Influence of tissue particles on Fas expression in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is a progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to prove the occurrence of particle deposition and particle-induced tissue damage in IIP by examining proapoptotic Fas expression with in-air microparticle induced X-ray emission (in-air micro-PIXE) analysis. A total of 21 patients were enrolled. Lung tissues from 12 IIP patients and nontumorous lung tissues from 9 lung cancer patients (as a control) were subjected to in-air micro-PIXE analysis. The distribution of particles in lung tissue was compared with the localization of Fas expression by immunohistochemistry. Silicon (Si) was identified in 58.3% of IIP samples and 44.4% of control samples. Iron (Fe) was identified 25% in IIP samples and 11.1% in control samples. The mean lung tissue content of Si and Fe relative to S did not differ between IIP and control patients. Only two IIP patients showed the co-localization of Si and Fe deposition with Fas expression. Adaptation of this method would contribute to assess the influence of particles on IIP.

A phase II trial of dose-dense chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection and/or thoracic radiotherapy, in locally advanced thymoma: report of a Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial (JCOG 9606)

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dose-dense weekly chemotherapy, followed by resection and/or thoracic radiotherapy.

METHODS

Patients with histologically documented thymoma with unresectable stage III disease received 9 weeks of chemotherapy: cisplatin 25 mg m(-2) on weeks 1-9; vincristine 1 mg m(-2) on weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8; and doxorubicin 40 mg m(-2) and etoposide 80 mg m(-2) on days 1-3 of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Patients went on to surgery and post-operative radiotherapy of 48 Gy; those with unresectable disease received 60 Gy radiotherapy.

RESULTS

total of 23 patients were entered. The main toxicities of the chemotherapy regimen were neutropenia and anaemia, and 57% of patients completed the planned 9 weeks of therapy. There were no toxic deaths. Of the 21 eligible patients, 13 (62%) achieved a partial response (95% confidence interval: 38-82%). Thirteen patients underwent a thoracotomy and nine (39%) underwent complete resection. Progression-free survival at 2 and 5 years was 80 and 43%, respectively. Overall survival at 5 and 8 years was 85 and 69%, respectively. Survival did not seem to be affected by resection.

CONCLUSION

In thymoma patients, weekly dose-dense chemotherapy has activity similar to that of conventional regimens. Although some patients could achieve complete resection, the role of surgery remains unclear.

High temporal and spatial quality petawatt-class Ti:sapphire chirped-pulse amplification laser system

Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) operation with low gain by seeding with high-energy, clean pulses is shown to significantly improve the contrast to better than 10(-10) to 10(-11) in a high-intensity Ti:sapphire laser system that is based on chirped-pulse amplification. In addition to the high-contrast broadband, high-energy output from the final amplifier is achieved with a flat-topped spatial profile of filling factor near 77%. This is the result of pump beam spatial profile homogenization with diffractive optical elements. Final pulse energies exceed 30 J, indicating capability for reaching peak powers in excess of 500 TW.

Analysis on the co-localization of asbestos bodies and Fas or CD163 expression in asbestos lung tissue by in-air micro-pixe

To prevent and control disease caused by exposure to various agents, it is necessary to determine the harmful level of intervention and to establish a method for measuring that level. In-air microparticle-induced X-ray emission (in-air micro-PIXE) analysis is based on irradiation of specimens with a proton ion microbeam, and has been modified for biological application. Two-dimensional analysis and quantitative analysis using the system confirmed that asbestos induced apoptosis by upregulating Fas expression and also revealed the accumulation of CD163-expressing macrophages in the lungs of patients with asbestosis. By quantitative comparison of the area of Fas or CD163 expression and the Fas- or CD163-negative area in asbestos lung tissue, the harmful levels which caused the expression of Fas or CD163 could be estimated on Silica, Ferrous iron, and Magnesium (the components of asbestos) deposition. These results indicate that the system could be useful for investigating the pathogenesis of inhaled particle-induced immune reactions and for determining harmful levels of exogenous agents.

A phase-II trial of dose-dense chemotherapy in patients with disseminated thymoma: report of a Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial (JCOG 9605)

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dose-dense weekly chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced thymoma.

METHODS

Subjects comprised patients with histologically documented chemotherapy-naïve thymoma with stage-IVa or IVb disease. Thymic carcinoma, carcinoid or lymphoma cases were excluded. Patients received 9 weeks of chemotherapy: cisplatin (25 mg m(-2)) on weeks 1-9; vincristine (1 mg m(-2)) on weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8; and doxorubicin (40 mg m(-2)) and etoposide (80 mg m(-2)) on days 1-3 of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Chemotherapy courses were supported by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Post-protocol local therapy was allowed.

RESULTS

From July 1997 to March 2004, 30 patients were entered. Three were ineligible due to different histology. Chemotherapy-associated toxicity was mainly haematological and was well tolerated, with no deaths due to toxicity, and 87% of patients completed the planned 9-week regimen. Overall response rate was 59%, with 16 of the 27 eligible patients achieving partial response. Median progression-fee survival (PFS) was 0.79 years (95% confidence interval: 0.52-1.40 years), and PFS at 1 and 2 years was 37 and 15%, respectively. Overall survival rates at 2 and 5 years were 89 and 65%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In stage-IV thymoma patients, weekly dose-dense chemotherapy offers similar activity to conventional regimens.

Extraction behavior of rutherfordium into tributylphosphate from hydrochloric acid

The extraction behavior of rutherfordium (Rf) into tributylphosphate (TBP) from hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been studied together with those of the lighter group-4 elements Zr and Hf. The extractability of261Rf,169Hf, and85Zr into TBP was investigated under identical conditions in 7.2–8.0 M HCl by on-line reversed-phase extraction chromatography. The percent extractions of Rf, Hf, and Zr into the TBP resin increase steeply with increasing HCl concentration, and the order of extraction is Zr > Hf ≈ Rf. By considering the order of chloride complexation among these elements, it is suggested that the stability of the TBP complex of Rf tetrachloride is lower than those of Zr and Hf.

A novel treatment strategy targeting polo-like kinase 1 in hematological malignancies

Polo-like kinase1 (PLK1) belongs to the family of serine/threonine kinases and plays an important role in centrosome maturation, bipolar spindle formation, and cytokinesis during mitosis. We found in this study that PLK1 was aberrantly highly expressed in a variety of human leukemia cell lines (n=20), as well as, freshly isolated leukemia cells from individuals with acute myelogenous leukemia (n=50) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=15) compared with bone marrow mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers (n=13) (acute myelogenous leukemia, P=0.016; acute lymphoblastic leukemia, P=0.008), as measured by real-time RT-PCR. Downregulation of PLK1 by a small interfering RNA in NB4 acute myelogenous leukemia cells inhibited their proliferation. GW843682X is a novel selective PLK1 inhibitor. The compound-induced growth inhibition, caused accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and mediated apoptosis of human leukemia cells. Pre-treatment of cells with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK attenuated the action of GW843682X in leukemia cells, indicating the involvement of the caspase pathway in the PLK1 inhibitor-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that the PLK1 inhibitor synergistically potentiated the growth inhibition and apoptosis of leukemia cells when combined with tubulin-depolymerizing agent vincristine. Taken together, targeting PLK1 may be a promising treatment strategy for individuals with leukemia.

Topoisomerase II, carbonyl reductase I, and chemosensitivity for amrubicin in the treatment of patients with small-cell lung cancer

8104

Background: Amrubicin (AMR) has been suggested to provide a new effective therapeutic option for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). It is a totally synthetic 9-aminoanthracyclin and converted by carbonyl reductase I (CBR-I) to its active form, amrubicinol, that has higher potent activity than the parent drug and inhibits purified human topoisomerase II (topo-II). We previously reported the promising result of a prospective phase II trial for AMR monotherapy in patients with second-line SCLC (Thoracic Oncology Research Group Study 0301). Using blood samples at enrollment in this trial, the clinical significance of topo-II and CBR-I expression levels on antitumor effect as well as toxicity has been examined. Methods: Total RNA was extracted from the blood with an RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen Inc.) and DNase treatment was performed using the RNase-Free DNase Set (Qiagen Inc.). RT-PCR analysis was performed using TaqMan technology. Quantification of target cDNA (Top-II alpha, CBR-I and beta-actin gene) was conducted using an ABI PRISM 7700 Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems Inc.). Quantification was performed using the relative standard curve method. Results: The trial registered a total of 60 patients, of which 40 blood samples were available. Nineteen patients achieved a CR or PR to AMR according to the RECIST assessment and 21 did not. Patients with tumor response had a significantly lower Topo-II level than those without (p=0.0465, Wilcoxon test), although there was no association between tumor response and the level of CBR-I (p=0.3229, Wilcoxon test). We did not find any significant association between the levels of the two enzymes and toxicity. Conclusions: Topo-II may be a potential predictor of response in the treatment of AMR for second-line SCLC. Further investigations in larger patient materials are warranted.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

IL-12p40 is essential for the down-regulation of airway hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of bronchial asthma with prolonged antigen exposure

BACKGROUND

We previously reported a mouse model of bronchial asthma showing eosinophilic inflammation, but not airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), after prolonged antigen exposure. This model showed an increase of IL-12 in the lung.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL-12p40 in a murine asthma model with prolonged antigen exposures.

METHODS

An ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model was first established in wild-type (WT) and IL-12p40-deficient (IL-12p40(-/-)) mice. Both strains of mice were further exposed to either OVA (prolonged exposure group) or phosphate-buffered saline (positive control group) 3 days per week for 3 weeks. During week 4, both groups of mice were given a final challenge with OVA.

RESULTS

Prolonged antigen exposures resulted in marked suppression of airway eosinophilia in both WT and IL-12p40(-/-) mice. However, AHR persisted in IL-12p40(-/-) but not in WT mice. There were no significant differences of IL-5, IL-13 or IFN-gamma levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid between WT and IL-12p40(-/-) mice. The hydroxyproline content of the lung and peribronchial fibrosis were, however, significantly increased in IL-12p40(-/-) mice.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that endogenous IL-12p40 is essential for inhibition of AHR and peribronchial fibrosis, but not eosinophilic inflammation, in a murine asthma model with prolonged antigen exposures.

Circulating KL-6/MUC1 as an independent predictor for disseminated intravascular coagulation in acute respiratory distress syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients show high levels of circulating mucin including KL-6/MUC1 (soluble MUC1 mucin). Because cancer mucin can bind vascular endothelial cells and platelets via selectins, mucin-selectin interactions are reported to trigger platelet aggregation and intravascular coagulation. Therefore, we hypothesized that KL-6/MUC1 is involved in the pathogenesis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in ARDS. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the association between circulating KL-6/MUC1 and DIC in ARDS patients.

DESIGN

Observational study with structured follow-up.

SETTING

Intensive care unit in Hiroshima University Hospital.

SUBJECTS

Fifty-six newly diagnosed patients with ARDS.

INTERVENTIONS

Circulating levels of KL-6/MUC1 were measured during diagnosis and serially measured during the clinical course along with indices of respiratory failure, inflammation, coagulation and fibrinolysis and multiple organ dysfunction.

RESULTS

Acute respiratory distress syndrome patients complicated with DIC showed significantly higher levels of serum KL-6/MUC1 than patients without DIC during the clinical course. Amongst the parameters analysed at diagnosis of ARDS, KL-6/MUC1 was an independent predictor for DIC complication. The baseline level of circulating KL-6/MUC1 at diagnosis of ARDS was significantly correlated with an increased DIC score following ARDS diagnosis. Using an optimum cutoff level of KL-6/MUC1 obtained by a receiver operating characteristic curve, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting future DIC development in ARDS patients were 88.9% and 55.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that KL-6/MUC1 is associated with DIC development in ARDS patients. Elevated levels of KL-6/MUC1 at diagnosis could be a predictor of DIC complication in ARDS.