physicochemical and biological properties indicate that F-TCF is closely similar to hepatocyte growth factors (HGFs), cDNAs of which are isolated from human liver and placenta. Isolation and expression of F-TCF cDNA revealed that F-TCF was identical to the placenta type HGFs, including a variant with a deletion of 15 base pairs in the coding region. The deleted form of recombinant HGF (rHGF) had slightly lower heparin binding affinity than the intact form. Specific activities of rHGFs were almost the same in tumor cytotoxic activity, but different in hepatocyte growth stimulating activity. These results indicate that deletion of five amino acids results in conformational change which alter biological activity.

Following a histologic review of 108 patients with childhood lymphoma from 20 hospitals in the Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, and Kyoto prefectures of Japan during the period 1964-1989, 16 cases (15%) were classified as follicular center cell (FCC) lymphomas. None had a follicular pattern of proliferation. The age range was from 2 to 15 years (median 10) with no peak incidence. The male/female ratio was 1.3:1. Presentation was nodal in 10 patients and extranodal in 6. Chronic infection and other predisposing factors for the development of FCC lymphomas in childhood are discussed, with a review of the literature.

Two different forms of cDNA for F-TCF were isolated from cDNA library prepared with mRNA from human embryonic lung fibroblast, IMR-90 cells. One of them was completely identical to the cDNA for placenta type hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the other one was a variant cDNA for the HGF with a deletion of 15 base pairs in the coding region. The cDNAs were expressed in CHO cells and recombinant proteins were purified and characterized. The deleted form of recombinant F-TCF (rF-TCF) was slightly lower in heparin affinity than the intact form. Both rF-TCFs showed almost same dose-response curves for cytotoxicity on Sarcoma 180 or Meth A sarcoma cells. Dose-response curves for the stimulation of DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes were also almost same before reaching maximal activity at 12.5 ng/ml but significantly different at higher concentrations. The deleted form of rF-TCF maintained maximal activity in the dose range of 12.5 to 100 ng/ml, although the intact form decreased the activity dose-dependently at more than 25 ng/ml. This suggests that the deletion of five amino acids results in a conformational change which alters heparin binding and hepatocyte growth stimulating activities.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces tubular formation of cultured human omental microvascular endothelial (HOME) cells and EGF also stimulates cell migration as well as expression of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA). Here we studied the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on cell proliferation, cell migration and expression of t-PA and other related genes. Migration of confluent HOME cells into the denuded space was stimulated by HGF after being wounded with razor blade, but at a reduced rate in comparison with EGF. HOME cells could be proliferated in response to exogenous 100 ng/ml of HGF at rates comparable to that of 20 ng/ml EGF. The chemotactic activity of HOME cells was significantly stimulated by HGF in a dose-dependent manner when assayed by Boyden chamber. HGF did not efficiently enhance expression of both the t-PA gene and a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase gene whereas it stimulated expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Our present study provides a new evidence that some of the biological effects of HGF on HOME cells in culture are similar to those of EGF.

The electronic structure of d(GG).d(CC), d(CG)2, d(GC)2 which are stacked base pairs in the DNA double helix, are elucidated for both A and B conformations in detail by DV-X alpha cluster calculations. These three DNA double helix fragments are constructed from the same bases, G and C, but the electronic structure of the fragments for A and B conformations differs from each other characteristically. In particular, the electronic states of the O2 and O3 in phosphates differ drastically from each other, and might play a crucial role as recognition sites in various reaction processes concerning DNA. These differences are caused by the delicate differences in the admixture of the orbital components and the intra- and inter-bases interactions. Contour maps of the wavefunction of the HOMO and LUMO are compared among the stacking isomers.

For determination of fibroblast-derived tumor cytotoxic factor, F-TCF (human hepatocyte growth factor/hHGF), sensitive two-step sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing monoclonal antibodies was developed. Microplates were coated with monoclonal antibody (P1C8) and bound F-TCF was quantitated with the second monoclonal antibody (P2D6) linked to peroxidase. The standard curve for F-TCF was found to be linear in the range of 0.16 to 10 ng of F-TCF per ml. The assay was specific for F-TCF but not for plasminogen. The assay can be used for determination of F-TCF antigen in both human plasma and serum. The variation of absorbance was little in duplicate samples. Recoveries of exogenous F-TCF added to serum or plasma samples showed theoretical values. F-TCF antigen levels in 21 healthy volunteers was found to be 0.56 +/- 0.43 ng/ml. In contrast, mean F-TCF levels in patients with liver diseases were all higher than those of healthy subjects. This ELISA system has the advantage of using a sensitive and reproducible set of monoclonal antibodies, and is a useful method for monitoring F-TCF levels in patients with liver diseases.

Between 1966 and 1988, 149 patients were treated with radiotherapy for localized extranodal lymphoma. The average total dose given was 39.8 Gy for low grade disease and 48.7 Gy for all other disease. Of the 149 patients, 60 also received adjuvant chemotherapy. Twenty-four had low grade lymphoma, 109 had intermediate grade disease, and 16 had high grade disease, histologically. The distribution of histological grade and T/B phenotype varied with the primary site. Low grade lymphomas were found mainly in the orbit, and T-cell lymphomas were found in the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. The 5-year survival rates according to tumor location were 89% for oral cavity, 86% for paranasal sinus, 83% for thyroid, 69% for orbit, 47% for Waldeyer's ring (WAR), 44% for testis, 23% for CNS, 21% for nasal cavity and 60% for other sites. Histological grade and T/B phenotype both had prognostic importance. Combined chemotherapy significantly improved the survival rate only for disease with intermediate or high grade histology. Other prognostic factors according to the primary site were the bulk of lymph node for WAR disease, the radiation dose for CNS disease, bone erosion for orbital disease, stridor for disease of the thyroid, and the tumor stage for disease of both the testis and the thyroid.

We previously demonstrated that a tumor cytotoxic factor(F-TCF) purified from the culture broth of human embryonic lung diploid fibroblast, IMR-90 cells was one of the human hepatocyte growth factors (hHGFs). In the present report, we demonstrate its biological functions. F-TCF showed moderate cytotoxicity on human tumor cell lines KB, BG-1, MCF-7 and Hs913 T, and strong cytotoxicity on mouse tumor cell lines Sarcoma 180, Meth A sarcoma and P388. On the contrary, F-TCF was a potent mitogen not only for adult rat hepatocytes, but also for human endothelial cells, HUVEC and human melanocytes. Moreover, F-TCF induced the differentiation of premyelocyte leukemia, HL-60 cells into morphologically granulocyte-like cells. These biological functions suggest that F-TCF is an effector molecule responsible for inflammation and repair in injured tissues including tumor and liver.

Proteose peptone (p.peptone) remarkably induced tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity in the conditioned medium of confluently cultured human embryonic lung diploid fibroblast, IMR-90 cells, in a dose-dependent manner. t-PA activity correlated well with the amount of t-PA antigen found in the conditioned medium of IMR-90 cells stimulated by p.peptone. t-PA production by IMR-90 cells stimulated by p.peptone was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ concentration and maximum t-PA production required approximately 3.6 mM extracellular Ca2+. Conversely, elimination of Ca2+ from the culture medium by EGTA, Ca2+ chelate agent, strongly inhibited t-PA production induced by p.peptone. t-PA production induced by p.peptone was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by Verapamil, which inhibits Ca2+ uptake through the slow channels and also by W-7, an inhibitor of calmodulin. These results suggested that influx of extracellular Ca2+ into IMR-90 cells was caused by p.peptone and induced t-PA production by the cells.

Seven patients with histologically proven primary intracerebral malignant lymphoma, characterized by a fluctuating nature with both transient regression and spatial evolution of the tumors without contiguity to the initial lesion, are presented. Although the overall outcome was unfavorable, two cases had a long-term survival of 3 years or more and one of them showed a good quality of life. Correlation among characteristic clinical presentations, computed tomography scans, and prognostic factors after management with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, including steroids, is discussed.

The clinicopathologic features of 114 Japanese patients with extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck region were analyzed. The median age was 60.5 years and the male:female ratio was 1.5:1. The most common site of involvement was Waldeyer's ring, followed by the oral cavity, thyroid gland, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and larynx. Seventy-five percent of the patients were in Stage I or Stage II at admission. Histologically, diffuse lymphoma accounted for 94% and follicular lymphoma for 6% of cases. The histologic grade according to the Working Formulation System of the National Cancer Institute was low in 11%, intermediate in 75%, and high in 14% of cases. Immunohistochemical study showed that the majority of the cases were of B-cell type and only 13 cases (11%) were of the T-cell type. Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (eight cases) mainly occurred in the nasopharynx and nasal cavity, whereas four of five thymic T-cell lymphomas were found in the palatine tonsil. The over-all 5-year survival rate was 54%, and the factors affecting survival were sex, histologic grade, T/B phenotype, clinical stage, and the site of initial presentation. Five-year survival with nasal cavity and Waldeyer's ring lymphoma was 24% and 46%, respectively. The poor prognosis of lymphomas at these sites might result from the predominance of T-cell lymphoma, the paucity of low grade lymphoma, and the relatively high incidence of cases that were in an advanced stage at presentation. In Stage II, patients treated with combined therapy tended to have a better 5-year survival rate than those treated with radiotherapy alone.

Human embryonic lung diploid fibroblast, IMR-90 cells secreted a tumor cytotoxic factor. The fibroblast-derived tumor cytotoxic factor (F-TCF) has a cytotoxic activity to Sarcoma 180 and a cytostatic and degenerative activities to KB cells. F-TCF has been purified about 540,000-fold with 23.3% recovery from 75 liters of the conditioned medium containing 5% newborn calf serum. The purified F-TCF is a basic glycoprotein with isoelectric point values of 7.4 to 8.6. It was stable in the pH range from 6.0 to 9.0 and was stable at the heating temperature of 60 degrees C for 10 min, but completely inactivated by reducing it with 2-mercaptoethanol. F-TCF has molecular weight of 76 to 80 kD on SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions and is a heterodimer consisting of a large alpha subunit with 52 to 56 kD and a small beta subunit with 30 to 34 kD. F-TCF was identified as one of human hepatocyte growth factors by the physicochemical properties including N terminal and a few internal amino acid sequences. We have confirmed that F-TCF has an ability to dramatically stimulate DNA synthesis in adult rat hepatocytes in the low dose range of 1 to 10 ng/ml.

Bupivacaine has been used for spinal anesthesia since 1982 in our department. We performed a retrograde investigation of 121 cases who had lower limb surgery and anesthetized with plain 0.5% bupivacaine solution during the year of 1987. Doses of bupivacaine, maximum spread of analgesia and spinal tap level were analyzed. We chose the bupivacaine doses from 2.5 ml to 4.0 ml depending on the condition of the patient and the specificity of the surgery. The patients were divided into 3 groups by the dose of bupivacaine: i.e. 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 ml of plain 0.5% bupivacaine. Seventy percent of all patients had a spinal tap on L3/4 interspace. The average upper level of analgesia was T7 in each group and no patient had analgesia above T2 level. There was no correlation between the site of injection and volume of local anesthetics. However patient's physical status and surgical procedure are more important to obtain the good analgesic level. There was no significant respiratory depression nor hypotension during and after the surgery. It is concluded that 3-4 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine provided satisfactory spinal anesthesia for the lower limb surgery.

Thirty patients with histologically proven primary intracranial non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated at Kyoto University. Ten of them were treated prospectively with a radiation-chemotherapy protocol. All but four specimens were recently reexamined and classified according to the Working Formulation system. The predominant histologic types were diffuse large cell type, large cell immunoblastic type, and diffuse mixed small and large cell type, seen in 38%, 21%, and 21% of cases, respectively. Before 1980, 16 patients were treated with postoperative radiation without definite chemotherapy, and only one has survived more than 5 years. Local recurrence was the most common cause of failure. In 1981, the authors started a protocol in which four to six courses of systemic chemotherapy with vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and prednisolone (VEPA) was given after whole brain radiation (30-40 Gy) with a local boost up to 50 to 60 Gy. Eight patients completed this protocol, and all of them are alive at 16 to 100 months after diagnosis, with three patients surviving more than 5 years. Only one patient developed recurrence. On the other hand, six patients who did not complete or receive chemotherapy after 1981 are dead or alive with recurrence. Correlation between the Working Formulation subtype and prognosis was not clear because of the variety of treatment. Two patients receiving chemotherapy developed brain necrosis, which was fatal in one case, and the other two patients treated with the protocol are in a poor state without signs of recurrence. Chemotherapy may enhance the radiation effect on normal brain tissue as well as tumor. Combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy can improve the survival rate, but the optimal dosage needs to be investigated further.

Ninety-seven Japanese patients with so-called primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system (CNS-NHL), unrelated to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or organ transplantation, were reviewed. The patients' ages ranged from 1 to 87 years (median: 58 years) with a male to female ratio of 1.77:1. The most frequent past histories were acute appendicitis (appendectomy), head injury, uveitis or iritis, and gastritis or gastric ulcer. These patients presented with symptoms suggesting an expanding intracranial lesion with no signs of extracranial lymphomatous disease. Combined computed tomographic scans, angiography, and findings at surgery or autopsy showed that the cerebrum was the commonest site of involvement, 87% of all cases, with the frontal to temporal region being the most commonly involved. Histologically, the diffuse large-cell type was most frequent and 26% of lymphomas were of high-grade malignancy as defined by the Working Formulation. The reported frequency of high-grade CNS-NHLs in AIDS patients in the United States is much higher (over 60%). Immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections revealed a B-cell nature of the present series of tumors. In 16% of the cases, large numbers of small lymphoid cells with a positive reaction predominantly for anti-T lymphocyte antibodies surrounded the tumors or aggregated around the capillaries. The tumors which were infiltrated by small lymphoid cells showed more favorable prognosis than those which were not, suggesting a host reaction to tumor growth in these patients.

Antagonistic actions of S-145 ((+-)-5(Z)-7-[3-endo[(phenylsulfonyl)amino]bicyclo[2.2.1] hept-2-exo-yl]heptenoic acid) against U-46619, a thromboxane A2 mimic, were studied using isolated thoracic aorta of the rat and the trachea, lung parenchyma and ileum of the guinea pig. S-145 as well as SQ-29548 and ONO-3708 inhibited the contraction of aorta induced by U-46619 in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 value of each compound was 1.4, 14.5 and 52.6 nM. S-145 also inhibited contractions of the aorta induced by high concentrations of PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha, but failed to affect the responses to K+, Ca2+, NE, 5-HT, and angiotensin II. Contractions of trachea and lung parenchyma of the guinea pig induced by U-46619 were concentration-dependently inhibited by S-145, but those induced by histamine and leukotriene D4 were not affected. Ileac contractions by PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were not inhibited by S-145. The (+)-isomer of S-145 was more potent and the (-)-isomer was less potent than S-145 for antagonistic action against U-46619. These results suggest that S-145 is a potent and specific antagonist to the thromboxane A2 receptor; and in the aorta, the thromboxane A2 receptor may respond to high concentrations of PGs.

Histological and immunohistological studies were made in 28 patients with testicular lymphoma who presented with a right (15), left (11) or bilateral (2) scrotal swelling. Patient age at hospitalization ranged from 39 to 87 years, with a median age of 64 years. The disease was stage 1 in 12 patients, stage 2 in 11 and stage 3 in 5. Histologically, most of the neoplasms were of the diffuse large cell type, with an immunoblastic type being the most common. Immunohistochemistry revealed that all but 2 cases were of the B cell type. None of the tumors reacted with monoclonal antibody for T cell. These findings suggested that testicular lymphoma exclusively consisted of the B cell type, identical to previous reports of extranodal lymphomas other than those in the skin. The pertinent literature is reviewed and the histogenesis of testicular lymphoma is discussed.

A clinicopathologic study was made on 26 patients with testicular lymphoma. Because they all presented scrotal swelling as an initial manifestation, they were thought to be affected with primary testicular lymphoma. The age at admission ranged from 39 to 87 years, with a median of 63 years. Stage of disease was I E in 8 patients, II E in 7, and III E in 8. Two- and five-year survival rates were 38% and 26%, respectively. The most common histological type was the diffuse large cell type, especially immunoblastic type. Immunohistochemistry revealed that almost all cases were B cell derived tumors. In our study, an obvious correlation between the histological type and the prognosis for patients could not be observed. However, the initial stage of the disease appeared to affect the outcome in patients with testicular lymphoma.

Twelve patients with hematological malignancies were treated with epirubicin and ten patients were evaluable. One out of our four patients with ALL, who had a previous therapy of anthracycline, achieved a partial remission (PR: 25%). In two patients with AML, remission was not obtained. Of four patients with NHL, one with B-cell lymphoma achieved complete remission (CR) and one with ATLL partial remission (CR + PR: 50%). Stomatitis was observed as a major side effect in three patients with acute leukemia and in one with NHL. In conclusion, our trial seems to show the efficacy of epirubicin in lymphoid malignancies.

The electronic structure of d(GG).d(CC), d(CG)2, d(GC)2 which are stacked base pairs in the DNA double helix, are elucidated for both A and B conformations in detail by DV-X alpha cluster calculations. These three DNA double helix fragments are contracted from the same bases, G and C, but the electronic structures of the fragments for both A and B conformations are different from each other characteristically. There are some delicate differences in the admixture of the orbital components and the overlap populations of intra- and inter- strand stacked bases among the stacking isomers. On the other hand, the electronic states of sugars differ in the 5'-3' direction, but are not almost dependent on stacked base pairs.

Expression of vitamin B12 R-binder, a specific binding protein for vitamin B12, was studied immunohistochemically in normal lung tissues and 107 lung tumors of various types. In normal tissues, vitamin B12 R-binder (R-binder) expression was restricted to the mucous cells of bronchial or bronchiolar epithelium and submucosal glands as well as to nonciliated bronchiolar (Clara) cells. Among lung carcinomas, 38% of squamous cell carcinomas, 42% of adenocarcinomas and 23% of large cell carcinomas showed positive staining for R-binder whereas small cell carcinomas did not. These findings offer the possibility that a majority of the histologic types of lung carcinoma have common histogenetical characteristics with mucous or Clara cells. Of the bronchial gland tumors, R-binder could be detected in a mucoepidermoid carcinoma but not in adenoid cystic carcinomas. Epithelial components in both pulmonary blastomas and hamartomas showed a reactivity for R-binder, suggesting that these tumors contained components composed of cells with bronchiolar cell differentiation. The immunohistochemical examination of lung tumors, using anti-R-binder antibody, may have some implications in the cell differentiation of lung tumors.