Combined effects of 13-cis-retinoic acid, tamoxifen and interferon on the growth of human breast cancer cells

We studied the effect of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cRA) alone and in combination with interferons (IFNs) and tamoxifen (TAM) in two established human breast cancer cell lines: the estrogen-sensitive CG-5 and the estrogen-insensitive MDA-MB-453 cells. 13-cRA (10(-9)-10(-5) M) significantly reduced the growth of both cell lines in a dose-dependent fashion, after 3 and 6 days of treatment. When the retinoid (10(-9)-10(-5) M) was combined with natural beta-IFN (100-1000 IU/ml) for 6 days, we observed a growth inhibition more pronounced than that produced by each of the two single agents in both CG-5 and MDA-MB-453 cells. Only in the former model was the inhibitory effect synergistic at all the drug concentrations used. Association of 13-cRA (10(-9)-10(-5) M) and recombinant alpha2a-IFN (100-1000 IU/ml) or TAM (10(-7)-10(-6) M) did not determine an additive or synergistic effect on the growth of CG-5 cells.

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda and nephrotic syndrome in three siblings

The association of a spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SED-T) with the nephrotic syndrome (NS) was found in three siblings. They have counsaguineous (first cousins) healthy parents. Patient 1 was a boy who was admitted to hospital for oedema at the age of 8 years; NS was diagnosed, renal biopsy revealed mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. After 4 years he developed end-stage renal failure and died whilst on haemodialysis. Combined therapy with cyclophosphamide and prednisone was of no benefit. At the age of 11 years his height was 122 cm (< 3rd percentile -3.2 SD); he had a short neck, broad and prominent chest and a short wide trunk. Patient 2, another male, had non-nephrotic proteinuria in a 24-h urinary sample at the age of 11 years; this was confirmed in a later analysis; mild lymphopenia and a reduction of helper T cell (OKT4)/suppressor T cell (OKT8) ratio was also detected. At 22 years of age he was admitted to hospital with end-stage renal failure. He was on haemodialysis for a few months until his mother donated a kidney. At the age of 22 years his height was 157 cm (< 3rd percentile), he had a short trunk with the thoracic cage increased in anteroposterior diameter and shoulder elevation. Roentgenograms revealed a disostosis of the spinal column and pelvis and a slight lombar platyspondylia. Patient 3, a girl, was admitted to hospital at 12.5 years for pain and restricted mobility of the right hip. X-rays showed deep acetabula and short femoral necks and mild dysplastic changes, especially in the right hip.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Natural interferon-beta treatment and steroid hormone receptors in primary endometrial cancer

Forty-three patients with primary endometrial carcinoma were treated with natural interferon-beta (IFN-beta) at two different dose levels (2 x 10(6) IU or 6 x 10(6) IU im 3 times/week for 1 week). IFN-beta increased receptors for estrogens (ER) and progesterone (PR) in a high percentage of the 40 evaluable patients, without modifying the receptor affinity. The ER and PR enhancement, which was simultaneous in at least 50% of patients, and the increase of over 100 fmol/mg protein observed in some cases suggest that IFN-beta exerts a profound influence on receptor expression and, probably, on the hormone sensitivity of the tumor.

Steroid receptor enhancement by natural interferon-beta in advanced breast cancer

In the current study we investigated the effect of two different doses of natural interferon-beta (IFN-beta) on steroid hormone receptors in 45 patients with advanced breast cancer. IFN-beta seems to regulate the receptor mechanisms, inducing in cutaneous metastases an increase of oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Moreover, using IFN-beta and tamoxifen as a combined therapy in 23 receptor-positive patients, no negative interference of the two drugs was observed and no relevant side-effects due to the treatment were noticed. The modulation of steroid receptor content by IFN-beta in advanced breast cancer might represent an interesting way to ameliorate the clinical responsiveness to anti-oestrogens.

Effect of natural beta-interferon on estrogen receptor mRNA of breast cancer cells

We have demonstrated that natural beta-interferon (beta-IFN) enhances estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA of a human breast cancer cell line, CG-5. Cells were sensitive to the effect of beta-IFN at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 IU/ml. The increase of ER mRNA was seen after 48 hr of treatment in at least three separate experiments. Our results are in agreement with the previously observed enhancement of receptor protein. In addition, they suggest that the IFN-induced promotion of the antiproliferative activity of drugs which act via ER may be due, in part, to increased receptor synthesis.

Use of calcium excretion values to distinguish two forms of primary renal tubular hypokalemic alkalosis: Bartter and Gitelman syndromes

Clinical or biochemical findings were reevaluated in 34 pediatric patients with primary renal tubular hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. The patients were subdivided into two groups. Bartter syndrome (primary renal tubular hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis with normocalciuria or hypercalciuria) was diagnosed in 18 patients with molar urinary calcium/creatinine ratios greater than 0.20, and Gitelman syndrome (primary renal tubular hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis with magnesium deficiency and hypocalciuria) was diagnosed in 16 patients with molar urinary calcium/creatinine ratios less than or equal to 0.20 and plasma magnesium levels less than 0.75 mmol/L. Some clinically important differences between the groups were observed. Patients with Bartter syndrome were often born after pregnancies complicated by polyhydramnios (8/18) or premature delivery (7/18) and had short stature (11/18) or polyuria, polydipsia, and a tendency to dehydration (16/18) during infancy (12/18) or before school age (18/18). Patients with Gitelman syndrome had tetanic episodes (12/16) or short stature (3/16) at school age (14/16). We conclude that the Bartter and Gitelman syndromes represent two distinct variants of primary renal tubular hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and are easily distinguished on the basis of urinary calcium levels.

Antitumor effect of lonidamine alone or combined with tamoxifen or medroxyprogesterone acetate in breast cancer cells

The effect of Lonidamine (LND) alone or combined with the antiestrogen Tamoxifen (TAM) or Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on cell proliferation and steroid hormone receptor content of a human estrogen sensitive breast cancer cell line was investigated. LND has a direct growth inhibitory action, even if used at relatively low concentrations (10(-7) M), and shows the maximum effect at 10(-4) M. The combination of LND with the antiestrogen does not produce a potentiation of the TAM-induced reduction of cell number, while the association of the drug with MPA seems more effective with respect to MPA alone, at least at certain concentrations. The negative interference observed between LND and TAM may be due to the LND-induced decrease of estrogen receptor levels.

Effects of natural beta-interferon and recombinant alpha-2B-interferon on proliferation, glucocorticoid receptor content, and antigen expression in cultured HL-60 cells

In the current study, we investigated the effects of natural beta-interferon (beta-IFN) and recombinant alpha-2b-interferon (alpha-IFN) on the growth of the HL-60 cell line. Cells cultured in a medium that contains various concentrations (from 10 to 1000 IU/ml) of interferons showed a growth inhibition, which reaches the maximum after a 6-day treatment, at the highest dose used. Furthermore, we studied the effect of both beta-IFN and alpha-IFN on the level of glucocorticoid receptors. This was enhanced more than 30% with respect to control in HL-60 cells exposed for 24 hours to concentrations of beta-IFN that ranged from 100 to 1000 IU/ml. The increase of the receptor amount was seen even if cells were treated for 5 days, and was not accompanied by a modification of antigen expression of HL-60 cells. alpha-IFN did not modify the glucocorticoid receptor level substantially in our experimental conditions. Our data indicate that both beta-IFN and alpha-IFN regulate HL-60 cell proliferation. Additional studies are required to clarify if modifications of the receptor level induced by beta-IFN could be related to the modulation of hormone-sensitivity in this model.

The renal hemodynamic response following a meat meal in children with chronic renal failure and in healthy controls

The renal hemodynamic response to a meat meal (2 g/kg BW) was studied in 11 healthy children and in 10 children with a mean plasma creatinine concentration of 2.6 +/- 0.1 mg/dl due to chronic renal failure (CRF) of various etiologies. In the healthy status, after a meat meal, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increased significantly from a baseline value of 119.0 +/- 5.0 to a peak of 159 +/- 5.8 ml/min x 1.73 m2; in CRF baseline GFR averaged 49 +/- 4.0 and at peak 76.6 +/- 7.2 ml/min x 1.73 m2 (p less than 0.005). The peak GFR response was reached earlier in healthy subjects than in CRF (p less than 0.05) and did not correlate with age or with baseline GFR. Renal plasma flow (RPF) in healthy controls increased from 532 +/- 32 at baseline to 646 +/- 42.9 ml/min x 1.73 m2 after the meal (p less than 0.005). Also in CRF after a meat meal there was a significant increase in RPF from 278 +/- 51 to 65 +/- 66 ml/min x 1.73 m2 (p less than 0.005). The filtration fraction was not affected. The percent increase over baseline values of GFR and RPF at the peak was significantly higher in diseased children. Renal reserve averaged 28.1 +/- 5.3 ml/min in diseased children and 39.7 +/- 5.2 ml/min (p less than 0.01). The data indicate that (1) a meat meal is a suitable method to recruit renal reserve in normal children and in children with chronic renal failure, and (2) the renal reserve is normal in chronic renal failure.

Phase contrast microscopy of the urine sediment for the diagnosis of glomerular and nonglomerular bleeding-data in children and adults with normal creatinine clearance

In a pediatric and in an adult group of patients with hematuria and normal creatinine clearance overnight urine examination was carried out on 2 nonconsecutive days by means of phase contrast microscopy by two independent observers working in two different institutions. In this way it was possible to distinguish between patients on the basis of dysmorphic (glomerular) and isomorphic (nonglomerular) red cells in urine and to correlate the findings with the final diagnosis. A clear-cut indication (more than 80% of isomorphic and/or dysmorphic red cells) was obtained in 163 patients (102 of pediatric age) and final diagnosis of hematuria correlated with red-cell microscopy findings in 96.4% of glomerular diseases and in all cases of nonglomerular origin. Mixed hematuria (50-75% of dysmorphic red cells) was found in 2 cases of renal tuberculosis, 2 cases of polycystic kidney disease and in 1 child with viral meningoencephalitis with a bladder stone. The data indicate that the method is safe and accurate but further experience must be gathered for the many etiologies of glomerular and nonglomerular diseases hitherto not studied.