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Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major complication of luminal breast cancer and studies of the biological features of hormonal resistance are limited by the lack of adequate preclinical models. The aim of this study is to establish and characterize a panel of primary human luminal breast carcinoma xenografts, and to evaluate their response to endocrine therapies. Four hundred and twenty-three tumor fragments obtained directly from patients have been grafted in the interscapular fatpad of Swiss nude mice. After stable engraftment with estradiol supplementation, xenografted tumors have been validated by conventional pathology and immunohistochemistry examination, and additional molecular studies. In vivo tumor growth and response to different endocrine treatments were evaluated. We have engrafted 423 tumors including 314 ER+ tumors, and 8 new luminal breast cancer xenografts have been obtained (2.5%). Tumor take was much lower for luminal tumors than for non-luminal tumors (2.5 vs. 24.7%, P < 0.0001), and was associated with two independent criteria, i.e., ER status (P < 0.0001) and a high grade tumor (P = 0.05). Histological and immunohistochemical analyses performed on patient’s tumors and xenografts showed striking similarities in the tumor morphology as well as in the expression level of ER, PR, and HER2. Response to hormone therapy, evaluated in 6 luminal models, showed different sensitivities, thus exhibiting heterogeneity similar to what is observed in the clinic. We have established a panel of primary human luminal breast cancer xenografts, recapitulating the biological and clinical behaviors of patient tumors, and therefore suitable for further preclinical experiments.

Germline BRCA2 mutations in female carriers confer a cumulative breast cancer risk at age 70 years of 49% (95% CI: 40–57%), an ovarian cancer risk of 18% (95% CI: 13–23%), and a moderate increased risk of pancreatic cancer (Chen and Parmigiani, 2007). Although the available evidence is not sufficient to decisively conclude that the clinical outcome of women with BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer differs significantly from those of women with sporadic tumours, BRCA1-associated breast cancer often manifests adverse outcome features. Establishment of pre-clinical models, which accurately reflect the genetic and phenotypic features of primary tumours, and their response to treatment, is an important step in identifying novel therapeutic targets and testing new treatment modalities. New strategies may take advantage of the specific DNA repair defects inherent in BRCA-deficient cells, such as the defect in homologous recombination. In fact, most of the insights into the functions of the BRCA2 protein have included key insights from studies of mice by the use of gene targeting and from studies of altered mouse embryonic cells (Evers and Jonkers, 2006). BRCA2 has a key role in DNA double-strand break repair and cell-cycle control. BRCA2-related defects are associated with chromosomal abnormalities, a hallmark of the genomic instability that could foster tumourigenesis. Moreover, BRCA2 participates in the regulation of mitosis and cytokinesis that contribute to numerical chromosomal stability. Although conventional, non-conditional, mouse mutants might be used to model familial forms of cancer, they do not mimic sporadic tumourigenesis because the initiating mutation is present in all cells of the body, including those that constitute the tumour microenvironment. Moreover, embryonic lethality and development of non-epithelial tumours are another important limitation of genetically mutated Brca2 mice. Some murine Brca2 mutant mammary tumour models develop mammary tumours with histopathological features that are significantly different to their human counterparts. Although some studies report a strikingly similar histopathology in BRCA1 null breast tumours from mice and humans (Dennis, 1999; Xu et al, 1999), their relevance to the human situation remains to be demonstrated. The most used human BRCA2-mutated model is the CAPAN1 pancreatic cell line that is mainly used to understand drug resistance in BRCA1/2 mutation carrier, as well as in defining functionally important domains within BRCA2 (Edwards et al, 2008). To date, only one BRCA2-mutated breast cancer xenografts (MX1) is available, (Donawho et al, 2007) but its characterisation has not been described in detail. Genetic testing to identify BRCA1/2 mutations is widely available and commonly employed. As a result, increasing numbers of women are aware that they are mutation carriers at the time of their cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, current knowledge is not sufficient to mandate specific local or systemic treatments that are tailored to BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. In fact, the available studies examining the issue of whether BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer should be treated differently from sporadically occurring, non-familial disease are almost exclusively retrospective and limited by small size and various ascertainment biases. Recently, inhibitors of the DNA repair proteins, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 and 2 (PARP1/2), have been shown to be selectively cytotoxic to tumour cells with BRCA1 or BRCA2 deficiency. Preclinical data, including that generated with a limited array of tumour cell line xenografts, suggest that PARP inhibitors can act as single agents to selectively kill cancers with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, and phase I clinical trial results confirm that PARP inhibitors have some single-agent activity in cancers with BRCA1/2 mutations (Fong et al, 2009). However, little is known about the long-term effects of these drugs and it seems likely that some tumours may have de novo resistance or acquired resistance (Ashworth, 2008). Thus, definitive answers remain elusive, and preclinical evaluation of new targeted therapy is limited by the lack of suitable preclinical models (Robson, 2007a). Here, we report the establishment and characterisation of a novel xenograft, human breast cancer xenograft (HBCx-17) established from a breast cancer in a woman carrying a BRCA2 germline mutation. We show that this xenograft accurately reflects the genetic and the phenotypic features of the primary tumour, thus providing a new model to test new therapies for BRCA2-mutated patients.

CD44 is a marker of tumour-initiating cells and is upregulated in invasive breast carcinoma; however, its role in the cancer progression is unknown. Here, we show that antibody-mediated CD44-targeting in human breast cancer xenografts (HBCx) significantly reduces tumour growth and that this effect is associated to induction of growth-inhibiting factors. Moreover, treatment with this antibody prevents tumour relapse after chemotherapy-induced remission in a basal-like HBCx.

Resume Le cancer de la prostate est en frequence le deuxieme cancer chez l’homme. Souvent, initialement hormono-dependant, la perte de reponse aux traitements anti-androgeniques survient au cours de la progression tumorale, traduisant l’emergence d’un phenotype hormono-independant. Afin d’etudier les bases morphologiques, genetiques et moleculaires associees a la perte d’hormono-dependance, nous avons etabli un modele de xenogreffe d’adenocarcinome prostatique humain, PAC120, avec ses deux variants : hormono-dependant (HD) et hormono-independant (HID). La croissance de PAC120 HD peut etre inhibee par castration chirurgicale ou par administration d’un antagoniste de la LHRH, le FE200486 (Ferring, San Diego, CA). L’evolution vers l’hormono-independance est associee a une differenciation mucoide ou neuroendocrine, a la survenue d’alterations chromosomiques supplementaires et a des variations d’expression de genes. PAC120 est un nouveau modele de cancer de prostate qui offre l’opportunite d’etudier les mecanismes d’echappement hormonal et d’evaluer l’efficacite de nouveaux agents therapeutiques.

ZD1839 (‘Iressa’) is an orally active, selective epidermal growth factor receptor–tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR–TKI), which blocks signal transduction pathways implicated in proliferation and survival of cancer cells, and other host-dependent processes promoting cancer growth. Permanent downstream activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway can theoretically bypass the upstream block of epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase activation at the epidermal growth factor receptor level. We investigated the impact of epidermal growth factor receptor content, p53 status and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling status on ZD1839 sensitivity in a panel of human tumour cell lines: seven head and neck cancer cell lines and two colon cancer cell lines (LoVo, HT29) with derivatives differing only by a specific modification in p53 status (LoVo p53 wt + p53 mut cells, HT29 p53 mut + p53 wt rescued cells). The antiproliferative activity of ZD1839 was evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide test. ZD1839 concentrations ranged from 0.2–200 μM (48 h exposure). Epidermal growth factor receptor expression, p53 status and p42/p44 (for testing a constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway status) were determined by competition analysis (Scatchard plots), denaturing gradient cell electrophoresis and Western blot, respectively. Epidermal growth factor receptor levels ranged from 388 to 33794 fmol mg−1 protein, a range that is similar to that found in head and neck tumours. The IC50 values for cell sensitivity to ZD1839 ranged from 6 to 31 μM and a significant inverse correlation (P=0.022, r=0.82) between IC50 values and epidermal growth factor receptor levels was observed. There was no influence of p53 status on the sensitivity to ZD1839. In two head and neck cancer cell lines with comparably elevated epidermal growth factor receptor expression, a two-fold higher ZD1839 IC50 value was found for the one with a constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase. In conclusion, ZD1839 was active against cells with a range of epidermal growth factor receptor levels, although more so in cells with higher epidermal growth factor receptor expression. Activity was unaffected by p53 status, but was reduced in cells strongly dependent on epidermal growth factor receptor signalling in the presence of an intrinsically activated mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. British Journal of Cancer (2002) 86, 1518–1523. DOI: 10.1038/sj/bjc/6600299 www.bjcancer.com © 2002 Cancer Research UK

Biological parameters influencing the response of human colorectal cancers (CRCs) to CPT-11, a topoisomerase 1 (top1) inhibitor, were investigated using a panel of nine CRCs xenografted into nude mice. CRC xenografts differed in their p53 status (wt or mut) and in their microsatellite instability phenotype (MSI+when altered). Five CRC xenografts were established from clinical samples. All five had a functional p53, two were MSI+and three were MSI–. Tumour-bearing nude mice were treated intraperitonealy (i.p.) with CPT-11. At 10 mg kg–1of CPT-11, four injections at 4-day intervals, four of the five xenografts responded to CPT-11 (growth delay of up to 10 days); the non-responder tumour was MSI−. At 40 mg kg−1of CPT-11, six injections at 4-day intervals, the five CRCs displayed variable but marked responses with complete regressions. In order to assess the role of p53 status in CPT-11 response, four CRC lines were used. HT29 cell line was MSI−/ Ala273-mutp53, its subclone HT29A3 being transfected by wtp53. LoVo cell line was MSI+/ wtp53, its subclone X17LoVo dominantly expressed Ala273-mutp53 after transfection. LoVo tumours (MSI+/ mutp53) were more sensitive than X17LoVo (MSI+/ mutp53. HT 29 tumours (MSI−Imutp53), were refractory to CPT-11 while HT29A3 tumours (MSI−/ wtp53) were sensitive, showing that wtp53 improves the drug-response in these MSI−tumours. Levels of mRNA expression of top1, fasR, TP53 and mdr1 were semi-quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. None of these parameters correlated with CPT-11 response. Taken together, these observations indicate that MSI and p53 alterations could be associated with different CPT-11 sensitivities; MSI phenotype moderately influences the CPT-11 sensitivity, MSI+being more sensitive than MSI−CRC freshly obtained from patients, mutp53 status being associated with a poor response to CPT-11. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

It is generally accepted that primary tumors become heterogeneous as a consequence of tumor-cell genetic instability. Clonal dominance has been shown to occur in some experimental models allowing a subpopulation of cells to overgrow the primary heterogeneous tumor and to metastasize. Alternatively, interactions among coexisting tumor subpopulations may contribute to the emergence of a malignant invasive primary solid tumor. We asked the question whether emergence of carcinoma cells producing a growth/dissociating factor within a tumor cell population may be a determinant for tumor progression and for clonal dominance. To mimic such a situation, we have investigated the impact of tumor subpopulation heterogeneity in an in vivo model in which mixtures of carcinoma cells that differ in their ability to produce acidic fibroblast growth factor are injected into nude mice. Our data indicate that a growth-factor-producing cell subpopulation can confer increased tumorigenicity to an entire cell population and subsequently elicit a shorter delay for appearance of metastasis. A community effect via cell interactions may account for a heterogeneous tumor cell population rather than clonal dominance during progression of certain tumor types.

High aerobic glycolysis is frequent in cancers. Glucose phosphorylation is under control of hexokinase which is found in the cytosol or bound to mitochondria. Glycolysis parameters (glucose, pyruvate and lactate) and hexokinase were evaluated in extracts of 15 human gliomas and of normal brain tissue. Extracts were run and analysed for glucose lactate and pyruvate content using a centrifugal automatic analyzer, Mitochondria fractions were separated from total extracts and hexokinase enzymatic activities were measured in both, using an original micro-method. Conditions of hexokinase assay were standardized in terms of substrate concentration and linearity. Mean hexokinase activity in gliomas was variable, 3 times lower than in normal tissues and mainly bound to mitochondria, although lactate/pyruvate ratios were found to be 3.5 to 5.4 times higher. Glycolytic profile of tumor tissues can be rapidly assayed and evalated glycolysis in tumors could constitute a basis for therapy using antiglycolytic strategies.

Small-cell lung carcinomas (SCLC) are highly responsive to various chemotherapies. However only a minority of patients benefit from long survival. SCLC patients treated at the Institut Gustave Roussy received a combined chemotherapy (CCAV) including cisplatin, cyclophosphamide (Cpa), Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adm) and vepeside (VP16). We report here the intrinsic sensitivity of a small-cell lung carcinoma, designated SCLC-6, grafted in nude mice. This xenografted tumour was derived from an untreated patient. The CCAV regimen given to the patient donor of the tumour sample resulted in a complete response followed by recurrence and death, 8 months after the initial cure. The expression of P-glycoprotein encoded by the MDR1 gene was detected with the C219 antibody on the membrane of SCLC-6 tumour cells. When given to SCLC-6-tumour-bearing nude mice, CCAV induced a strong inhibition of tumour growth (84% of growth inhibition, 20 days after start of the treatment), but no cure. Intensification of CCAV doses did not improve the response. The efficacy of individual agents of the CCAV, given at maximal tolerated doses was analysed. Only cisplatin (10 mg/kg) and Cpa (3 x 50 mg/kg) inhibited SCLC-6 growth (79% and 100% inhibition respectively), VP16 (3 x 24 mg/kg) was poorly efficient (42%) and Adm (10 mg/kg) not at all. Two-drug combinations such as cisplatin plus VP16 or cisplatin plus Cpa inhibited tumour growth (81% and 70%, respectively). Curiously, the efficacy of Cpa, given in combination with cisplatin was less than that of Cpa alone. Repeated treatments with CCAV administered to mice at each in vivo passage of the tumour induced a loss of chemosensitivity, which was observed until the ninth passage. An improvement of the therapeutic response was obtained by adding a headline reverser of multi-drug resistance, verapamil (25 mg/kg), to CCAV (81% versus 63% inhibition). MDR1-related resistance appeared to play a role in the failure of SCLC-6 chemotherapy; frequent recurrences after treatment with cisplatin and Cpa, two drugs that are not recognized by the P-glycoprotein, indicated that other modes of resistance were simultaneously active.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) resistance to fluoropyrimidines and other inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS) is a serious clinical problem often associated with increased intracellular levels of TS. Since the tumour suppressor gene p53, which is mutated in 50% of CRC, regulates the expression of several genes, it may modulate TS activity, and changes in the status of p53 might be responsible for chemoresistance. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate TS levels and sensitivity to TS inhibitors in wild-type (wt) and mutant (mt) p53 CRC cells, Lovo and WiDr, respectively, transfected with mt and wt p53. Lovo 175X2 cells (transfected with mt p53) were more resistant to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 2-fold), nolatrexed (3-fold), raltitrexed (3-fold) and pemetrexed (10-fold) in comparison with the wt p53 parental cells Lovo 92. Resistance was associated with an increase in TS protein expression and catalytic activity, which might be caused by the loss of the inhibitory effect on the activity of TS promoter or by the lack of TS mRNA degradation, as suggested by the reversal of TS expression to the levels of Lovo 92 cells by adding actinomycin. In contrast, Lovo li cells, characterized by functionally inactive p53, were 3-13-fold more sensitive to nolatrexed, raltitrexed and pemetrexed, and had a lower TS mRNA, protein expression and catalytic activity than Lovo 92. However, MDM-2 expression was significantly higher in Lovo li, while no significant differences were observed in Lovo 175X2 cells with respect to Lovo 92. Finally, mt p53 WiDr transfected with wt p53 were not significantly different from mt p53 WiDr cells with respect to sensitivity to TS inhibitors or TS levels. Altogether, these results indicate that changes in the status of p53, can differently alter sensitivity to TS inhibitors by affecting TS levels, depending on activity or cell line, and might explain the lack of clear correlation between mutations in p53 and clinical outcome after chemotherapy with TS inhibitors.

Androgen deprivation therapy has been used for decades in the treatment of prostate cancer (Huggins, 1967). However, although this treatment is initially very effective in these hormone-dependent cancers, they invariably become hormone-refractory and metastasise, leading to the death of patients. Recently, Feldman and Feldman (2001) reviewed possible mechanisms by which prostate cancer can escape androgen deprivation therapy. While the androgen receptor (AR) is activated by testosterone-induced phosphorylation in hormone-dependent prostate tumours, hormone-independent growth might be due to the activation of AR via a phosphorylation event induced by other growth factor receptors, such as HER1 (EGFR) and HER2 (Her2/neu) (Kwong and Hung, 1998; Yeh et al, 1999). In addition, several recent studies have linked the IGF-1 receptor pathway to the stimulation of the androgen-signalling pathway in hormone-refractory prostate cancer (Culig et al, 1994; Bubendorf et al, 1999). Hormone-independent growth of prostate tumours has also been associated with biological changes such as mucinous and neuroendocrine differentiation. Neuroendocrine differentiation has been observed in prostate cancer and has been correlated with tumoural aggressiveness, short survival and poor response to endocrine therapy (McWilliam et al, 1997), and was considered to be an early marker of progression toward hormone independence (Cohen et al, 1991; Di sant’Agnese and Cockett, 1996; Noordzij et al, 1996). Although true mucinous or colloid prostatic adenocarcinoma, with extensive mucin production, remains a rare entity (Epstein and Lieberman, 1985; Nagakura et al, 1986), production of neutral mucin as assessed by immunohistochemistry is found in up to 55% of prostate carcinomas (Sentinelli, 1993). A total of 19 different mucin genes (MUC1–MUC4, MUC5B, MUC5AC, MUC6–MUC18) have been identified to date and divided into two groups: those coding for membranous mucins such as MUC1, MUC3 and MUC4, and those coding for secreted mucins such as MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6. Secreted mucins are glycoproteins constituting the major macromolecular component of mucus, while membrane-associated mucins contribute to epithelial cell–cell interactions. Their pattern of expression, especially for the secreted mucins, appears to be relatively tissue-specific. However, the distribution and type of mucin produced by normal prostatic tissue and prostatic carcinomas are not well documented (Daher et al, 1990), though focal mucin production in conventional prostatic adenocarcinomas has been recognised for many years (Pinder and McMahon, 1990). Mucin expression has also been observed in a few cases of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) (Sentinelli, 1993).

In order to develop preclinical models of malignant astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, a series of 54 resected gliomas (37 from oligodendroglial lineage and 17 from astrocytic lineage) were xenografted subcutaneously into nude mice. Molecular alterations commonly observed in gliomas subtypes, including LOH 1p and 1q, LOH 19q, LOH 10p and 10q, LOH 9p, TP53 and PTEN mutations, EGFR amplification, CDKN2A homozygous deletion and telomerase reactivation were systematically screened in the original and xenografted tumours. In all, 23 gliomas grew in nude mice. The most anaplastic tumours were selected as shown by pathological and molecular studies of the original tumour as well as shorter survival in patients whose tumours were successfully grafted. Comparison between the two growth profiles showed that 10q LOH and EGFR amplification gave a tumorigenic advantage. With a few exceptions, the genetic pattern was remarkably stable before and after growth in nude mice. These results suggest that subcutaneous xenografts are useful and reproducible models to analyse the molecular profile of malignant astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma. This represents the first step to improve our understanding of the correlations between molecular alterations and response to standard or experimental therapies.

The metastasis dissemination is a process which leads to a primary tumor cells to migrate, infiltrate host tissues and form a secondary tumor focus at distance. This clinic evolution is a consequence of the cancer natural history and is due to the appearance of new potentialities in tumoral cells, providing to a small quantity of them an invasive and metastatic capability. This dissemination is possible by many factors; among them the lack of cohesion in tumor tissue cells, forming new blood vessels, resistance to anoikis and posterior implantation of tumoral cells in a heterotypic site. The change of cohesion in cell systems, synthesis of proteolytic enzymes, cell motility, modification of signals induced by growth factors, or the substratum for environment adhesion, and lack immune recognition by the immunologic system, are the main contributors to the appearance of metastasis. A permissive ecosystem is necessary to implant tumoral cells in target organs such as: liver, lung and bone marrow. This special environment, which is more favorable to metastasis, supplies an stroma, adhesive systems, growth factors and neo-vascularization. It is important to point out that the development of a metastasis is preceded by some genetic changes which make possible the adaptation of malign cells to a new microenvironment.

Metastasis is defined by the capacity of tumoral cells to leave the primary tumor, migrate and become implanted in a distant organ, then to proliferate, thus forming new tumoral sites. Metastatic dissemination is related to the local invasiveness of the tumoral cells in tissues. This invasiveness is characterized by the property of these cells to penetrate and migrate into the normal tissues surrounding the seeded site. Metastasis characterizes malignant tumors [28], although certain normal cells exhibit the same capacity to leave their tissue of origin. Such cell migration phenomena are observed, for example, in the embryo during the migration of cells to the thymus and, in adults, during the course of an immunizing reaction with the migration and proliferation of lymphocytes and monocytes in lymph nodes. However, the latter types of physiological or pathophysiological events, which culminate in the proliferation of normal cells in particular sites, obey strict signals to stop proliferation. In most cases, these signals involve the differentiation or the apoptosis of the cells in question. Tumoral cells escape these controls and proliferate in the affected organs, forming often multiple secondary sites of development.

Variants from the HCT-8 colon-cancer cell line were implanted s.c. and orthotopically into nude mice. Well-differentiated HCT-8/E11 and HCT-8/E41 cells have a functional E-cadherin-catenin complex and are non-invasive into pre-cultured chick heart fragments in vitro, whereas poorly differentiated HCT-8/E11R1 cells are deficient in alpha-catenin protein and invasive in heart fragments. We investigated whether these differences were maintained in vivo. In contrast with in vitro observations, in vivo the 3 HCT-8 variants behaved very similarly and all formed undifferentiated tumors. The in vivo invasive behavior of HCT-8 cells was site-dependently modulated: HCT-8 cells invaded when injected into the cecum but not when injected s.c. Metastases to the liver or lungs were not observed. The composition and expression of the E-cadherin-catenin complex in nude mouse HCT-8 tumors was the same as in HCT-8 cells in culture on solid substrate. We conclude that the in vivo invasive behavior of HCT-8 cells is not determined by whether alpha-catenin is expressed or not but by as yet unidentified host factors.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) have been identified in various peripheral tissues as well as in glial cells in the brain. This review describes the tissue and subcellular distribution of the PBR in mammalian tissues and analyzes its many putative endogenous ligands. It deals with the pharmacological, structural and molecular characterization of the PBR, the proteins associated with the receptor (VDAC, ANC, PRAX-1) and their roles in cell growth and differentiation, cancer, steroid biosynthesis, and other physiological roles.

Combined modalities are currently used for cancer therapy, although their mechanisms of activity remain incompletely deciphered. The design of new drug combinations suffers from our inability to anticipate accurately their efficacy or toxicity. They can be evaluated in vivo, using human tumors grafted into immunodeficient mice, as we did here with combined protocols used in the clinical setting. Xenografts of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) from eight patients were used to test the tumor sensitivity to etoposide (VP16; 12-16 mg/kg/days, days 1, 2, and 3), cisplatin (CDDP; 6-9 mg/kg/day, day 1) and ifosfamide (IFO; 90-210 mg/kg/day, days 1, 2, and 3) as single agents and to evaluate the efficacy of the two-drug or three-drug combinations. Five xenografts came from untreated patients (SCLC-61, SCLC-6, SCLC-10, SCLC-41, and SCLC-96) and three after treatment (SCLC-74, SCLC-101, and SCLC-108). p53 was inactivated in all of them. Tumor growth inhibition, growth delay, and the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice reflected individual SCLC chemosensitivity. As single agents, IFO inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner, whereas CDDP and VP16 had little or no effect. Both CDDP and IFO potentiated VP16, inducing complete regressions in the most sensitive SCLCs; VP16-IFO was more effective than VP16-CDDP, with complete regressions in six versus three of the eight tumors tested, respectively. CDDP-IFO was less effective than VP16-IFO, with three of eight SCLCs giving complete regressions. The three-drug combination led to modest improvement over the best two-drug combination but only for sensitive SCLCs. Because drug-responses distinguished two classes of SCLCs, as sensitive or refractory, MDR1, glutathione S-transferase pi, lung-related multidrug resistance protein, multidrug resistance protein, and topoisomerase IIalpha mRNA expression was studied by semiquantitative reverse transcription. There was no correlation with SCLC sensitivity; topoisomerase IIalpha and multidrug resistance protein was expressed in all cases, lung-related multidrug resistance protein and glutathione S-transferase pie in seven of eight, and MDR1 gene in four of eight. In conclusion, these SCLC xenografts displayed a pattern of chemotherapy response close to that observed in patients. This model confirmed that in two-drug combinations, each component potentiated the effects of the other, with VP16-IFO tending to be the best two-drug combination, both of which were more effective than VP16-CDDP and better tolerated than CDDP-IFO. The addition of a third agent gave a modest, if any, therapeutic benefit in the responders but none in refractory SCLCs. There was no correlation between the extent of response and resistance markers.

Response to 5-FU of 5 different human colon cancers (hCC) with a DNA microsatellite instability (MSI), xenografted into nude mice, was analysed according to their p53 status. Two hCC (TC82 and TC71) had a mutated p53 (mutp53), while two others (TC33 and LoVo) had a wild type p53 (wtp53); the fifth tumour (X17LoVo) originated from the stable transfection of LoVo cells with a dominant mutp53 (273his) vector. All tumours were implanted onto the caecum of nude mice to induce orthotopic growth of hCC. 5-FU was administered at 40 mg/kg per day for 5 consecutive days. A significant growth inhibition of TC82 and TC71 tumours (of 68 and 60%, p0.05 and0.01 respectively) was observed, whereas 5-FU had no effect on TC33 and LoVo. Moreover, the mutp53 transfected tumour, X17LoVo, displayed significant sensitivity to 5-FU (p0.05). This suggests that distinct genetic alterations influence differently the response of hCC to this antimetabolite.

Efficacy of chemotherapy is limited in numerous tumors by specific cellular mechanisms that inactivate cytotoxic antitumoral drugs, such as ATP-dependent drug efflux and/or drug detoxification by glutathione. In reducing ATP pools and/or glutathione synthesis, it might be possible to enhance the efficacy of drugs affected by such resistance mechanisms. Reduction of the ATP pool and glutathione content is achievable in cancer cells by depleting the exogenous methionine (Met) supply and ethionine. Thus, the rationale for the present study was to use Met depletion to decrease the ATP and glutathione pools so as to sensitize tumors refractory to cytotoxic anticancer drugs. Met depletion was achieved by feeding mice a methionine-free diet supplemented with homocysteine. The effects of Met depletion combined with ethionine and/or chemotherapeutic agents were studied using human solid cancers xenografted into nude mice. TC71-MA (a colon cancer) SCLC6 (a small cell lung cancer), and SNB19 (a glioma) were found to be refractory to cisplatin, doxorubicin, and carmustine, respectively. These three drugs are used to treat such tumors and are dependent for their activity on the lack of cellular ATP- or glutathione-dependent mechanisms of resistance. TC71-MA, SCLC6, and SNB19 were Met dependent because their proliferation in vitro and growth in vivo were reduced by Met depletion. Cisplatin was inactive in the treatment of TC71-MA colon cancer, whereas a methionine-free diet, alone or in combination with ethionine, prolonged the survival of mice by 2-fold and 2.8-fold, respectively. When all three approaches were combined, survival was prolonged by 3.3-fold. Doxorubicin did not affect the growth of SCLC6, a MDR1-MRP-expressing tumor. A Met-deprived diet and ethionine slightly decreased SCLC6 growth and, in combination with doxorubicin, an inhibition of 51% was obtained, with survival prolonged by 1.7-fold. Combined treatment produced greater tumor growth inhibition (74%) in SCLC6-Dox, a SCLC6 tumor pretreated with doxorubicin. Growth of SNB19 glioma was not inhibited by carmustine, but when it was combined with Met depletion, survival duration was prolonged by 2-fold, with a growth inhibition of 80%. These results indicate the potential of Met depletion to enhance the antitumoral effects of chemotherapeutic agents on drug-refractory tumors.

The antitumour activity of vinflunine, 20',20'-dichloro-3',4'-dihydrovinorelbine, a fluorinated Vinca alkaloid obtained by reaction in superacid media, was evaluated in comparison with vinorelbine against a series of subcutaneously-implanted human tumour xenografts. The tumours studied were established from bladder (BXF1299), pancreas (PAXF546), kidney (RXF944LX), colon (DLD-1, HT-29, TC37), central nervous system (SF-295), small cell lung (NCI-H69) and prostate (PC-3). Vinflunine or vinorelbine was administered as four weekly intraperitoneal treatments, within dose ranges of 5-80 or 0.63-10 mg/kg/injection, respectively. The overall antitumour activity of vinflunine was superior to that of vinorelbine. Vinflunine showed high activity against RXF944LX and NCI-H69 xenografts and moderate activity against PAXF546, PC-3 and TC37 tumours, achieving an overall response of 64%. This contrasts with a 27% response with vinorelbine, which proved only moderately active against RXF944LX and TC37 xenografts. These results confirm and extend our previous report of the broad spectrum of in vivo antitumour activity of vinflunine and reinforce its potential as a valuable addition to current chemotherapeutic agents.

A better understanding of the nature and treatment of colon cancer, and of by metastatic dissemination should be achieved by the use and study of appropriate animal models. Such models can be created by grafting human cancer cells or tumour fragments orthotopically into the colon or caecum of nude mice. This review examines the rationale behind these models and the principal results of orthotopic transplantation. Despite the fact that they require surgical expertise and are time-consuming, they provide valuable information on the mechanism of metastasis and the efficacy of novel treatments.

The ability of cancer cells to metastasize might depend on their reduced dependency on the originating tissue. To test this hypothesis, 10 human colorectal carcinomas (CRC) were implanted either onto nude mouse caecum wall (orthotopic site), or into the subcutaneous tissue (ectopic site), and their growth in these sites compared. Prognostic factors were studied: Astler-Coller modified Dukes's stage, loss of chromosome 17p and/or 18q, and their TP53 gene. Early stage CRC [B2 (n = 3) and C1 (n = 1)] were found to grow 1.7 to 3.6 times (p0.05, p0.008 respectively) more rapidly in the caecum than in subcutaneous tissue. Metastatic stage CRC [C1 (n = 1), C2 (n = 2) or D (n = 3)] grew similarly in both sites, and more slowly than those of the first group. No relationship was found between growth rates, TP53 mutations or karyotypes. Growth rate of non metastatic cancers was slowed down by implantation in a foreign tissue whereas growth of metastatic tumours was similar in both sites, indicating that they do not recognize or need tissue growth factors.

Human bladder carcinomas often express high levels of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. In three human bladder carcinoma cell lines (OBR, T24, and 647V), we show that two EGF receptor ligands, namely EGF and transforming growth factor alpha, enhanced the apoptosis due to serum starvation on cells cultured as monolayers. Conversely, EGF and transforming growth factor alpha prevented apoptosis when the same serum-starved cells were cultured as three-dimensional spheroids. Both stimulation and inhibition of apoptosis by EGF were associated with p21 WAF1/CIP1 overexpression. In 647V spheroids, EGF protection against radiation-induced apoptosis was negated by genistein and tyrphostin AG1478, suggesting that blockade of the EGF signal transduction in patients with bladder cancer may improve the radiotherapy efficacy.

It is feasible to graft human colon cancer tissue into immuno-deficient nude mice, in order to maintain these tumors in vivo. Analysis of the properties tumors under such conditions might increase our knowledge of their biological characteristics. Xenografts are usually implanted into subcutaneous tissue, a site easily accessible for both graft procedure and observation of tumor growth. However these subcutaneous tumors are usually non-invasive and fail to metastasize. To override these limitations we, as others, have tried to improve the tumor xenograft model by transplanting tumors into their original location, designated as the orthotopic site. Transplanted into the cecum of nude mice, human colon cancers were frequently locally invasive and developed liver metastases. These transplantations may be done by injection of colon cancer cell suspensions into the cecal wall. Alternatively, orthotopic implantations of histologically intact tissue were performed and the thus-obtained tumors were more metastatic than tumors obtained after tumor cell injections. The chemosensibility of tumors xenografted into their orthotopic site was different from that of their subcutaneously implanted counterpart. This, added to the enhancement of invasive and metastatic properties, leads us to conclude that colon cancer xenografted into the caecum might be more representative of the clinical situation. We have reviewed the literature and report on the possibilities and limitations different models of colon cancer in vivo.

Cells often acquire resistance to the antiproliferative agents methotrexate (MTX) or N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate (PALA) through amplification of genes encoding the target enzymes dihydrofolate reductase or carbamylphosphate synthetase/aspartate transcarbamylase/dihydroorotase (CAD), respectively. We showed previously that Syrian hamster BHK cells resistant to selective concentrations of PALA (approximately 3 x ID50) arise at a rate of approximately 10(-4) per cell per generation and contain amplifications of the CAD gene as ladder-like structures on one of the two B9 chromosomes, where CAD is normally located. We now find that BHK cells resistant to high concentrations of PALA (approximately 15 x ID50) appear only after prior exposure to selective concentrations of PALA for approximately 72 h. Furthermore, in contrast to untreated cells, BHK cells pretreated with selective concentrations of MTX give colonies in high concentrations of PALA, and cells pretreated with selective concentrations of PALA give colonies in high concentrations of MTX or 5-fluorouracil. As judged by measuring numbers of cells and metaphase cell pairs, BHK cells do not arrest completely when starved for pyrimidine nucleotides by treatment with selective concentrations of PALA for up to 72 h. We propose that DNA damage, caused when cells fail to stop DNA synthesis promptly under conditions of dNTP starvation, stimulates amplification throughout the genome by mechanisms--such as bridge-breakage-fusion cycles--that are triggered by broken DNA. Amplified CAD genes were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization both in cells where amplification was induced by PALA pretreatment and in cells in which the amplification occurred spontaneously, before selection with PALA. The ladder-like structures that result from bridge-breakage-fusion cycles were observed in both cases.

Small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC) are characterised by chemosensitivity to diverse antitumoral compounds. However, responses are transitory and relapses are commonly observed. We examined the ability of verapamil, a reverser of P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-related resistance, to improve the efficacy of CyCAV combined chemotherapy (Cy, cyclophosphamide (CPA); C, cisplatin (CDDP); A, doxorubicin (ADM);V, etoposide (VP16)), as currently administered to SCLC patients at Institut Gustave-Roussy, France, and adapted to the treatment of nude mice implanted with these tumours. Although Pgp encoded by the MDR1 (multidrug resistance) gene is not the only mechanism for multidrug resistance (MDR), and not all drugs included in this regimen are recognised by Pgp, we anticipated a therapeutic benefit. Four different SCLC lines, expressing the MDR1 gene and recently grafted into nude mice, were used. SCLC-75, SCLC-6 and SCLC-41 originated from untreated patients, and SCLC-74T was derived from a patient treated with a combination of ADM, CPA and VP16. SCLC-41T and SCLC-6T tumours were used after having undergone, respectively, five and nine cycles of in vivo passage and CyCAV treatment of the tumour-bearing nude mice, to reinforce their chemoresistance. The efficacy of the CyCAV regimen, associated with or without verapamil (given 24 h before CyCAV on days 1–5), was tested on the growth of these SCLC. Verapamil (25 mg/kg) improved the antitumour effect of CyCAV in mice bearing SCLC-6T, SCLC-41T and SCLC-75 tumours, although toxicity was observed. Verapamil modestly delayed the plasma clearance of ADM. Two daily injections of 10 mg/kg of verapamil, administered at a 3 h interval, proved to be effective, whereas the same total dose administered as a bolus was not. These results indicate that the association of some reversers of MDR, including drugs possibly interacting with Pgp, might potentiate SCLC combined chemotherapy.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype is characterized by a defect in drug accumulation caused by overexpression of a transmembrane glycoprotein, the P-glycoprotein (P-gp). MDR phenotype can be characterized either with monoclonal antibodies raised against P-gp or with functional tests, most often based on the incorporation of fluorescent compounds. In the present study, data obtained with the monoclonal antibodies C219, JSB1 and MRK16 are compared to those of functional tests performed by flow cytometry including uptake of daunorubicin (DNR), Rhodamine 123 (Rh 123) or Hoechst 33342. Sensitive and resistant cell lines K562S, K562R, KBA1 and KB31, derived either from a human chronic myeloid leukemia or from a human epithelial carcinoma, were used. In resistant cells, P-gp expression was revealed with either the monoclonal antibodies C219, JSB1 or MRK-16. The most specific results were obtained with MRK-16. With functional tests, no matter which dyes were used, the fluorescence was always stronger in sensitive than in resistant cells. However, with DNR and Hoechst 33342, an incorporation of these dyes was exhibited in resistant cells. This phenomenon was not observed with Rh 123, which makes it possible to distinguish clearly between sensitive and resistant cells and to detect as few as 1% of resistant cells. Because of its high sensitivity, the functional test involving incorporation of Rh 123 was successfully used in acute myeloid leukemia to detect multichemoresistant cells.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells are characterized by a defect in drug accumulation caused by overexpression of a transmembrane glycoprotein, the P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The MDR phenotype can be characterized either by use of monoclonal antibodies raised against P-gp or with functional tests based on the intracellular accumulation of fluorescent molecules. The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of functional tests performed by flow cytometry including uptake of daunorubicin (DNR) (2 micrograms/ml), Hoechst 33342 (5 micrograms/ml), or rhodamine 123 (RH 123) (0.1 microgram/ml); and to evaluate the effect of cell death induced by heating at 60 degrees C for 2 h on incorporation of DNR and RH 123. Sensitive and resistant human hematopoietic K 562 cells expressing P-gp were identified by monoclonal antibodies C 219 and MRK-16. Fluorescence of the dyes was always higher in sensitive than in resistant cells. However, DNR and Hoechst 33342 produced a slight incorporation in resistant cells, while RH 123 showed lack of incorporation in resistant cells. Thus, RH 123 allows sensitive and resistant cells to be clearly distinguished. In case of cell death, accumulation of RH 123 and DNR were different. With RH 123, fluorescence intensity strongly decreased in sensitive cells. With DNR, fluorescence intensity was enhanced in resistant cells. Thus, when the MDR phenotype is defined by uptake of DNR or RH 123, artifactual results due to cell death may be avoided by using a dye such as propidium iodide to eliminate dead cells.

Metastases result from the implantation of tumor cells into various organs, distant from the primary tumor. Among primary tumor cells, a small number undergo genetic events determining metastatic function acquisition. The metastatic function comprises the lack of homotypic intercellular connections, due to proteolytic enzyme effects and/or lack of adhesion molecule synthesis, stimulation of peri- and intratumoral angiogenesis, motility adhesion molecule synthesis, stimulation of peri- and intratumoral angiogenesis, motility and invasiveness, adhesiveness to acellular substrates or heterotypic cells, resistance to immune defenses, alteration of growth factor receptivity, and even growth autonomy. Formation of metastatic foci needs the establishment of an ecosystem born from the contribution of both host and tumor and in which respective cells interact.

Five small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cell lines were established from xenografted tumor lines. These tumor lines were established after transplantation into nude mice of primary tumors or metastatic foci obtained surgically, from untreated (IRSC-2M, IRSC6M, IRSC-10M and IRSC-61M) or treated patients (IRSC-74M). They were then set-up in culture as parallel cell lines. Histologically, these tumor lines were classified as being of the classic (IRSC-2M, IRSC-10M and IRSC-61M) or intermediate type (IRSC-6M and IRSC74M). Four of these 5 SCLC cell lines grew as floating cell aggregates, while one (IRSC6M) grew as an adherent cell monolayer. Growth rates were slow (doubling times ranged between 120 and 194 h) but could be accelerated (67 to 144 h) by cultivating cells in medium mixed (v/v) with self-conditioned medium. Electron microscopical examination revealed that all SCLC cell lines contained dense core granules, characteristic of their neuroendocrine origin. These cell lines formed colonies in agarose with colony forming efficiencies ranging from 0.02-0.36%. The classic-type cell lines retained their tumorigenic capacity when re-injected intracranially into naive nude mice, whereas the intermediatetype cells did not. Cytogenetic analysis confirmed the human origin of SCLC xenografts and cultured cell lines. Various numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities were found, with deletion in the short arm of chromosome 3 being the most common (4 of the 5 cell lines). Deletions in or loss of the chromosome 10 were also observed. Oncogene expression was studied in 3 representative cell lines (IRSC-10M, IRSC-2M and IRSC-74M). L-myc was overexpressed only in IRSC-74M, while the GRP gene was overexpressed in the classic (IRSC-2M and IRSC-10M) but not in the intermediate-type cells (IRSC-74M). The Ki-ras oncogene was overexpressed in the 3 cell lines, while c-myc, N-myc, Ha-ras, N-ras, erb B2 and sis were not detected in any of them. The 3 cell lines weakly expressed the MDR1 gene, while the GST-pi gene was not expressed. These cell lines constitute a multifaceted well-characterized in vitro model for studying the biology of these phenotypically diverse cancer cells.

All the malignant tumors possess the same characteristic to form distant secondary tumors or metastasis. The acquisition of the metastatic potential takes place in random accumulation of different genetic and cellular changes. Their combination allows one or several tumor cells to achieve the whole metastatic process. The metastatic process involves numerous interactions between the tumor cells and the host cells of the tumor cells and the extracellular matrix. The attachment of the metastatic cells to the extracellular matrix specific glycoproteins involves cell surface receptors as integrins, sialyled residues or CD44. On the other hand, other adhesive molecules (Cadherins) display inhibitory action on the metastatic process. The enzymatic lysis is carried out by glycolytic enzymes and proteases: metalloproteases (inhibitors TIMP1 et TIMP2), serine proteases (tPA, uPA-inhibitors: PAI1 and PAI2). Cathepsin D or Heparanases. Several enzymes may be necessary for the degradation of the basal membrane. The crossing of both basal membrane and stroma can be made on account of the cell motility. Some factors can modify this property as AMF (Autocrin Motility Factor) or ATX (Autotoxin) but the molecular mechanisms involved in the migration are not yet completely understood. The last stage is relative to the cells proliferation in the site organ; it depends on autocrine (CSF1, IL2, Bombesine...) or some paracrine growth factors. However, the formation of metastasis is possible only in the site organ attaching the cells.

The xenograft of human cancers into athymic nude mice makes it possible to obtain abundant tumour material and deepen biological characterization. Usually, the tumours are grafted into the subcutaneous tissue whose environment is indeed different from that of original colon cancer.In order to transplant tumours into an orthotopic environment, intra-caecal implantation of colon cancers was performed. A tumour fragment (30 mm3) was deposited at the surface of serous membrane of the caecum, previously scrapped, fixed with a thread and recovered with biologic glue. Six different types of colon tumour, previously adapted to transplantation in nude mice, were similarly grafted.Twenty to forty days after transplantation, tumour takes were observed with a similar rate by the subcutaneous or intra-caecal graft (93% of 115 and 96.8% of 154 transplantations, respectively). Tumour growth varied between the tumours implanted into the two sites. Moreover, only the tumours intracaecally transplanted developed nodal and liver metastases. Histological examination revealed the invasion of the muscle layer, submucosal tissue and mucosal membrane by tumour cells and the mixture of normal glands and neoplastic glands.This technique of orthotopic implantation of colon cancer samples will contribute to obtain an experimental model for colon cancer research.

We have established a model of human renal cell carcinoma, Kgg2, transplanted into athymic nude mice which expressed P-glycoprotein (P-gp) (detected by flow cytometry) and a high level of mRNA transcript of mdr1 gene (Northern blot analysis). We have evaluated the antitumor activity of a new highly potent vinca-alkaloid derivative, S 12363, in comparison with the activity of the reference compound vinblastine (VLB), when used alone or in combination with verapamil (VRP). The influence of the calcium influx blocker verapamil on the activity of the combination of S 12363 with adriamycin (ADR) was also determined. The results showed that S 12363 at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg/day, administered alone by intraperitoneal route daily on days 1 to 5, induced a tumoral regression of 50% during the first days after treatment. This effect was potentialized by simultaneous treatment with verapamil at 20 mg/kg/day for 5 days, leading to a long-term reduction of 70% of tumor growth. Vinblastine at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg/day administered alone or in combination with verapamil, using the same protocol, was less efficient. The association of S 12363 at 0.075 mg/kg/day (on days: 1-5, 11, 21 and 31), adriamycin at 2 mg/kg/day (on days: 11, 21 and 31) and verapamil at 20 mg/kg/day (on days: 0-5, 11, 21 and 31) induced an important reduction of tumor growth of 80% at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, the new vinca-alkaloid derivative S 12363 could present a therapeutic advantage over the reference compound vinblastine in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Resistance is often defined as a lack of therapeutic response. Cellular resistance involves a decrease in intracellular levels of the antitumor agent due to a variety of mechanisms. These mechanisms are active in tumors with initial resistance as well as in those which respond initially but fail to be completely destroyed by chemotherapy. Although acquired forms of resistance seem to be the result of selection, some studies suggest that antitumor agents may induce resistance. Four main mechanisms of resistance are currently being investigated: 1) multidrug resistance, involving expression of a membrane P-glycoprotein, responsible for resistance to hydrophobic cationic agents; 2) detoxification of hydrophilic agents by the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase; 3) increased production of enzymes targeted by antimetabolites; 4) mutation or decreased synthesis of topoisomerases I and II which are the targets of very recent antitumor agents. New data were presented at the 1992 symposium of the American Association for Cancer Research; expression of P-glycoprotein is controlled by the mutant protein P53, the oncogene ras and differentiation agents. Physiological effects of this molecule are related to the chloride pump. Bone marrow stem cells from transgenic mice obtained by transfection of the gene MDR1 in germ cells exhibit resistance. Many agents can reverse P-glycoprotein-related resistance. Results from three phase I trials with Cyclosporin A as reversion agent were reported. It is essential to conduct clinical trials in order to assess the true value of these new data which hold promise for improving the performance of antitumor agents.

Gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), the human homologue of bombesin (BN), is an autocrine growth factor for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. The synthetic octapeptides [D-cpa1-beta-Leu8-des-Met9]litorin (BIM 26182) and [D-Phe6-Leu13-CH2NH-Cpa14]bombesin(6-14)NH2 (BIM 26189) are potent GRP/BN antagonists of the proliferation of 3T3 and rat pancreas cells. The effect of these analogues on the proliferation of four SCLC cell lines (SCLC 6, SCLC 41, SCLC 75, SCLC 74R) was tested in vitro and in vivo. Two of these SCLC lines (SCLC 41M and SCLC 75) had receptors for BN/GRP and expressed the prepro-GRP mRNA. BIM 26182 and BIM 26189 inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into the DNA of SCLC 41 cells, stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in SCLC 6, and had no effect on the two other cell lines. The SCLC implanted s.c. in nude mice were treated with either BIM 26182 or BIM 26189. BIM 26182 and BIM 26189 injected at the doses of 50 micrograms twice a day (s.c.) around the tumor for 10 to 21 days delayed the growth of SCLC 41 and of SCLC 75. The maximal effect was observed during the treatment period, after which the tumors regrew, suggesting a cytostatic effect of these peptides. No inhibitory effect of the peptides on SCLC 74R or SCLC 6 growth was observed. These data suggest that GRP antagonists are able to inhibit the in vitro and in vivo growth of BN/GRP receptors-positive SCLC.

The proliferation of the bronchial epithelium and tumors associated with this tissue is controlled by various growth factors. The main factor is Gastrin Releasing Peptide (GRP), the human counterpart of the amphibian bombesin. These neuropeptides also act as neuromediators and gut hormones. All peptides of this family share a conserved C terminal sequence which is required for biological activity. The determination of this sequence has provided the basis for the design of specific agonist and antagonist peptides and for the generation of monoclonal antibodies (Mab). GRP interacts with a receptor coupled to a G protein and the signalling process leads to the activation of phospholipase C and kinases, and the mobilization of calcium. GRP promotes the proliferation of foetal and adult bronchial epithelium and of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. GRP is also an autocrine growth factor for some SCLC cell lines. The growth of these lines is reduced in vitro and in vivo by MAb and specific antagonists. Hyperplasia of GRP producing cells has been shown in various lung diseases in adults and children. Pharmacological data on GRP suggest that its antagonists could be used in the treatment of SCLC (in addition to chemotherapy) and of interstitial lung disease. The cloning of the GRP receptor should facilitate the design of specific and potent antagonists of the peptide.

The pre-selected tumor cells injection in the cecal wall of rat, seems to be a intermediate model between spontaneous evolution of a colon tumor and intrasplenic or direct intraportal injections. From rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RMS S4-MH-) which present the advantage to prudce up lymphatic, pulmonary and hepatic metastases after subcutaneously injection, first subcutaneously (S.C.), intrasplenic (I.S.) and intracecal sites were compared: In the I.C. model, tumor was obtained in 80% of case and the survival was nearly similar to S.C. model's one. The lymphatic metastases were more and more distal as the evolution and the liver metastases were rarely observed. The I.S. model increased quickly and there were always liver metastases; In the two cases, pulmonary metastases were rarely observed (0 and 2/5). With adenocarcinoma colonic cells (Pro b) I.C. injection in the rat, tumor were obtained in 48% of cases without peritoneal dissemination; lymphatic nodes metastases were observed in 80% of cases; liver metastases was obtained in one animal from metastasis pulmonary selection cell lines. The I.C. model allows to estimate the liver and lymphatic nodes part; improved, it would be used to test adjuvant therapies and immunoscintigraphy.

S 12363 is a new Vinca alkaloid derivative obtained by appending an optically active alpha-aminophosphonate at the C23 position of O4-deacetyl vinblastine. S 12363 was evaluated for cytotoxic and antitumor activity against a spectrum of murine and human tumors. This compound was, respectively, on average, 72- and 36-fold more cytotoxic than were vincristine and vinblastine, when tested on a panel of 2 murine and 37 human tumor cell lines using the microculture tetrazolium assay. S 12363 exhibited significant antitumor activity against murine transplantable tumors (i.p. and s.c. P388 leukemia, i.p. L1210 leukemia, i.p. and i.v. B16 melanoma, i.p. M5076 sarcoma, and s.c. colon adenocarcinoma 38), while no activity was observed on s.c. Lewis lung carcinoma. S 12363, when administered i.p., showed moderate activity on human NCI-H460 lung and PANC-1 pancreas tumor xenografts in nude mice. However, when it was administered i.v., it exerted a significant activity against human HT-29 colon, NCI-H460 lung, NCI-H125 lung, PANC-1 pancreas, and A-431 vulvar tumor xenografts. S 12363 was also active in vivo against a P388 leukemia subline resistant to vincristine. On the in vivo panel of tumors used in this study, S 12363 was at least as active as reference compounds, while its optimal dosage was 10- to 40-fold lower than that of vinblastine, depending on the models studied. The effects of schedule and route of administration on the antitumor activity of S 12363 were studied in both i.p. inoculated P388 leukemia and B16 melanoma, in which the activity was improved by single and intermittent treatment (Days 1, 8, and 15) and i.p. route. S 12363, which differs only by the configuration of the asymmetric carbon atom of the side chain, was 300-fold less cytotoxic and 1000-fold less potent in vivo than was S 12363. These results suggest that S 12363 could present a therapeutic advantage over its congeners and deserves further pharmacological evaluations.

The expression of various protooncogenes (myc, Ki-ras, Ha-ras, erbB, fms, sis, jun and fos) and a gene implicated in multidrug resistance (mdr1) was investigated in cell sublines, isolated from a rat rhabdomyosarcoma cell line, and in the corresponding tumors induced by injection of these cells into syngeneic rats. These cell lines and tumors, selected or not by treatment with chlorozotocin (Czt) or adriamycin (Adr), differed in their tumorigenicities and metastatic potentials. Our results showed that 1) an increased expression of some protooncogenes could be correlated with the metastatic potential of tumors; 2) such a correlation was not observed in the cultured cells from which these tumors were derived; 3) mdr1 expression, similarly to that of protooncogenes, was correlated with metastatic potential in all tumors except the Adr-selected tumors.

Proteins able to bind the iduronate containing glycosaminoglycans: heparin, heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate, were detected in strongly (RMS 0) and weakly (RMS 8) metastatic rat rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. The 35S-methionine-labeled proteins solubilized from the cell membranes were chromatographed on Heparin-Ultrogel affinity column. The main retained protein migrated with an apparent molecular size of 19 kDa on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from both cell lines. The 19 kDa protein exhibited a higher affinity for iduronate containing glycosaminoglycans than for the glucuronate containing chondroitin sulfates. It was immunologically distinct from acid and basic fibroblast growth factors. The membranes of the RMS 8 cells contained about a two times higher amount of labeled 19 kDa protein than the membranes of the RMS 0 cells. The decreased amount of the labeled heparin-binding proteins in the highly metastatic cell line is in agreement with the previously evidenced decreased receptor-mediated binding of the iduronate containing glycosaminoglycans by these cells.

A multidrug resistance human cell line (Dox-R-MCF7), originating from mammary adenocarcinoma was compared to the drug sensitive parent line (MCF7) to determine whether or not the use of doxorubicin-loaded biodegradable nanospheres (NS-Dox) could circumvent drug resistance. The Dox-R-MCF7 line was shown to resist free doxorubicin (Dox) as the 50% lethal dose for them was 150 times higher than for the sensitive cell-line. Isohexylcyanoacrylate nanospheres, porous matrices of biodegradable innocuous polymer, diameter 300 nm, were loaded with doxorubicin. Free Dox, NS-Dox and Dox-free polymer (NS) were added to the culture medium for 6 hrs. In terms of 50% lethal dose, NS-Dox were cytotoxic for the resistant cell line to an identical extent as for the sensitive parent line. Dox-free nanospheres alone or mixed with free-Dox were noncytotoxic for the resistant line. Drug targetting could be of main importance to overcome multidrug resistance.