Inner ear damage due to lipoid nephrosis

Inner ear pathology was studied in adult rats with lipoid nephrosis induced by puromycin aminonucleoside. Although no abnormality was observed in auditory brain-stem responses, significant changes were noted in the stria vascularis. The most striking observation was that intermediate cells were markedly swelled, there-by pressing adjacent marginal cells. Severely affected marginal cells have vacuoles and increased lysosomes and protruded toward the endolymphatic space. The organ of Corti remained virtually intact. Although the vestibular maculae were relatively normal, type I hair cells in the semicircular canal underwent a conspicuous vaculolization. These findings support a postulate that the inner ear is liable to damage in lipoid nephrosis.

Prediction of the prognosis of patients with gastric-cancer by erbb-2 tissue status and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen

Correlation between erbB-2 tissue status and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was studied in 164 gastric carcinomas, and these results were compared with the risk of metastasis and prognosis. Thirty-one (19%) tumors showe evidence of erbB-2 protein expression, and the PCNA index ranged from 8.2% to 77.2% (mean; 40%). erbB-2 protein positive tumors were most often encountered in the following clinicopathological groups: tumors with serosal invasion, lymph node metastasis, and venous invasion. There was a significant correlation between PCNA index and lymph node metastasis. In addition, erbB-2 positive tumors showed significantly higher PCNA index than erbB-2 negative tumors. Cox prortional hazard model identified lymph node metastasis. In invasion, liver metastasis, and erbB-2 tissue status as independent prognostic factors, but PCNA index was not an independent prognostic factor. However, by combining erbB-2 tissue status and PCNA index, PCNA index. was a good prognostic factor particularly in patients with erbB-2 negative tumors. These results indicate that the determination of erbB-2 tissue status, when combined with PCNA index, may be useful in the prediction of the prognosis and in deciding the therapeutic schedule of patients with gastric cancer.

In vivo profile of myocardial energy metabolism of pressure-overloaded rat

Cardiac energy metabolism of pressure-overloaded rat hearts was examined under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Two, 4 and 6 weeks after constriction of the abdominal artery, the hemodynamic and metabolic profiles of hearts in vivo and of perfused hearts were determined. Significant increases in left ventricular weight/body weight (30 to 45% increase relative to the sham group), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (22 to 33% increase) and pressure-rate product (31 to 33% increase) were observed 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the operation, and a slight but significant decrease in heart rate was observed at 2 weeks after the operation. Tissue hydroxyproline content increased (17 to 93%) with time after pressure-overload. These findings are indicators of pressure-overloaded cardiac hypertrophy. The total high-energy phosphates of the in vivo rat myocardium under artificial respiration were lower than those of sham-operated rat myocardium 2 (23%) and 4 weeks (21%), but not 6 weeks after aortic constriction. The maximal oxygen consumption rates of mitochondria, when determined in the skinned cardiac fibers, also decreased 2 (47%) and 4 weeks (36%), but reversed 6 weeks after pressure-overload. However, the myocardial ATP, a utilizing form of high-energy phosphate, of pressure-overloaded rat myocardium remained normal at all times after cardiac hypertrophy. This suggests that alterations in hemodynamic variables of in vivo pressure-overloaded rats may not be attributable to a reduction in the myocardial energy production. In the perfused hearts isolated from pressure-overloaded rats, tissue ATP levels were similar to those of sham-operated rats, although the tissue creatine phosphate tended to be reduced in the pressure-overloaded animals at all stages of cardiac hypertrophy examined. Only a marginal decrease in the tissue high-energy phosphate (13%) was observed 4 weeks after the operation relative to that of sham-operated rats. In contrast, the developed tension of the perfused pressure-overloaded rat hearts was consistently lower (27 to 36%) than that of the sham-operated rat hearts. The results suggest that the high-energy phosphate levels of pressure-overloaded rat myocardium in vitro are unlikely to account for the observed decline in cardiac contractile function. The reduction of myocardial high-energy phosphates of pressure overloaded rats may be due to an adaptative change rather than a causal events.

Analysis of proliferative activity using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen antibody in gastric cancer tissue specimens obtained by endoscopic biopsy

BACKGROUND

Proliferative activities of tumors are thought to be prognostic features of malignant tumors, but their value as measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling remains unclear in gastric cancer.

METHODS

PCNA labeling rates (LR) were quantified in 121 paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens from primary tumors by immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical analyses have demonstrated that PCNA presents an intense staining in the nuclei of tumor cells and mucous neck cells of gastric glands. The PCNA LR ranged from 12% to 79% (mean +/- standard deviation), and a significant correlation was found between bromodeoxyuridine labeling indices and PCNA LR: PCNA LR were closely associated with tumor size, serosal invasion, and nodal involvement. The patients with tumors with high PCNA LR (greater than 40%) were dead significantly earlier than were those with tumors with low PCNA LR: When the PCNA LR and all the clinicopathologic parameters were entered into a Cox regression model, PCNA LR emerged as an independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that PCNA LR may be a potentially useful prognostic factor for gastric cancer.

Influenza A modification of endotoxin-induced otitis media with effusion in the guinea pig

A total of 120 Hartley strain guinea pigs were used to investigate the possible role of influenza A in endotoxin-induced otitis media with effusion. Intratympanic inoculation of 0.2 ml physiologic saline solution containing 10(4) plaque-forming units (PFU)/ml of influenza A suspension or 100 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide failed to induce either middle ear effusions or mucociliary pathologies in the tubotympanum. In contrast, intratympanic inoculation 100 ng/ml endotoxin resulted in prolonged mucociliary dysfunction and middle ear effusions when 0.2 ml 10(4) PFU/ml of influenza A was inoculated in the tympanic cavity. The inference is drawn that an influenza A infection might predispose the middle ear to endotoxin-induced otitis media with effusion.

Colocalization of immunoreactive endothelin-1 and neurohypophysial hormones in the axons of the neural lobe of the rat pituitary

The intracellular localization of immunoreactive endothelin (ET)-1, and its colocalization with vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) in the rat neural lobe were investigated by immunogold techniques using specific antisera raised against ET-1, VP, and OT. There were two types of axons: the first contained VP-immunolabeled neurosecretory granules, and the second contained OT-immunolabeled neurosecretory granules. A considerable number of the neurosecretory granules in both types of axon were immunolabeled with antibodies against ET-1, although the VP-immunolabeled granules were more heavily labeled with anti-ET-1 antiserum than OT-immunolabeled ones. Double immunogold labeling clearly demonstrated the intragranular colocalization of immunoreactions for ET-1 and VP and that of immunoreactions for ET-1 and OT. These results suggest that ET in the neural lobe may be released concomitantly with neurohypophysial hormones. Its biological significance remains to be elucidated.

Catecholaminergic innervation of oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus as revealed by double-labeling immunoelectron microscopy

The catecholaminergic innervation of neurons that contain oxytocin in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the rat hypothalamus was examined by a combination of methods in the same tissue sections at the electron-microscopic level as follows: (1) Rats were treated with 5-hydroxydopamine (5-OHDA) with peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) staining of sections for oxytocin prior to embedding. (2) Preembedding immunoperoxidase staining with avidin-biotin complexes was used to demonstrate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity, with postembedding staining with immunocolloidal gold for visualization of oxytocin. (3) Prior to embedding, a double-staining technique was used that was based on consecutive staining with silver-gold-intensified PAP complex and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine. We used an antiserum against oxytocin and an antiserum against dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) for localization of antigens. We found that TH- and DBH-like immunoreactive terminals were distributed throughout the rat hypothalamus and were abundant in all parts of the PVN. Ultrastructural observations revealed 5-OHDA-labeled, TH- or DBH-like immunoreactive axon terminals that contained granular vesicles (70-80 nm in diameter) and small clear synaptic vesicles (30-50 nm in diameter). The terminals appeared at times to be making synapses with cell bodies and with the processes of oxytocin-containing neurosecretory neurons in the PVN. These findings provide morphological evidence for a direct synaptic influence of catecholaminergic elements on the secretory activity of oxytocin-containing neurosecretory neurons in the rat hypothalamic PVN.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor in rat olfactory epithelium

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a bioactive protein that plays an important role in the genesis, differentiation, growth, maintenance and aging of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The purpose of this study was to explore the significance of NGF in the turnover, regeneration and maintenance of the olfactory epithelium. We tried to detect NGF and NGF-receptor in the olfactory epithelium of young and mature rats with an immunohistochemical technique. Immunoreactivity to NGF and NGF-receptor was detected in all specimens of olfactory epithelium. Immunoreactivity to NGF was positive in the olfactory nerve cells, especially in the cytoplasm and dendrites, in the basal cell layer, and on fibers piercing the olfactory epithelium. Immunoreactivity to NGF-receptor was positive in the basal cell layer and on fibers piercing the olfactory epithelium. These results suggest that NGF plays a role in the maintenance of olfactory nerve cells, and in the differentiation from the basal cell to the mature olfactory nerve cell, in both the young and the mature rat. In addition, the differences in the density of immunoreactive cells between different parts of the olfactory epithelium support the concept of an active and a quiescent zone in olfactory epithelium turnover.

Whole body oxygen consumption after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass

Whole body oxygen consumption and the substrate for energy production during the post-bypass period have not been clarified. We hypothesized that the substrate composition for energy production during post-bypass period might be different from that during pre-bypass period because of surgical diabetic state induced by hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We measured whole body oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and respiratory quotient by the gas exchange method using the Datex Deltatrac before and after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. We also measured oxygen consumption by Fick's principle. Whole body oxygen consumption (P < 0.001) and carbon dioxide production (P < 0.05) increased significantly above pre-CPB values after the termination of CPB. Respiratory quotient (P < 0.01) decreased significantly below pre-CPB values after the termination of CPB. We conclude that oxygen consumption increased significantly above pre-bypass values after the termination of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass at least under the fentanyl, diazepam, chlorpromazine anesthesia with continuous infusion of nitroglycerin and nicardipine. The changes in respiratory quotient suggest a relatively higher ratio of lipid metabolism for energy production during post-bypass period.

Histamine immunoreactive neurons in the brain stem of the rabbit

Distribution of histamine-like immunoreactive (HA-LI) neurons in the rabbit brain stem was demonstrated by histamine antiserum. A number of HA-LI cell bodies were localized in the tuberomammillary nucleus of the posterior hypothalamus. A dense to moderate amount of HA-LI fibers was found distributed in the raphe nuclei, the inferior olive, the nucleus of the solitary tract, vestibular nuclei, and the paragigantocellular reticular nucleus in the medulla oblongata, and the parabrachial nuclei, the Klliker-Fuse nucleus, the pontine nuclei, and the locus coeruleus in the pons. HA-LI axons synapsed on dendrites of neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract. This evidence suggests that histaminergic neurons control neuronal activity through synaptic transmission in the lower brain stem.

Enkephalinergic innervation of GABAergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the rat

The preembedding double immunoreaction method was used to study interrelations of enkephalinergic and GABAergic neuronal elements in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the Wistar albino rat. The enkephalin-like neuronal elements were immunoreacted by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method and silver-gold intensified, which showed strongly and was specific. The GABA-like immunoreactive neurons were immunoreacted by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method only. GABA-like neural somata were postsynaptic to both the enkephalin-like immunoreactive and the non-immunoreactive axon terminals. The enkephalin-like immunoreactive axon terminals were also found to synapse GABA-like immunoreactive dendrites. The GABA-like immunoreactive neuronal elements were also found to receive synapses from other non-immunoreactive as well as GABA-like immunoreactive axon terminals. Almost all of the synapses appeared to be asymmetrical. Possible functional activity of interactions among the enkephalinergic, GABAergic, and serotonergic neuronal elements in the dorsal raphe nucleus are discussed.

Nitrogen dioxide-induced eosinophilia and mucosal injury in the trachea of the guinea pig

Nitrogen dioxide exposure-induced mucosal pathology of the guinea pig trachea was studied. Exposure to 3 or 9 ppm of nitrogen dioxide for 6 h a day, 6 times weekly for 2 weeks resulted in decreased ciliary activity as well as a dramatic eosinophil accumulation to the epithelium and submucosal layer. Especially exposure to 9 ppm of nitrogen dioxide induced epithelial injury through the activation of eosinophils accumulated in the tracheal mucosa. The epithelial damage induced by nitrogen dioxide could lead to hyperresponsiveness and prolonged allergic inflammation. Our study suggests that environmental nitrogen dioxide could contribute to the hyperresponsiveness and could most probably be involved in the development and chronicity of airway allergic disorders.

Ultrastructural studies of medullary synaptic inputs to vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat hypothalamus

Direct projections from the A1/C1 catecholaminergic cell group in the caudal ventrolateral medulla oblongata to neurons containing vasopressin (VP) in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) were studied electron microscopically by a double-labeling technique which combines anterograde tracing after injection of wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the A1/C1 cell group with VP immunocytochemistry. WGA-HRP-labeled axon terminals originating from neurons in the A1/C1 cell group were found to make synaptic contacts with VP-immunoreactive cell bodies and dendrites in the SON, most often forming axo-dendritic synapses. This indicates that VP-containing neurosecretory neurons in the SON receive monosynaptic catecholaminergic input from the A1/C1 cell group.

GABAergic innervation of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the rat studied by electron microscopy double immunostaining

A double immunocytochemical method combining the preembedding PAP technique and the postembedding immunogold technique was used to examine interactions between GABAergic and serotonergic neurons in the same tissue sections of the dorsal raphe nucleus of the rat. A large number of immunogold stained GABAergic axon terminals were found to be presynaptic to strongly PAP immunostained serotonergic perikarya and dendrites. The types of synapses were mostly symmetrical although a few asymmetrical ones were also found. No axo-axonic synapse between the GABAergic axon terminals and the serotonergic neuronal profiles was found. These results suggest that GABAergic neurons could modulate serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus through synaptic relations.

Pulsatile umbilical venous flow and its clinical significance

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and significance of pulsatile waveforms from the umbilical vein.

SETTING

A tertiary referral clinic for high risk pregnancies.

SUBJECTS

209 fetuses from 24-41 weeks gestation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The presence of pulsatile waveforms in the umbilical vein and the pregnancy outcome.

RESULTS

9/209 fetuses demonstrated pulsatile waveforms and seven had severe growth retardation or congenital anomalies of the heart. Pulsatile flow and abnormalities of the inferior vena cava waveforms were observed in these seven but not in the two infants who were born at term. Double pulsations are described for the first time.

CONCLUSION

Examination of the umbilical venous waveform for pulsatile flow is a useful test as it indicates the presence of asphyxial cardiomyopathy or congenital heart lesions.

Pathogenic factors responsible for glucose intolerance in patients with NIDDM

To define the pathogenic factors responsible for glucose intolerance in NIDDM, we estimated insulin secretory capacity, SI, and SG in 11 healthy, nondiabetic subjects and 9 NIDDM patients who had no SI impairment. All subjects studied were nonobese and normotensive. Each underwent a 75-g OGTT and a modified FSIGT: glucose was administered (300 mg/kg body weight), and insulin was infused (20 mU/kg over 5 min) from 20 to 25 min after the administration of glucose. SI and SG were estimated by Bergman's minimal-model method. The insulin response to oral glucose was significantly lower in NIDDM patients than in normal control subjects. First-phase insulin secretion expressed as the integrated area of plasma insulin above the basal level during the first 20 min was much smaller in NIDDM subjects (214 +/- 112 pM.min) than in control subjects (4643 +/- 885 pM.min, P < 0.01). SI was not statistically different in normal control subjects (1.27 +/- 0.18 x 10(-4) min-1.pM-1) versus diabetic patients (1.62 +/- 0.33 x 10(-4) min-1.pM-1). However, SG was significantly lower in diabetic subjects (1.11 +/- 0.17 x 10(-2) min-1) than in control subjects (2.35 +/- 0.26 x 10(-2) min-1, P < 0.01). These results suggest that impaired insulin secretion and decreased SG are the factors responsible for glucose intolerance of Japanese NIDDM patients with normal insulin sensitivity. Because SI and SG are the factors responsible for glucose intolerance of NIDDM patients with insulin resistance, it is conceivable that decreased SG is common in NIDDM patients regardless of their SI index.

TRH regulation of tracheal tension through vagal preganglionic motoneurons

TRH-immunoreactive nerve terminals innervate the ambiguous nucleus in the rabbit. Vagal preganglionic motoneurons that innervate the trachea, were revealed by HRP histochemistry in the rostral part of the ambiguous nucleus and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. HRP histochemistry plus TRH immunocytochemistry revealed that TRH-immunoreactive axon terminals synapsed on ambiguous nucleus neurons retrogradely labeled by HRP injection into tracheal smooth muscle and the superior laryngeal nerve. Microinjection of 50 ng TRH into the rostral ambiguous nucleus caused slight dilation followed by constriction, which was inhibited by atropine and vagotomy. Results show that central TRH-containing neurons regulate tracheal tension through synapses on vagal preganglionic motoneurons that innervate tracheal smooth muscle.

Cultivation of Eimeria tenella in Japanese quail embryos (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Complete development of Eimeria tenella in Japanese quail embryos was observed. Sporozoites were inoculated into the allantoic cavity of 7-day-old Japanese quail embryos (Coturnix coturnix japonica), after which the infected embryos were incubated at 41 C. In the chorioallantoic membrane mature first generation schizonts, mature second generation schizonts, and gametes were detected at 48 hr postinoculation of sporozoites (PI), 84 hr PI, and 126 hr PI, respectively. Mature gametes and zygotes were found at 132 hr PI, and oocysts were detected at 138 hr PI. Mortality of embryos increased with increment of inoculum size of sporozoites. LD50 was 1.7 x 10(2) sporozoites. Oocyst production was also dependent on inoculum size. Oocysts harvested from embryos sporulated. The oocysts were inoculated into 13-day-old chickens, and oocysts, capable of sporulating normally, were recovered from ceca 7 days after inoculation.

Retinoic acids inhibit activation-induced apoptosis in T cell hybridomas and thymocytes

Apoptosis is induced in immature thymocytes and T cell hybridomas upon stimulation via the TCR/CD3 complex. This phenomenon appears to be related to negative selection of T cell clones in the thymus. In T cell hybridomas, it has been shown that glucocorticoids inhibit TCR/CD3-mediated apoptosis, whereas glucocorticoids alone induce apoptosis. All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) at 0.1 to 10 microM also inhibited TCR/CD3-mediated apoptosis assessed by DNA fragmentation and cytolysis, but RA alone hardly induced apoptosis. RA enhanced the effects of glucocorticoids to induce apoptosis and to inhibit TCR/CD3-mediated apoptosis. TCR/CD3-mediated stimulation can be mimicked by the combination of ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, and PMA, an activator of protein kinase C, and the combination-induced DNA fragmentation was also inhibited by RA. RA, however, failed to inhibit the combination-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration or the combination-induced translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosolic fraction to the particulate fraction. Time course studies of RA addition into the culture indicated that a 3- to 6-h delay in the addition of RA did not reduce its inhibitory effect on anti-CD3-induced DNA fragmentation. These results suggest that RA interferes with the apoptotic process at some point after its initiation stage. It has been suggested that negative selection involves not only TCR/CD3-mediated signals but also LFA-1-mediated signals. RA at 0.01 to 1 microM significantly inhibited the induction of thymocyte apoptosis by co-immobilized mAb to CD3 and LFA-1 molecules. RA by itself hardly induced apoptosis, but enhanced glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. The results suggest that thymic selection might be influenced by RA at near-physiologic concentrations. The receptors of glucocorticoids and RA belong to the erbA oncogene-related steroid hormone receptor superfamily. Thyroid hormones and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3, whose receptors also belong to the superfamily, failed to modulate apoptosis in both T cell hybridomas and thymocytes.

Retinoic acids inhibit activation-induced apoptosis in T cell hybridomas and thymocytes

Apoptosis is induced in immature thymocytes and T cell hybridomas upon stimulation via the TCR/CD3 complex. This phenomenon appears to be related to negative selection of T cell clones in the thymus. In T cell hybridomas, it has been shown that glucocorticoids inhibit TCR/CD3-mediated apoptosis, whereas glucocorticoids alone induce apoptosis. All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) at 0.1 to 10 microM also inhibited TCR/CD3-mediated apoptosis assessed by DNA fragmentation and cytolysis, but RA alone hardly induced apoptosis. RA enhanced the effects of glucocorticoids to induce apoptosis and to inhibit TCR/CD3-mediated apoptosis. TCR/CD3-mediated stimulation can be mimicked by the combination of ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, and PMA, an activator of protein kinase C, and the combination-induced DNA fragmentation was also inhibited by RA. RA, however, failed to inhibit the combination-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration or the combination-induced translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosolic fraction to the particulate fraction. Time course studies of RA addition into the culture indicated that a 3- to 6-h delay in the addition of RA did not reduce its inhibitory effect on anti-CD3-induced DNA fragmentation. These results suggest that RA interferes with the apoptotic process at some point after its initiation stage. It has been suggested that negative selection involves not only TCR/CD3-mediated signals but also LFA-1-mediated signals. RA at 0.01 to 1 microM significantly inhibited the induction of thymocyte apoptosis by co-immobilized mAb to CD3 and LFA-1 molecules. RA by itself hardly induced apoptosis, but enhanced glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. The results suggest that thymic selection might be influenced by RA at near-physiologic concentrations. The receptors of glucocorticoids and RA belong to the erbA oncogene-related steroid hormone receptor superfamily. Thyroid hormones and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3, whose receptors also belong to the superfamily, failed to modulate apoptosis in both T cell hybridomas and thymocytes.

Appropriate conditions for the plaque forming cell (PFC) assay in rats and effects of cyclophosphamide on PFC response

The appropriate conditions for the plaque forming cell (PFC) assay using rat splenocytes were determined and effects of cyclophosphamide on PFC response were investigated using these conditions. The number of PFCs produced by immunization with a suspension of sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) was higher with i.v. injection than with i.p. injection. Subcutaneous injection of the suspension did not produce PFCs. The highest PFC response was observed when the number of PFCs was determined 4 days after i.v. immunization with 0.5 ml of a 1% SRBC suspension. Cyclophosphamide (3, 10, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently decreased PFC response under the above-mentioned optimal conditions, and decreased PFC responses were noted even at the very low dose of 3 mg/kg: a dose at which a decrease in the number of PFCs has not been reported in studies using mice. From these results, the appropriate conditions for the PFC assay in rats are considered to be i.v. immunization with 0.5 ml of a 1% SRBC suspension and determination of the number of PFCs 4 days after immunization. Furthermore, it is considered that the PFC assay using rats might be more sensitive to immunosuppressive agents than that using mice.

[Development of platinum analogues for the treatment of lung cancer]

A number of platinum compounds have been synthesized and screened on the basis of structure-activity strategy. In Japan, clinical trials of three analogues (NK-121, DWA-2114R and 254-S) have been undertaken. NK-121, which have the same leaving group as carboplatin, the dose limiting factor (DLF) was leukopenia, while renal toxicity was extremely mild. DWA-2114R, also with the same leaving group, was less nephrotoxic than CDDP or less marrow toxic than CBDCA. DLF was also leukopenia. Phase II study revealed 29% and 12% response rates for small cell carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC), respectively. In 254-S which has the same carrier ligand (NH2) as CDDP and CBDCA. DLF was thrombocytopenia with mild nephrotoxicity. Response rates of 41% and 21% were obtained for SCLC and NSCLC, respectively. In a randomized study comparing 254-S plus VDS with CDDP plus VDS, equivalent response rate and milder toxicity were observed for the 254-S group. Since highly active agents other than platinum compounds have been currently evaluated for the cases of lung cancer, preclinical screening for substantially active compounds is essential in developing new platinum analogues.