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Background and Purpose: Microvascular damage is an important component of late radiation-induced morbidity. In our pre-clinical models, we demonstrated that repair of vessel injury is dependent on proper endoglin-mediated transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signalling and that it can be affected by infiltrating macrophages. We now wanted to extend these findings in irradiated patients, using skin as a model system, and assess whether bisphosphonates could modulate the response., Materials and Methods: Paired skin biopsies from irradiated and non-irradiated sites were obtained from 48 breast cancer patients. In 8 patients, biopsies were repeated after 4months of bisphosphonate treatment. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess vascular alterations and leucocyte infiltration. Western Blot and qPCR were used to assess expression of growth factors and their receptors., Results: Decreased blood vessel numbers at early time points were followed by increased endoglin expression and restoration of vessel number. Loss of small lymphatic vessels was associated with increased TGF-β levels, whereas dilation of lymphatic vessels correlated with increased macrophage infiltration. Bisphosphonate treatment reduced leucocyte infiltration, but also prevented restoration of blood vessel numbers after irradiation., Conclusion: Radiation injury of the microvasculature is mediated through TGF-β, whereas repair is modulated by the co-receptor endoglin and promoted by macrophages., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The late side effects of kidney irradiation include vascular damage and fibrosis, which are promoted by an irradiation-induced inflammatory response. We therefore treated kidney-irradiated mice with the anti-inflammatory and angiogenesis-modulating drug thalidomide in an attempt to prevent the development of late normal tissue damage and radiation nephropathy in the mouse kidney., Methods and Materials: Kidneys of C57Bl/6 mice were irradiated with a single dose of 14 Gy. Starting from week 16 after irradiation, the mice were fed with thalidomide-containing chow (100 mg/kg body weight/day). Gene expression and kidney histology were analyzed at 40 weeks and blood samples at 10, 20, 30, and 40 weeks after irradiation., Results: Thalidomide improved the vascular structure and vessel perfusion after irradiation, associated with a normalization of pericyte coverage. The drug also reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells but could not suppress the development of fibrosis. Irradiation-induced changes in hematocrit and blood urea nitrogen levels were not rescued by thalidomide. Moreover, thalidomide worsened tubular damage after irradiation and also negatively affected basal tubular function., Conclusions: Thalidomide improved the inflammatory and vascular side effects of kidney irradiation but could not reverse tubular toxicity, which probably prevented preservation of kidney function., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: APO866 is a highly specific inhibitor of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), inhibition of which reduces cellular NAD(+) levels. In this study we addressed the potential of NAD(+) depletion as an anti-cancer strategy and assessed the combination with radiation., Methods: The anticipated radiosensitizing property of APO866 was investigated in prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and LNCaP in vitro and in PC3 xenografts in vivo., Results: We show that APO866 treatment leads to NAD(+) depletion. Combination experiments with radiation lead to a substantial decrease in clonogenic cell survival in PC3 and LNCaP cells. In PC3 xenografts, treatment with APO866 resulted in reduced intratumoral NAD(+) levels and induced significant tumor growth delay. Combined treatment of APO866 and fractionated radiation was more effective than the single modalities. Compared with untreated tumors, APO866 and radiation alone resulted in tumor growth delays of 14 days and 33 days, respectively, whereas the combination showed a significantly increased tumor growth delay of 65 days., Conclusions: Our studies show that APO866-induced NAD(+) depletion enhances radiation responses in tumor cell survival in prostate cancer. However, the in vitro data do not reveal a solid cellular mechanism to exploit further clinical development at this moment., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Endoglin is a transforming growth receptor beta (TGF-β) co-receptor, which plays a crucial role in the development of late normal tissue damage. Mice with halved endoglin levels (Eng(+/-) mice) develop less inflammation, vascular damage and fibrosis after kidney irradiation compared to their wild type littermates (Eng(+/+) mice). This study was aimed at investigating whether reduced tissue damage in Eng(+/-) mice also results in superior kidney function., Material and Methods: Kidneys of Eng(+/+) and Eng(+/-) mice were irradiated with a single dose of 14 Gy. Functional kidney parameters and kidney histology were analysed at 20, 30 and 40 weeks after irradiation., Results: Eng(+/-) mice displayed improved kidney parameters (haematocrit, BUN) compared to Eng(+/+) mice at 40 weeks after irradiation. Irradiation of Eng(+/+) kidneys damaged the vascular network and led to an increase in PDGFR-β positive cells, indicative of fibrosis-promoting myofibroblasts. Compared to Eng(+/+) kidneys, vascular perfusion and number of PDGFR-β positive cells were reduced in Eng(+/-) control mice; however, this did not further deteriorate after irradiation., Conclusions: Taken together, we show that not only kidney morphology, but also kidney function is improved after irradiation in Eng(+/-) compared to Eng(+/+) mice., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: We previously showed that mice with reduced levels of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) co-receptor endoglin (Eng(+/-) mice) develop less fibrosis and vascular damage after kidney irradiation than their wild type (Eng(+/+) mice) littermates; however, the underlying mechanism was unclear. Results from current studies suggest that this occurs via modulation of the radiation-induced inflammatory response., Materials and Methods: Kidneys of Eng(+/+) and Eng(+/-) mice were irradiated with 16Gy. Mice were sacrificed at 20weeks after irradiation and gene expression and protein levels were analyzed., Results: Kidney irradiation triggered the infiltration of macrophages in both Eng(+/+) and Eng(+/-) mice, however, levels of macrophage-produced cytokines interleukin 1 beta (Il1b) and interleukin 6 (Il6) were reduced in irradiated Eng(+/-) compared to Eng(+/+) mice. Double immuno-stainings confirmed that IL-6 was produced by macrophages, whereas IL-1β was mainly detected in other cell types. Accordingly, inflammatory cell precursors derived from the bone marrow of Eng(+/-) mice showed impaired ability to express Il1b and Il6 compared to wild type mice., Conclusions: Endoglin promotes kidney inflammation after irradiation by regulating macrophage infiltration and interleukin production, thereby promoting pathogenic changes after radiation exposure., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) is a transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) receptor, which is mainly expressed in endothelial cells regulating proliferation and migration in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo. Endothelial cells also express the co-receptor endoglin, which modulates ALK1 effects on endothelial cells. Our previous studies showed that mice with reduced endoglin levels develop less irradiation-induced vascular damage and fibrosis, caused by an impaired inflammatory response. This study was aimed at investigating the role of ALK1 in late radiation toxicity., Material and Methods: Kidneys of ALK(+/+) and ALK1(+/-) mice were irradiated with 14 Gy. Mice were sacrificed at 10, 20, and 30 weeks after irradiation and gene expression and protein levels were analyzed., Results: Compared to wild type littermates, ALK1(+/-) mice developed less inflammation and fibrosis at 20 weeks after irradiation, but displayed an increase in pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic gene expression at 30 weeks. In addition, ALK1(+/-) mice showed superior vascular integrity at 10 and 20 weeks after irradiation which deteriorated at 30 weeks coinciding with changes in the VEGF pathway., Conclusions: ALK1(+/-) mice develop a delayed normal tissue response by modulating the inflammatory response and growth factor expression after irradiation., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Endoglin is a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) co-receptor mainly expressed in dividing endothelial cells. It regulates cell proliferation and survival and is upregulated at sites of vessel repair. Mutations in endoglin have been linked to the vascular disease hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). HHT patients display dilated capillaries (telangiectasia) that are prone to rupture. Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy develop similar vascular damage in normal tissues lying in the irradiation field. If located in the mucosa, irradiation-induced telangiectasia can lead to severe bleeding. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the role of endoglin in radiation-induced telangiectasia formation., Materials and Methods: Kidneys of endoglin heterozygous (Eng(+/-)) or wild type mice were irradiated with 16 Gy. Mice were sacrificed after 20 weeks and changes in gene expression and protein levels were analysed., Results: Expression of TGF-beta target genes involved in radiation-induced fibrosis and fibrosis development in the kidney decreased in Eng(+/-) compared to wild type mice. Unexpectedly, Eng(+/-) mice also displayed reduced telangiectasia formation in the irradiated kidney., Conclusions: Endoglin plays an important role in the development of irradiation-induced normal tissue damage. Future studies will show whether interfering with endoglin functions protects tissues from late radiation toxicity.

Background: HIPEC is a new treatment modality for abdominal cancers that combines cytoreductive surgery with Hyperthermic, Intraoperative Peritoneal Chemotherapy, followed by systemic chemotherapy. A significant survival benefit has been shown for HIPEC compared with systemic therapy alone. However, it is not clear what is the contribution of i.p. drug delivery and what influence the mild hyperthermia has on the uptake of cisplatin in abdominal tumors., Materials and Methods: We used a peritoneal perfusion system in rats to compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cisplatin, after normothermic (37 degrees C/90 minutes) and hyperthermic (40 degrees C/90 minutes) intra-peritoneal perfusion, with an i.p. bolus injection., Results: Hyperthermic perfusion with 15 micrograms/ml (in 200 ml) cisplatin gave equivalent plasma drug levels to a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) i.p. bolus injection of 4 mg/kg (36 micrograms/ml in 20 ml). The drug concentration in small (1-5 mm) intra-peritoneal tumors was also comparable for both these treatments, and for normothermic perfusion., Conclusion: Mild hyperthermic perfusion with cisplatin (40 degrees C/90 minutes) did not improve drug uptake in small intra-peritoneal tumors, relative to normothermic perfusion or i.p. bolus injection.

Topotecan- or mitoxantrone-selected cell lines (T8 and MX3, respectively), derived from the human IGROV1 ovarian cancer cell line, were resistant to the topoisomerase I inhibitors topotecan, SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan), and 9-aminocamptothecin, as well as to the topoisomerase II drug mitoxantrone. In both resistant cell lines, decreased accumulation of topotecan and mitoxantrone was observed, caused by enhanced energy-dependent efflux of the drugs involved. In both cell lines, we found that the breast cancer resistance protein/mitoxantrone resistance/placenta-specific ATP binding cassette (BCRP/MXR/ABCP) gene was overexpressed. Furthermore, BCRP/MXR/ABCP expression levels in various partially revertant T8 cells correlated with the levels of resistance to topotecan, SN-38, and mitoxantrone, strongly suggesting BCRP/MXR/ABCP to be the transporter responsible for the enhanced efflux. Pharmacodynamic analysis demonstrated that BCRP/MXR/ABCP is a very efficient transporter of topotecan; in vitro, 70% of the intracellular topotecan pool was transported out of the T8 or MX3 cells within 30 s. In conclusion, we report for the first time that BCRP/MXR/ABCP can also be up-regulated upon exposure of tumor cells to the clinically important drug topotecan, and that BCRP-mediated efflux of topotecan is very efficient. This highly efficient efflux of topotecan by BCRP/MXR/ABCP may have clinical relevance for patients being treated with topotecan.

We have designed and used an in vitro bone marrow cell culturing system for investigating pharmacodynamic interactions between platinum anti-cancer drugs and taxanes. With this system, in which the bone marrow progenitor cell CFU-GM is proliferating and differentiating into granulocytes and monocytes, we could show a strong antagonistic cytotoxicity of the combination carboplatin and Taxotere, in three different schedules, and of the combination cisplatin and Taxol, in two out of the three schedules tested. Modulation of intracellular platinum drug accumulation in granulocytes and monocytes does not seem to be a plausible explanation for the observed antagonism. In vitro co-incubation of granulocytes/monocytes with the combination carboplatin and Taxotere did not reveal an effect of Taxotere on intracellular platinum accumulation. Although Taxol reduced intracellular cisplatin levels by 12%, this effect was not significantly different from the co-incubation of cisplatin with Cremophor EL, the solvent for paclitaxel in Taxol. The toxicity data obtained in this study seem to be in accordance with recent clinical trials where combination therapies with platinum drugs and taxanes resulted in marked reductions in myelosuppression in patients. Therefore, these types of assays could be useful as to the assessment of bone marrow toxicities of clinically important drug combinations.

DNA adduct analysis is often used for biomonitoring individuals exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The 32P-postlabeling assay is routinely applied to study the formation of aromatic bulky adducts, but cannot positively identify individual adduct types. Recently, an HPLC assay with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) was developed which was sufficiently sensitive to detect adducts formed by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) diolepoxide isomers [(+/-)anti- and (+/-)syn-BPDE] in occupationally exposed subjects (Rojas et al. Carcinogenesis, 16 (1995) 1373-1376). In this study, we compared both techniques using DNA samples of rats which were treated i.p. with B[a]P (10 mg/kg bw). The internal dose was assessed by measuring 3-OH-B[a]P excretion in urine. The detection limit of the HPLC-FD assay varied from 0.5 to 7.4 adducts per 10(8) nucleotides, while the detection limit of the 32P-postlabeling assay was around 1 adduct per 10(9) nucleotides. HPLC-FD analysis showed that BPDE-DNA adduct levels were highest in the heart, lung and liver respectively. The most predominant B[a]P-tetrol was the I-1 isomer, which derives from hydrolysis of the major reaction product of DNA and (+)-anti-BPDE. 32P-postlabeling analysis revealed an adduct spot that comigrated with a [3H]BPDE-DNA standard. The putative BPDE-DNA adduct levels were highest in heart followed by lung and liver and correlated significantly with tetrol I-1 levels determined by HPLC-FD (r = 0.72, P = 0.006). In samples in which both tetrol I-1 and II-2 were detected by means of HPLC-FD, this correlation was even better (r = 0.95, P = 0.01). Estimated half-lives of BPDE-DNA adducts were in the ranking order; heart, lung and liver for both techniques. By 32P-postlabeling, adducts other than BPDE-DNA were also found, resulting in highest total DNA adduct levels in the liver, heart and lung respectively. Furthermore, mean 24 h urinary excretion of 3-OH-B[a]P was related to BPDE-DNA adduct levels in lung, liver and heart. The 32P-postlabeling assay is sensitive and capable of detecting exposures to complex mixtures, whereas the HPLC-FD assay can be used to identify BPDE-isomers and might therefore be of value in risk assessment of individuals exposed to PAH.

Binding of the cytostatic drug carboplatin to DNA was studied in solution, in RIF-1 and CHO cell lines and in human buccal cells after in vitro or in situ drug exposure. Results were compared with DNA adduction by cisplatin. The rate of binding in solution, determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, was 35 times lower for carboplatin than for cisplatin. Adduct formation in cells in vitro was determined in a quantitative immunostaining assay. Staining intensities after carboplatin treatment were at least 29 times lower than after an equimolar dose of cisplatin. For RIF-1 and CHO cells, maximum levels of carboplatin-induced DNA modification were obtained 24 h after treatment; these levels correlated with cell killing. Adduct-specific staining in buccal cells from two carboplatin-treated patients increased 5-7 fold between 0 and 14 h after infusion, reaching a maximum at 10-14 h. This strongly contrasts with buccal cells from a cisplatin-treated patient, in which the adduct-specific staining signal increased by only 23% between 0 and 6 h after infusion, and then declined. This difference in the rate of adduct formation in vivo is consistent with the in vitro data.

The relationship between cell killing and the binding of the anticancer drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) to DNA was studied in six mammalian cell lines. Two of the human cell lines (COV413B) were of the same origin, comprising one sensitive to cis-DDP and the other with induced resistance to the drug. The four other lines, two rodent (RIF-1, Chinese hamster ovary) and two human (A2780, A1847), were unrelated. The cell lines differed in their sensitivity to cis-DDP, as tested in a clonogenic assay. cis-DDP-DNA binding was determined by quantitative immunocytochemistry using an antiserum against cis-DDP-modified DNA. The resistance factors relative to RIF-1, calculated from full survival curves for cis-DDP, were 3.8 +/- 0.4 for Chinese hamster ovary cells and 8.8 +/- 0.7 for both A2780 and A1847 lines. Using quantitative immunocytochemistry, the levels of the adduct-specific nuclear staining density compared with RIF-1 cells were 4.8 +/- 0.2 for Chinese hamster ovary cells, 9.1 +/- 0.2 for A2780, and 10.0 +/- 0.1 for A1847 cells, i.e., in good agreement with the resistance factors. In studies with the COV413B cells and their cis-DDP-resistant counterpart COV413B-PtR, immunologically detected adduct levels again correlated closely with resistance factors (correlation coefficient = 0.97). The kinetics of cis-DDP-DNA adduct formation and loss was investigated in RIF-1, A2780, and A1847 cells by the immunocytochemistry technique. Adduct levels after a 1-h incubation with approximately equitoxic doses of cis-DDP increased by 18 to 32% (average, 27%) between 0 and 6.5 h after treatment and then declined. Adduct half-lives in this latter phase did not correlate with the sensitivities of the cells for cis-DDP. These results indicate that the initial level of cis-DDP-DNA binding measured by quantitative immunocytochemistry may be a reasonable predictor of sensitivity to this chemotherapeutic drug.

Rats were pretreated for a number of weeks with the liver tumour promoters phenobarbital and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, the direct alkylating agents N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, and the hepatocarcinogens ethionine and diethylnitrosamine. A subsequent challenge with a single, low dose of radioactively labelled dimethylnitrosamine was given to assay the capacity of the liver for O6-methylguanine repair. Pretreatment with 0.05% phenobarbital in the diet for 8 weeks (a promoting regimen) resulted in significantly enhanced O6-methylguanine repair; shorter pretreatment periods (3 days or 2 weeks) had no significant effect. Repeated injection of another liver tumour promoter, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, also resulted in enhancement of O6-methylguanine repair. Pretreatment for 2 weeks with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea resulted in strongly enhanced O6-methylguanine repair, as did a similar pretreatment with diethylnitrosamine, which was included as a positive control. The same pretreatment scheme which was highly effective in the case of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, was found to be totally ineffective in the case of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. When N-methyl-N-nitrosourea was administered for 8 weeks instead of 2, a small but statistically significant increase in O6-methylguanine repair was observed. It is concluded that two factors are responsible for the low effectivity of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. The first is the relatively low extent of liver DNA methylation by this compound when compared with dimethylnitrosamine. The second is the low efficiency of methylating agents (expressed per extent of DNA alkylation) to induce O6-methylguanine repair in rat liver when compared with ethylating agents. Pretreatment for 2 weeks with a diet containing DL-ethionine also resulted in a substantially increased O6-methylguanine repair capacity. Neither this enhancement, nor that induced by a pretreatment with diethylnitrosamine, could be inhibited by simultaneous feeding of a methionine-enriched diet. Our results indicate that neither increased hepatocellular proliferation nor direct interaction with DNA are necessary for the induction of O6-methylguanine repair enhancement. It is concluded that the capacity of an agent to enhance O6-methylguanine repair in rat liver reflects the hepato(co)carcinogenic capacity of that agent.

Effects of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) on the sedimentation pattern of [3H]thymidine-labelled Sprague-Dawley female rat liver DNA in alkaline sucrose gradients were studied with regard to time and dose dependency. In experiments at 1--56 days after a single injection it was observed that (potential) single strand breaks induced by DEN were repaired at a low rate. At 56 days the sedimentation pattern was still grossly abnormal. Half-life values of 27 and 46 days were observed after 134 mg/kg DEN (approx. 45% of the LD50) and 13.4 mg/kg DEN, respectively. Identical experiments after DMN (10 mg/kg, corresponding to about 35% of the LD50) showed return to (almost) completely control sedimentation patterns within 56 days after injection (t 1/2 = 8 days). Experiments at 6 or 56 days after the last of a series of 5 or 10 weekly injections of DEN (13.4 mg/kg) showed that a major part of DEN-induced damage (measured as single strand breaks) is of a persistent and accumulating character. No accumulation of DMN-induced rat liver lesions was observed. It is concluded that DNA fragmentation and lack of DNA repair is not a consequence of hepatotoxicity. Since at equimolar doses DEN gives appreciably less DNA alkylation (including O6-alkylguanine) but is much more effective both as an inducer of preneoplastic liver lesions and as a hepatocarcinogen when compared with DMN, we believe that the formation of persistent (and accumulating) DNA damage after DEN administration might be relevant in the process of liver tumour formation.

In vivo alkylation of DNA leads to DNA fragmentation in alkaline sucrose gradients. In a previous paper (Chem.-Biol. Interact., 19 (1977) 111) we presented evidence that, depending on the experimental conditions, a major fraction of the single-stranded breaks observed might be derived from alkali-labile alkylphosphotriesters. Using alkaline gradients the present paper shows that injection of ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) into Sprague-Dawley female rats results in significantly increased liver DNA fragmentation up to at least 56 days after injection. Accumulation of single-strand breaks was indicated by experiments in which at 6 days after the last of a series of 5 weekly EMS injections (5 X 110 mg/kg) 11.4 breaks/10(9) Dalton were found, being 3 times more than the number of breaks observed at 6 days after a single injection of 110 mg/kg EMS (3.8 breaks/10(9) Dalton). In animals treated with methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) single-strand breaks were observed at 4 h, 1 day and 2 days, but not at 6 days after injection (40 mg/kg). Repeated weekly injections of MMS (5 X 40 mg/kg) did not result in increased numbers of breaks when compared with animals receiving a single injection of this agent (1 X 40 mg/kg; animals were killed 1 day after (the last) injection). It is suggested that MMS-induced breaks are derived, either on the gradient or in situ, from apurinic sites, whereas persistent EMS-induced breaks reflect the presence of ethylphosphotriesters. The results are discussed in relation to the lacking capacity of EMS to induce foci of precancerous lesions in rat liver and the non-hepatocarcinogenic properties of both MMS and EMS.

The formation and stability of interaction products between the anti-cancer drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) and DNA were studied in buccal epithelial and urinary cells from ten cancer patients who received cis-DDP-based therapy. Buccal cells were collected 1 h before and 1-2 h after i.v. infusions with cis-DDP. The interaction products were visualized in an immunocytochemical peroxidase assay, using an antiserum against cis-DDP-modified calf thymus DNA. The nuclear staining density was measured by microdensitometry. Nuclear staining densities in buccal cells after infusions of greater than or equal to 20 mg/m2 cis-DDP were always higher than pretreatment values. Repeated sampling from individual patients treated for 2-5 consecutive days with daily doses of 20-70 mg/m2 cis-DDP indicated that cis-DDP-DNA binding in buccal cells increased in proportion to the cumulative total dose of cis-DDP. The variation in dose-density response between patients was 17%. Apparent adduct loss in buccal cells from four patients, as measured 8-17 days after the last infusion, amounted to 67-86%. Platinum-induced DNA modifications could also be detected in buccal cells from two cis-diammine(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)platinum(II)-treated patients. In vitro experiments with human buccal cells and lymphocytes indicated linear relationships between DNA modification and either cis-DDP concentration or incubation time. Nuclear staining densities in pretreatment buccal cells from ten cancer patients treated in vitro with 33 microM cis-DDP for 1 h revealed that interpatient variation in in vitro DNA modification by cis-DDP was low. No quantitative correlation was found between in situ and in vitro DNA modification.

Rat-liver DNA alkylation by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) and ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) was studied in an attempt to relate chromosome-damaging effects of these agents (the formation of micronuclei in hepatocytes; see preceding paper) to specific alkylation patterns. No correlation was observed between the induction of micronuclei and liver DNA N-alkylation, measured as 3- and 7-alkyl-purines. O6-Alkylguanine is probably not involved in micronucleus induction because it is lost from DNA too rapidly to explain the much more persistent clastogenic effects. In contrast, both the initial amounts of alkylphosphotriesters and the persistencies of these products roughly paralleled the respective effects on micronucleus induction. The possible involvement of alkylphosphotriesters or other O-alkylation products of comparable stabilities is discussed. Results with DMN suggest that part of the primary DNA methylation damage is converted into a secondary (DNA) lesion and that both the primary and secondary lesion(s) contribute to the process of micronucleus formation.

The in situ binding of the anticancer drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisDDP) to DNA was studied in the rat dorsal root spinal ganglion (DRG), using an antiserum against cisDDP-modified calf thymus DNA in a quantitative immunocytochemical assay. Rats received a dose of cisDDP (1 mg/kg), two times a week, up to a cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg (group I) or 34 mg/kg (group II). Rats of group III were given a single dose of 15 mg/kg. Rats were killed 48 hr (groups I and II) or 6 hr (group III) after the last injection. In groups I and II cisDDP-induced neurological damage was assessed by measuring both motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities (MNCV and SNCV). Whereas the MNCV was not influenced by the treatment with cisDDP, the SNCV decreased significantly. The level of cis-DDP-DNA binding in DRG satellite cells equalled that in liver cells, but binding could not be shown in DRG neuron nuclei. The level of cisDDP-DNA binding in spinal cord and brain was very low. The neuroprotecting peptide ORG.2766, an ACTH4-9 analog, was given sc (10 micrograms/rat) four times a week concomitantly with cisDDP to some rats of groups I and II. ORG.2766 prevented the decrease of the SNCV, but did not change the extent of cisDDP-DNA binding in satellite or liver cells. It is concluded that the amelioration of cisDDP toxicity by ORG.2766 is not directly related to the cisDDP-DNA binding in satellite cells.

Calf thymus DNA was modified in vitro by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisDDP), complexed with methylated bovine serum albumin and used to immunize rabbits. The anti-cisDDP-DNA antiserum obtained was applied in a double peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining procedure to localize cisDDP-DNA and cis-diammine(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)platinum(II) (CBDCA)-DNA interaction products in cryostat tissue sections of mice and rats. Rats received cisDDP (0-10 mg/kg) and were killed after 24 h. Mice received cisDDP (0-15 mg/kg) or CBDCA (200 mg/kg), and were killed after 2 h-162 days. For each time-dose combination two mice or one rat were used; agents were given i.p. Specific nuclear staining was observed in all tissues examined from cisDDP- or CBDCA-treated animals. No significant nuclear staining could be observed in tissue sections from control rats and mice. The extent of staining after cisDDP was dose and time dependent. The lowest dose of cisDDP after which specific nuclear staining could be detected varied from tissue to tissue [e.g., 0.1 mg/kg, pancreas (mouse); 0.5 mg/kg, liver, kidney (mouse, rat)]. The longest time interval after a single dose of 6 mg/kg cisDDP in which adducts could be visualized also depended on the tissue and varied between 9 days (spleen, testis) and 162 days (kidney). The staining intensity in liver and kidney, measured microdensitometrically, decreased relatively fast in the first days after treatment, but much slower thereafter. In the kidney, cisDDP-induced DNA modification showed regional variation: inner cortex greater than outer cortex greater than medulla (rat) and cortex greater than medulla (mouse). In the mouse kidney, a small subpopulation of tubular cells in close association with the renal corpuscles showed a remarkably high staining intensity after both cisDDP and CBDCA administration. Tissues that showed clear cisDDP-induced histological alterations (kidney, pancreas, testis, and duodenum) also showed moderate to high levels of cisDDP-DNA interaction products. A correlation between cell damage (measured histologically) and cisDDP-DNA binding within one tissue type was demonstrated in the rat inner renal cortex, the murine renal cortex, and in duodenal epithelial cells of both mice and rats.