Characterization of monoclonal antibodies for identification of Borrelia japonica, isolates from Ixodes ovatus

Monoclonal antibodies for identification of Borrelia japonica isolated from tick, Ixodes ovatus and long-tailed shrew, Sorex unguiculatus in Japan and Borrelia related to Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato) were prepared and characterized. All isolates belonging to B. japonica and isolates from I. dentatus and cottontail rabbit in North America reacted with MAb O1441b against flagellin which was prepared from immunized mice with strain HO14, type strain of B. japonica, but isolates from I. persulcatus, patient, and wood mouse, Apodemus speciosus ainu, in Japan, and isolates belonging to B. burgdorferi, B. garinii and B. afzelii from North America and Europe did not. Strains used in this study reacted with MAb P62 against common antigen which was prepared from immunized mice with strain NT24 isolated from I. persulcatus in Japan, but B. japonica did not. These MAbs are useful for identification and differentiation of B. japonica and B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Japan.

On clinical usefulness of Tl-201 scintigraphy for the management of malignant soft tissue tumors

The purpose of this study was to investigate Tl-201 as a tumor scanning agent in patients with malignant soft tissue sarcomas and to establish the sensitivity of this type of scintigraphy concerning local recurrences or metastases that may remain clinically suspected. Seventy-eight patients with malignant soft tissue sarcomas and 22 with benign soft tissue tumors were studied. Of these 78 malignant soft tissue sarcomas patients, the sensitivity of Tl-201 (81.2%) was higher than that of Ga-67 (68.8%). Thirty-three out of 78 patients received a total of 95 consecutive scintigraphic follow-up examinations. Therapeutic effects was assessed by comparing the results of Tl-201 examinations with the clinical findings. Of these 33 patients, the therapeutic effects observed were as follows: complete remission 1, partial remission 8, progress of disease 1, and no remarkable change 23. Tl-201 scintigraphy has proved itself very useful not only in clinically detecting the malignant soft tissue sarcomas and in assessing therapeutic effects on these diseases, but also in assessing the follow-up patients with malignant soft tissue sarcomas.

Effects of OM-853, a novel indolonaphthyridine derivative, on behavioral responses in the forced swim test in rats

Effects of OM-853 on behavioral responses in the forced swim test were studied. OM-853 significantly reduced the duration of immobility without any change in the exploratory activity. Imipramine also reduced the duration of immobility, but idebenone did not. On the other hand, vinpocetine enhanced the duration with a suppressive effect on ambulation. The anti-immobility effect of OM-853 was reversed by pretreatment with haloperidol. These results demonstrate that the effect of OM-853 on the swim test is different from that of idebenone and vinpocetine. Furthermore, the present results suggest that OM-853 may exert its anti-immobility activity through facilitated transmission of the dopaminergic and/or adrenergic systems.

Experimental Borrelia burgdorferi infection of outbred mice

Infectivity of Borrelia burgdorferi strain 297 in normal outbred ddY mice was examined. Strain 297 was inoculated intraperitoneally in 3-week-old outbred ddY mice. B. burgdorferi was routinely cultured from the heart and urinary bladder 5 to 84 days postinoculation. The combined isolation rate from both heart and urinary bladder was significantly higher than the rate from spleen, kidney, liver, urine, and blood samples. Three- and 10-week-old mice were infected with inocula of 10(4) and 10(5) or more, respectively. Passive transfer of undiluted and 10-fold-diluted anti-297 rabbit serum and active immunization of 50 to 100 micrograms of lyophilized whole cells completely protected mice from infection with B. burgdorferi. These results suggest that the outbred mouse is a convenient model for experimental infection with B. burgdorferi.

Immunological properties of Borrelia burgdorferi isolated from the Ixodes ovatus in Shizuoka, Japan

Three strains of spirochetes (IKA1 to 3) were isolated from the midgut of Ixodes ovatus collected in the Ikawa region of the northern part of Shizuoka, Japan. These isolates had eight flagella, and their size and other morphological features were similar to Borrelia burgdorferi. They showed similar motility and reacted with monoclonal antibody (MAb) H9724 against borrelial flagella and with MAb H5332 against the outer surface protein A. These strains showed similar SDS-PAGE profiles to that of B. burgdorferi strain B31 and P/Bi isolated in the U.S.A. and Europe, respectively. Immunoblot with Lyme disease patient serum showed positive reactions with the flagella (41 Kilodalton, kDa), protein C (20 to 22 kDa), and outer surface protein A (29 kDa) of the isolates. Immunological properties, morphological characteristics, and epidemiological features revealed that these isolates were B. burgdorferi.

[Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum in osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma Cooperative Study Group report]

Thirty-two patients with primary osteosarcoma and 18 patients with advanced osteosarcoma were treated by iv or ia infusion of cisplatinum at a dose of 100 mg/m2 every three weeks. The efficacy of the agent for primary osteosarcoma was mainly estimated by X-ray findings and histologic examination. One patient had a partial response, and 7 patients had a minor response. Pathologic evaluation of the extent of the primary tumor necrosis was performed on 27 resected specimens. Eight of 27 cases showed a good response (Ayala III A less than). One of 18 patients with advanced osteosarcoma had a partial response, and 2 a minor response. Nausea and vomiting (88%), liver dysfunction (42%), leukopenia (36%), nephrotoxicity (20%) and auditory disturbance (20%) were the main side effects in 50 patients. However, side effects of cisplatinum were generally reversible. The results suggest that cisplatinum is effective against osteosarcoma and may enhance the therapeutic results in osteosarcoma.

[Preoperative systemic chemotherapy of patients with osteosarcoma: a preliminary study of nine cases]

Nine patients with osteosarcoma were treated with cisplatinum and high-dose methotrexate therapy. According to the clinical responses to each drug, we selected and used the effective one with adriamycin or bleomycin, cyclophosphamide and actinomycin-D combination therapy. We treated patients with these protocols for several months (two and one-half to eight months). Both high-dose methotrexate and cisplatinum were effective in two cases, methotrexate or cisplatinum was effective in two patients individually (both resistant), but ifosfamide was effective in one case. No differences between any drug in the pattern of effective drug response. It is possible to exclude non-effective drugs from the preoperative schedule according to the degree of clinical responses manifested within one or two weeks. This preliminary study suggested that intensive systemic preoperative chemotherapy will control primary and micrometastatic lesions of osteosarcoma and improve the treatment for primary and advanced osteosarcoma.

Characteristics of the response of soft tissue sarcoma to hyperthermia: the correlation between temperature distribution, radiological examination and histology

Nineteen patients with soft tissue sarcoma were treated by a combination modality of hyperthermia and radiation or chemotherapy. There were 26 treatment sites. The size of the tumours ranged from 2.5 x 2 cm to 24 x 26 cm. Hyperthermic treatments were given twice a week, for a total of five to 14 sessions. Twenty-one tumours were treated by hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy, 2 Gy daily, five times a week, for a total of 40-78 Gy. Three tumours were treated by hyperthermia and arterial infusion of adriamycin, 100-120 mg in five or six treatments. For the superficial tumours the complete response rate was 40 per cent, and for the deep-seated tumours 6.2 per cent. Among the 12 tumours with no response, nine in which the treatment was evaluated as effective histologically (necrosis of the tumour) and by X-ray CT findings (development of a prominent hypodensity area) were included. Six cases were studied to correlate the X-ray CT findings, angiography and histological findings before and after hyperthermic treatment. The data were also used to interpret the thermal curve. The increased hypodensity area was roughly proportional to the development of necrosis, but there was one case in which hypodensity was not correlated with the necrosis. On the contrary, even in the contrast-enhanced area around the tumour in which the presence of residual tumour was strongly suspected clinically, no tumour cells were visualized. Clinical evaluation of the effect by size of the tumour can be supplemented by CT findings and histology, but should be cautiously adopted.

Experimental model for predicting metastatic ability of tumors using chick embryo

At present, there is no established diagnostic method by which the metastatic ability of an individual human cancer can be accurately predicted. We used chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) to predict the metastatic ability of three B16 murine melanoma variant lines and also of human giant-cell carcinoma of the lung. Tumor cells were deposited on the CAM of eggs 10 days after fertilization. On day 7 after the tumor inoculation, the embryos were killed, and the lungs removed, minced and implanted on the CAM of other 10-day-old embryos. On day 7 after this inoculation, the tumors on the CAM were inspected under a surgical microscope, and were also checked histologically. The results accurately reflected the differing metastatic abilities of the B16 melanoma variant lines. Metastases were observed in the lungs of the embryo bearing human giant-cell carcinoma of the lung on the CAM. Using CAM seems to be a suitable way of predicting the malignancy of tumors with metastatic ability.

[Recent status of the diagnosis and treatment of bone metastasis in patients with advanced lung cancer]

The incidence and prognosis of patients with bone metastasis in primary advanced lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Between Jan. 1980 and Dec. 1985, 289 cases entered various kinds of chemotherapy protocol studies. Patients with bone metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSC) comprised 44% (86/192), and those with small cell lung cancer (SC) comprised 43% (42/97). Histologically, 48% of adenocarcinoma, 50% of large cell carcinoma and 31% of squamous cell carcinoma showed bone metastasis. 8 percent of NSC bone meta (+) cases had an initial symptom of bone metastasis. Bone scan and bone X-ray were complementary and useful for diagnosis of bone metastasis, and sequential examinations tended to reduce the incidence of false-positive cases. Vertebral column, rib, pelvis and femur were the most common sites. Over 70% of the bone metastasis were in multiple skeletal systems, and 90% showed multiple-site involvement for both NSC and SC. Radiation therapy effectively reduced severe pain but paralysis was hard to control. In very few cases surgical treatment was indicated because of multiple bone metastasis, and systemic dissemination. Bone scan in 12% of SC patients showed apparent improvement with systemic chemotherapy. Among the M1 group of adenocarcinoma, median survival was 9 months in bone (+) cases, 11 months in bone (-) cases, 2 year survival was 8%, and 24%, and 3-year survival 2% and 22%, respectively. Among the bone(+) group and bone(-) group in ED cases of SC, median survival was 10 months vs. 11 months, and 2-year survival rates were both 13%. 22 percent (8/36) of squamous cell carcinomas without bone metastasis showed hypercalcemia (5.5 mEq/l). In patients with advanced lung cancer the major goal of treatment is recovery of the performance status of the patient and the relief of pain. In the case of SC, intensive systemic chemotherapy should be conducted as an adjuvant to local therapy.

[Treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma at the National Cancer Center Hospital]

Seventy-nine patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) received treatment at the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1962 and 1985. The patients ranged in age from 4 months to 74 years with a median age of 6 years. Forty-six patients were male and 33 were female. The primary tumor site of RMS was the same as in the previous report. The head and neck region was the most frequent site (40.5%), followed by the extremities (34.1%), genitourinary region (15.2%), trunk (5.1%) and retroperitoneum (5.1%). Histologic types were embryonal RMS in 45 patients, alveolar RMS in 23 patients, pleomorphic RMS in 8 patients and unclassified RMS in 3 patients. As of October 1985, 14 of the 79 patients were still alive. Between 1962 and 1971, 38 patients were not treated by any protocol. After 1972, 41 patients received treatment using a 3 stage-related, multiple-modality program. In the first protocol, chemotherapy consisted of Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, and Actinomycin-D, and 1 of 18 patients have survived more than 5 years. The cumulative 5-year survival rate of the first protocol was 11.1%. In the second treatment program, which involved Adriamycin in addition to the 3 drugs cited above, 4 of 23 patients have survived more than 5 years. The cumulative 5-year survival rate, 33.2%, was very improved.

[Diagnosis and treatment of metastatic bone cancer of the extremities]

Eight hundred and thirty-six patients with metastatic cancer in the bone excluding autopsy findings, occurring between January, 1976 and December, 1985 were reviewed. The most frequent site of primary focus was the breast (33.2%), followed by lung (24.6%). Three hundred and forty-two patients (40.9%) were male and 494 (59.1%) female. Diagnosis of bone metastasis was based on abnormal accumulation in the bone scintigram and abnormal findings in the bone X-ray at the same site. Out of 836 patients, 285 had metastatic skeletal lesion including extremities and 43 had a solitary lesion of the extremity. The most frequent site of bone metastases in the extremity was proximal femur and involvement of the femur was 65.2% and that of humerus was 25.6%. The majority of the patients were treated by irradiation (24.9%), irradiation with chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy (21.1%), chemotherapy (18.6%) and chemotherapy with hormone therapy (17.2%), on the other hand, only 25(8.8%) of 285 patients were treated by surgical procedures. Cumulative survival rate after diagnosis of bone metastasis varied with site of primary focus and 5 year survival rate of all cases was 6.1%. Clinical courses after skeletal metastasis were separated into two types, and one type was breast type which was slow and other type was lung type which was rapid. The most important factor for the prognosis of the patients with bone metastasis is thought to be the primary site of origin.

The value of two-dimensional echocardiography in detecting malignant tumors in the heart

Six unusual cases of tumor involvement of the heart and pericardium, diagnosed antemortem by two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), are described. The tumors consisted one each of sacral chordoma, mediastinal seminoma, leiomyosarcoma of the uterus, osteosarcoma, invasive thymoma, and lung cancer. The current study again recognizes the concept that any type of malignant tumor has a possibility of involving the heart. If cardiac involvement is suspected, 2DE examination should be performed in patients with any kind of malignant tumor. The information obtained not only provides guidance for therapeutic maneuvers, but also is beneficial for follow-up observation of the patients and assessment of the therapy.

Charges on proteins and distances of electron transfer in metalloprotein redox reactions

A modified form of the Debye-Marcus equation relating electron transfer rate constants to charges on proteins and distances of electron transfer has been applied to the reaction of chemically modified cytochrome f, in which positively charged amino groups are replaced with negatively charged carboxyl groups. The rate of electron transfer from reduced cytochrome f to ferricyanide decreased with increasing ionic strength when the native and singly substituted cytochrome f were used, although a sharp decrease was observed in the former case. When doubly or more than triply substituted cytochrome f was used, the rate of electron transfer was almost constant or increased with increasing ionic strength, respectively. The kinetic-ionic strength effects on this reaction can be well explained by the Debye-Marcus equation in which the charge and radius of the protein are treated as variable parameters. The results show the importance of local positive charges of about 2.0 on native cytochrome f and effective radius of about 11 A of cytochrome f for the electron transfer to ferricyanide. Since the net charge on the native cytochrome f is negative and the calculated radius of the protein is 22.8 A, the above results indicate that positive charges on the electron transfer site control the electrostatic interactions in this reaction. Previously reported data which had been analyzed by using the total net charge and full radius of the protein, were also well explained by the local charge and effective radius of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical experience with alpha and beta interferon in childhood cancer]

Alpha and beta interferon were tested for antitumor activity and clinical toxicity in 15 children suffering from cancer. The drug was administered IV, IM, IT or intralesionally daily in the majority of cases in total doses of 18 X 10(6) to 9,634 X 10(5) IU. Major toxicities were a flulike syndrome, elevation of transaminase activity and leukopenia. A minor response (less than 50%) was observed in one patient with glioblastoma, treated by intrathecal administration, and an objective local response was noted in one rhabdomyosarcoma patient with multiple subcutaneous metastases, who was treated by intralesional administration. CNS leukemia in two patients improved without hematological response. Further trials are warranted.

[Adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of primary soft tissue sarcomas, with special reference to intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy]

Seventy-eight cases of adjuvant chemotherapy for primary soft tissue sarcoma including 51 cases of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy were studied. The patients ranged in age from 1 to 92 years with a median age of 34 years. Thirty-nine patients were male and 39 were female. The seventy-eight cases were comprized of 17 rhabdomyosarcoma, 12 liposarcoma, 12 neurogenic sarcoma, 10 malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 8 leiomyosarcoma, 7 angiosarcoma, 8 others and 4 unclassified sarcomas. Fifty-one patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities were treated by intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with either VCQ (Vincristine and Carbazilquinone) or VCQ, A (Vincristine, Carbazilquinone and Adriamycin). Out of 42 patients with measurable lesions, 2 CR, 4 PR, 33 NC and 3 PD were obtained. Histological examinations demonstrated histological effect of GI 19, G IIa 11 and G IIb 7 by Ohboshi and Shimosato's criteria. Remarkable effects of treatment were noted in most rhabdomyosarcoma patients. After intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy, a variety of surgical procedures ranging from marginal resection and wide resection to radical amputation were employed in 44 patients. Local recurrence was 27% and distant metastasis developed in 47% of cases.

Malignant peripheral nerve tumors: a clinicopathological and electron microscopic study

Sixteen cases of malignant peripheral nerve tumors that were recorded in the files of the Department of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, between 1972-July 1983 were studied clinicopathologically. The patients' ages ranged from 24-51 years, and both sexes were affected equally. Histologically, in 13 cases of nerve sheath tumors the tumors were spindle-cell type, two of these patients had manifestation of multiple neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease). One malignant epithelioid schwannoma was found to arise from the tibial nerve. Other two cases were of primitive neuroectodermal tumors (primary malignant peripheral neuroblastoma) which showed rosette formation. The common primary symptoms in all patients were a noticeable mass which increased in size over a variable period of time, with or without associated pain and tenderness. Ultrastructural findings of spindle-cell type (in 7 tumors examined) and epithelioid type (1 tumor) showed evidence of Schwann cell differentiation of the tumors in all cases. Immunohistochemically, by the PAP method (Sternberger), staining for S-100 protein was positive in 3 of 14 tumors. Ultrastructural findings in two S-100 protein-positive cases showed evidence of Schwann cell differentiation better than the S-100 protein-negative cases, such as pronounced interdigitation of cytoplasmic processes, presence of fibrous long-spacing collagen and well-developed basal lamina. Local recurrence occurred in nine patients, and metastasis was found in five. The total 5-year survival rate was 58.5%. Tumors associated with multiple neurofibromatosis and primary peripheral neuroblastomas had the worst prognosis. Complete removal of the tumor by means of wide excision as primary treatment seemed to be the most important factor in decreasing the morbidity and mortality rates.

[Analysis of the mechanism of cancer metastasis by using anticancer agents]

For the analysis of the mechanism of cancer metastasis, effects of anticancer agents on the NK activity of spleen cells and on the artificial metastasis of B-16 melanoma cells were comparatively studied. The inhibitory effect of these anticancer agents on the growth of B-16 melanoma inoculated to foot pad of C57/BL6 mice was also examined. The growth of B-16 melanoma was inhibited by intravenous administration of 6 mg/kg of MMC, 18 mg/kg of KW-2083 and 5 mg/kg of CDDP, but not of 6 mg/kg of KW-2083. The NK activities in spleen cells of C57/BL6 mice administered with 6 mg/kg of MMC and 18 mg/kg of KW-2083 were decreased, but they were not decreased in mice administered with 6 mg/kg of KW 2083 and 5 mg/kg of CDDP. Significant increases in the number of artificial pulmonary and liver metastasis were observed in mice administered with 6 mg/kg of MMC and 18 mg/kg of KW-2083. It is suggested that the depression of NK activity induced by anticancer agents results in the promotion of metastatic disease.

Analysis of metastatic spread and growth of tumor cells in mice with depressed natural killer activity by anti-asialo GM1 antibody or anticancer agents

The mechanism of artificial and spontaneous metastases of tumor was analyzed in B16 melanoma cells and C57BL/6 mice by using anti-asialo GM1 antibody and anticancer agents. Single administrations of 500 micrograms anti-asialo GM1 antibody resulted in significantly decreased NK activity in spleen cells of C57BL/6 mice, lasting 10 days from the day following administration. Treatment with anti-asialo GM1 antibody never decreased the function of T lymphocytes measured by blastogenesis with phytohemagglutinin or T cell growth factor. The tumoricidal functions of activated macrophages but not of resident macrophages were decreased by in vivo treatment with anti-asialo GM1 antibody. The anti-asialo GM1 antibody was evaluated in terms of the enhancing effect on pulmonary metastases with regard to the timing of administration. Treatment with anti-asialo GM1 antibody 1 day before or on the day of tumor inoculation resulted in a substantial increase in the number of artificial pulmonary metastases. In the experimental system of spontaneous metastases, anti-asialo GM1 antibody most effectively increased the number of pulmonary metastases when administered 1-2 weeks before the removal of primary tumor, when the tumor cells are thought to be released into blood circulation from the primary site. In addition, accelerated growth of transplanted tumors at the primary site was observed in mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 antibody. These results strongly suggest that anti-asialo GM1 antibody enhances the incidence of in vivo tumor metastases and the growth of transplanted tumor mainly by suppressing the function of NK cells. The maximum effective dose (MED) of mitomycin C or its derivative (M-83) suppressed NK activity significantly, and pretreatment with these anticancer agents enhanced the growth of the artificial pulmonary and liver metastases. In contrast, the MED of cDDP showed no effect on the NK activity or the numbers of pulmonary and liver metastases. These results indicate that the depression of NK activity induced by chemotherapy results in the promotion of metastatic disease. From these studies it can be concluded that NK cells have a key role in the control of metastases of malignant disease, and that support of NK activity is very important for the prevention of metastases.

Antitumor effect of human leukocyte interferon on human osteosarcoma transplanted into nude mice

We studied the effect of human leukocyte interferon (HuIFN-alpha) on a human osteosarcoma (OS-OH) transplanted and passed serially in athymic mice. The growth of OS-OH was strikingly inhibited by HuIFN-alpha (50,000 IU/mouse), regardless of whether the interferon treatment was initiated 24 hr after tumor inoculation or 2 weeks later, when tumors had grown to an appreciable size (4-6 mm). The antitumor effect of HuIFN-alpha was found to be dose-dependent and a daily administration of HuIFN-alpha (50,000 IU/mouse) all but completely arrested the tumor growth.

[Role of asialo GM 1 positive cells in the control of metastatic spread of tumor cells in mice]

The role of asialo GM1 positive cells was studied in artificial and spontaneous pulmonary metastases as well as in tumor growth by using B-16 melanoma cells in C57BL/6 mice. Single administration of 50 microliters of anti-asialo GM1 antibody resulted in the significant decrease of NK activity in the spleen cells of C57BL/6 mice lasting 13 days from the following day of administration. The anti-asialo GM1 antibody was evaluated in terms of for its effect on pulmonary metastases with regard to the timing of administration. Treatment with anti-asialo GM1 antibody 1 day before or on the day of tumor inoculation resulted in a substantial increase in the number of artificial pulmonary metastases. In the experimental system of spontaneous metastases, the anti-asialo GM1 antibody most effectively increased the number of pulmonary metastases when administered 1 to 2 weeks before the amputation of the tumor primary site. In addition, in mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 antibody, the acceleration of the growth of the transplanted tumor was observed. These results strongly suggest that asialo GM1 positive cells not only inhibit pulmonary metastases acting mainly on circulating tumor cells but also suppress the growth of transplanted tumor.

In vivo and in vitro effects of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton on natural killer activity in mice

The in vivo and in vitro effects of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS) on natural killer (NK) activity of spleen and peritoneal lymphocytes of C57BL/6 mice were studied. The NK activity of spleen and peritoneal lymphocytes against YAC-1 lymphoma cells and cultured B-16 melanoma cells peaked at 3 days after intraperitoneal or intravenous administration of N-CWS, and returned to the normal value 7 days later. The NK activity of spleen lymphocytes was augmented by in vitro incubation with N-CWS. The appropriate concentration of N-CWS for the in vitro stimulation of NK activity in spleen lymphocytes was 2-5 micrograms/ml.

[An evaluation of decompressive laminectomy in metastatic spinal cord tumors]

The results of consecutive cases of decompressive laminectomy for spinal cord compression from spinal metastatic tumor were reviewed. In a series of 65 patients undergoing decompressive laminectomy, the postoperative survival was 8.3 months with 60 patients. Twenty-three per cent of the group was able to ambulate for at least some period postoperatively. Paralysis had developed with great rapidity in the half of the patients who were unable to walk prior to operation. For early diagnosis and effective removal of these lesions this treatment should be taken before when signs of cord compression are evident, and especially before the patient loses his ability to walk.

Effects of BCG and cyclophosphamide on the spontaneous and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of peritoneal and spleen lymphocytes of ACI/N rats

The effects of BCG and cyclophosphamide on the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and natural killer (NK) activity of spleen and peritoneal lymphocytes were serially examined after treatment. The changes of ADCC and NK activity were different in peritoneal and spleen lymphocytes according to the route and timing of administration. The decrease of NK activity induced by cyclophosphamide is not marked, and the degree of decrease depends on the timing of cyclophosphamide administration. The ADCC and NK activity of peritoneal lymphocytes after intravenous BCG administration were elevated 7 days after treatment, but the NK activity of spleen lymphocytes was decreased. On the other hand, the NK activities of peritoneal and spleen lymphocytes were elevated in rats given intraperitoneal BCG. Spleen lymphocytes and peritoneal lymphocytes from rats given intravenous BCG suppressed tumor growth in the Winn test during the early tumor-bearing stage. The spleen lymphocytes with low NK activity in rats given intravenous BCG strongly suppressed the NK activity of normal spleen lymphocytes.