Maximum Density of Tumor Staining Obtained by Preoperative IV-DSA as a Prognostic Indicator for Node-Negative Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: We previously demonstrated that the density of tumor enhancement by intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV-DSA) is correlated with the number of tumor microvessels and that the incidence of distant metastasis is highin patients with breast cancer who show a high maximum density of tumor enhancement (MAX) on IV-DSA. In the present study, we evaluated the prognostic value ofMAX for node-negative breast cancer patients. Patients and METHODS: A total of 128 node-negative breast cancer patients underwent preoperative IV-DSA, and the region of interest (ROI) was set in the areas enhanced by IV-DSA of the breast. MAX was calculated by the time-density curve. Patients were divided into two subgroups: those with MAX >/= 9 (n=35) and those with MAX < 9 (n=93). RESULTS: Patients with recurrence had a significantly higher MAX value than those without recurrence (11.8 +/- 3.8 vs 7.1 +/- 3.0, p<0.01). The disease-free survival rate was significantly worse in patients with higher MAX values than in those with lower MAX values (p <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that MAX was the strongest predictor of disease-free survival (p =0.026). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the maximum density obtained by IV-DSA is a strong, independent prognostic indicator for node-negative breast cancer patients.

Effect of Bcl-2 overexpression in human prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

Cancer cells often develop mechanisms to resist apoptosis and the extent of such anti-apoptotic ability has been shown to parallel tumor progression in various malignancies. Among various molecules implicated in regulating apoptosis pathway, bcl-2 and its family members are best characterized.

METHODS

To investigate the effect of bcl-2-mediated anti-apoptotic ability on tumor growth and progression in prostate cancer, a cell line overexpressing bcl-2 (LNCaP/bcl-2) was established by genetically engineering a prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Tumor growth of LNCaP/bcl-2 was compared with the parental cell line in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

LNCaP/bcl-2 cells show resistance to apoptosis caused by nutrient deprivation and did not arrest when cultured in serum-free or androgen-free medium, while parental LNCaP cells or LNCaP cells transfected with the vector only (LNCaP/control) underwent extensive apoptosis on nutrient deprivation and sustained growth suppression in serum-free or androgen-free medium. When injected subcutaneously into nude mice, tumors deriving from LNCaP/bcl-2 cells grew faster compared with LNCaP/control for about 3 weeks (P = 0.02), but this effect was not evident after 5 weeks. Upon castration, the control tumors regressed but LNCaP/bcl-2-derived tumors showed resistance, as was previously reported.

CONCLUSIONS

These data confirm the notion that anti-apoptotic function of bcl-2 is oncogenic and confers resistance to androgen deprivation and also indicate that it may also play a critical role in earlier stages of tumorigenesis.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of thymidine phosphorylase expression in gastric carcinoma

Tumor growth depends on angiogenesis. Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), and has angiogenic activity. We investigated the expression of dThdPase in 116 gastric carcinoma tissue samples by immunohistochemical staining, and assessed whether its expression was correlated with clinicopathological factors or with the prognosis. dThdPase expression was correlated with clinicopathological factors and may be a good prognostic indicator for gastric carcinoma. To determine whether dThdPase expression was a prognostic factor that was independent of the depth of invasion or lymph node metastasis, we conducted a survival analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model. This analysis revealed that dThdPase expression was the most significant prognostic indicator and was useful for predicting the outcome of gastric carcinoma.

Alpha-fetoprotein producing Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma: a case report

A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with upper abdominal pain. His serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was very high, 1500 ng/ml. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed depressed lesion at 36 cm from the upper incisors, with columnar epithelium lining the esophagus circumferentially to the oral side of the lesion. Histological examination of biopsy specimens revealed a tubular adenocarcinoma as well as the presence of gastric columnar epithelium with intestinal metaplasia. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated AFP in the tumor cells. From these results, a diagnosis of AFP-producing esophageal adenocarcinoma occurring in Barrett's esophagus, a condition which is extremely rare in Japan, was established. Computed tomography (CT) showed multiple metastasis on the liver and wide-ranging lymph node metastasis. Chemotherapy was not effective and the patient died about 2 months after the start of treatment. The AFP-producing esophageal adenocarcinoma presented here had biological characteristics similar to those of AFP-producing gastric cancer.

[A case of recurrent colon cancer with complete response to modulation chemotherapy using low-dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil]

We experienced a case of lymph node recurrence from colon cancer with complete response to modulation chemotherapy using low-dose leucovorin and 5-FU. The patient was a 68-year-old male. He underwent sigmoid colon resection for sigmoid colon cancer in October 1993. In June 1994, he complained of left lower abdominal pain. Swelling of retroperitoneal lymph node was detected by CT scan and cytology revealed cancer cells in urine. He was diagnosed as having lymph node recurrence. He then was given modulation chemotherapy of 30 mg of leucovorin and 500 mg of 5-FU that were bolus injected intravenously for 5 days. After 2 cycles of this regimen, the recurrent mass disappeared completely for further examination. Until May 1998, he had received 14 cycles. Since this regimen started, his survival period has been 46 months, and his response duration 42 months.

Phase II study of KRN8602, 3'-deamino-3'-morpholino-13-deoxo-10-hydroxycarminomycin hydrochloride, MX2 x HCl in patients with metastatic breast cancer

PURPOSE

KRN8602 (3'-deamino-3'-morpholino-13-deoxo-10-hydroxycarminomycin hydrochloride, MX2 x HCl) is a newly developed anthracycline that has been found to be effective against multidrug-resistant tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. In order to clinically confirm these promising preclinical observations, we performed a phase II trial of KRN8602 in patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer.

METHODS

Of 41 patients registered with metastatic breast cancer, 37 were eligible and were given at least two cycles of KRN8602 15 mg/m2 per day at 3-4 week intervals by intravenous bolus injection on days 1, 2, and 3.

RESULTS

Of the 37 patients, 6 (16.2%, with a 95% confidence interval of 4.3-28.1%) had a partial response (PR). No complete responses (CRs) were observed. The difference between response rates according to prior history of anthracycline administration was not significant. Myelosuppression was moderately severe, with grade 3 or 4 leukopenia occurring in 65%. Severe nausea/vomiting was observed in 44% of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that KRN8602 has modest activity in refractory metastatic breast cancer and is associated with relatively severe toxicity. Furthermore, the preclinical finding that KRN8602 overcomes anthracycline resistance was not reliably reproduced in this clinical phase II trial.

Molecular cloning and expression of Arabidopsis fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPOL), an enzyme of the octadecanoid pathway that forms carbon-6 aldehydes such as n-hexanal or (Z)-3-hexenal, was cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana as a full-length cDNA. The HPOL activity obtained by expressing the cDNA in Escherichia coli formed n-hexanal from linoleic acid 13-hydroperoxide, whereas linoleic acid 9-hydroperoxide was not a substrate for the enzyme. The HPOL mRNA is expressed at low level in leaves; however, its accumulation can be found in the inflorescence. Wounding or methyl jasmonate treatments increase the mRNA level in leaves. These results indicate that the HPOL gene is up-regulated in leaves in response to wounding and that the enzyme may be an active component of the octadecanoid defense response.

Antitumor efficacy of combination chemotherapy with UFT and cyclophosphamide against human breast cancer xenografts in nude mice

The combination of cyclophosphamide (CPA) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is currently regarded as the most effective therapy for the treatment of patients with advanced and recurrent breast cancer. We evaluated the augmentation of antitumor activity and toxicity by coadministration of CPA and UFT (1M tegafur--4M uracil) instead of intravenous 5-FU on H-31 human breast cancer xenografts in nude mice. The maximum tolerable dose (MTD) of UFT alone (24 mg/kg) and CPA alone (85 mg/kg) had a significant effect on H-31 tumors in mice with 86.6% and 83.0% inhibition rates of tumor growth, respectively, and without loss of body weight, diarrhea or myelosuppression. The combined administration with full and 83.3% MTD of UFT and CPA augmented the antitumor activity compared to that of UFT alone and CPA alone. The relative tumor volume of the UFT plus CPA-treated group to the UFT- and CPA-treated groups was 0.28 and 0.36 for the full MTD, and 0.51 and 0.67 for 83.3% MTD, respectively. When CPA was consecutively administered to the tumor-bearing mice for 14 days, there were no decreases in the activities of enzymes related to 5-FU metabolism, but there was an significant increase in the activity of ribonucleotide reductase, suggesting that anabolism of 5-FU derived from tegafur is accelerated to some extent by coadministration of CPA. In conclusion, these results suggest that combination therapy with oral UFT and CPA may be useful for the long-term treatment of cancer patients with advanced and recurrent breast cancers.

[A case of esophageal cancer with excellent response to oral UFT treatment]

The patient was an 83-year-old Japanese male with the chief complaint of difficulty in swallowing. On Feb. 24, 1997, he was referred to our hospital under suspicion of esophageal cancer. X-P revealed an image of a protrusion at Im-Iu having a long diameter of 6 cm. Endoscopy revealed that the esophageal lumen was nearly completely obstructed due to the presence of an irregularly-shaped tumor. The pathological finding of biopsized specimen was a squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, this case was diagnosed as esophageal cancer, but surgery was deemed inappropriate due to the patient's advanced age. Accordingly, on March 12, treatment was started with oral administration of UFT-E granules (Tegafur, 450 mg/day). Initially, the patient was unable to ingest even liquids, but beginning around May the blockage of the esophagus disappeared. Endoscopic examination performed in June revealed that the tumor had shrunk to a about 1 cm in diameter. Although tumor tissue remained, the tumor was observed to have undergone further reduction in size at 6 months after the start of chemotherapy. Moreover, the patient gained weight. This is considered to be a very rare case of an excellent response of esophageal cancer to oral administration of only UFT agents.

QT dispersion in patients with Duchenne-type progressive muscular dystrophy

BACKGROUND

A high degree of QT dispersion is a risk factor for arrhythmic sudden death in patients with myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy. Duchenne-type progressive muscular dystrophy (DMD) is also associated with the development of ventricular arrhythmias. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between QT interval dispersion and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with DMD.

METHODS

Sixty-seven patients with DMD were studied. Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms and 24-hour Holter electrocardiograms were recorded, and the QT interval was determined in every lead of the standard electrocardiogram to determine the QT dispersion. QT dispersion was compared with the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias and the severity of skeletal muscle damage on the basis of the Swinyard and Deaver 8-stage scale.

RESULTS

QT dispersion in all 67 patients averaged 54 +/- 18 ms. The QT dispersion was 49 +/- 16 ms in stage 5 patients, 61 +/- 22 ms in stage 6 patients, 52 +/- 17 ms in stage 7 patients, and 56 +/- 17 ms in stage 8 patients. Ventricular arrhythmias of Lown grade III or higher were observed in 3 of 35 patients with QT dispersion <60 ms and in 14 of 32 patients with QT dispersion >/=60 ms. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that QT dispersion is an independent risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias of grade III or higher in patients with DMD.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias of Lown grade III or higher was greater in patients with QT dispersion >/=60 ms than in patients with QT dispersion >60 ms. QT dispersion therefore is a risk factor for serious ventricular arrhythmias in patients with DMD.

CD95 ligand expression enhances growth of murine renal cell carcinoma in vivo

The CD95/CD95 ligand (CD95L) system plays an important role in the induction of lymphoid apoptosis and has been implicated in the suppression of immune responses. In this system, two murine CD95L-transfected renca clones and a control renca clone transfected only with the vector were implanted into the subcapsule of the left kidney of Balb/c and Balb/c nude mice. Both CD95L-expressing and control renca clones formed macroscopic tumors in all of the Balb/c and Balb/c nude hosts 14 days after implantation. Growth of tumors of murine CD95L-transfected renca cells was significantly better than that of control renca cells in Balb/c mice, while the growth advantage of CD95L transfectants was not observed in Balb/c nude mice. Lymphocytes underwent apoptosis mainly in the periphery of the CD95L-expressing tumors but not in control tumors grown in Balb/c mice, while lymphocytes undergoing apoptosis were not observed in CD95L-expressing tumors or in control tumors grown in Balb/c nude mice. Neutrophilic recruitment was rarely observed in CD95L-expressing or control tumors. CD95L expressed on renca cells possibly suppressed immune responses against renca tumors by inducing apoptosis of the infiltrating lymphocytes. However, CD95L-expressing renca cells did not form tumors in the renal subcapsule of allogeneic C3H/HeJ mice.

Cucumber cotyledon lipoxygenase during postgerminative growth. Its expression and action on lipid bodies

In cucumber (Cucumis sativus), high lipoxygenase-1 (LOX-1) activity has been detected in the soluble fraction prepared from cotyledons of germinating seeds, and the involvement of this enzyme in lipid turnover has been suggested (K. Matsui, M. Irie, T. Kajiwara, A. Hatanaka [1992] Plant Sci 85: 23-32; I. Fuessner, C. Wasternack, H. Kindl, H. Kühn [1995] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 11849-11853). In this study we have investigated the expression of the gene lox-1, corresponding to the LOX-1 enzyme. LOX-1 expression is highly coordinated with that of a typical glyoxysomal enzyme, isocitrate lyase, during the postgerminative stage of cotyledon development. In contrast, although icl transcripts accumulated in tissue during in vitro senescence, no accumulation of lox-1 mRNA could be observed, suggesting that lox-1 plays a specialized role in fat mobilization. LOX-1 is also known to be a major lipid body protein. The partial peptide sequences of purified LOX-1 and lipid body LOX-1 entirely coincided with that deduced from the lox-1 cDNA sequence. The data strongly suggest that LOX-1 and lipid body LOX-1 are derived from a single gene and that LOX-1 can exist both in the cytosol and on the lipid bodies. We constructed an in vitro oxygenation system to address the mechanism of this dual localization and to investigate the action of LOX-1 on lipids in the lipid bodies. LOX-1 cannot act on the lipids in intact lipid bodies, although degradation of lipid body proteins, either during seedling growth or by treatment with trypsin, allows lipid bodies to become susceptible to LOX-1. We discuss the role of LOX-1 in fat mobilization and its mechanism of action.

Clinical evaluation of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate for gastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Emergency endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) has been applied to the initial treatment of gastric variceal bleeding and various methods have been attempted.

METHODS

Emergency EIS was performed on 38 patients with gastric variceal bleeding using either the ethanolamine oleate (EO) method or n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) method and the outcome was compared.

RESULTS

Complete haemostasis was defined as continuous haemostasis lasting for 14 days or more. Complete haemostasis was achieved in 52.4% of patients in the EO method versus 100% of those treated with the Histoacryl method, a significant difference, suggesting that the Histoacryl method was superior for achieving haemostasis in an emergency. The cumulative non-bleeding rate was also significantly higher in patients treated with Histoacryl, indicating the durability of haemostasis. There were no serious complications in patients who received either method of sclerotherapy. Post-EIS surgery was required in 42.8% of patients treated with EO, while no surgery was required in those treated with Histoacryl, supporting the greater haemostatic effect of Histoacryl. Although there was no significant difference in the cumulative survival rates of patients treated by these two methods, death from haemorrhage was avoided by using Histoacryl.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these results, the Histoacryl method is thought to be the initial treatment of choice for gastric variceal bleeding, because it achieved superior haemostasis compared with EO and death by haemorrhage was avoided.

Accelerated rejection of Fas ligand-expressing heart grafts

The Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system plays an important role in the induction of lymphoid apoptosis and has been implicated in the suppression of immune responses. Recently, there has been renewed interest in immune privilege, as it was shown that two privileged sites (the eye and testes) constitutively express FasL, which kills lymphoid cells that invade these areas. We have established murine FasL-transgenic mice (B6) under the control of the cardiac alpha-myosin heavy chain promotor, and transplanted FasL-expressing F1(B6 x C3H/HeJ) heart grafts into syngeneic (F1) and allogeneic (C3H/HeJ) recipients. FasL-expressing F1 heart allografts placed in C3H/HeJ recipients as well as FasL-expressing F1 isografts placed in nontransgenic and FasL-transgenic F1 were more rapidly rejected, and their survival was much shorter than that of nontransgenic control F1 allografts placed in C3H/HeJ. Native control and FasL-expressing hearts looked normal in mice up to 8 wk of age on hematoxylin-eosin staining. Control heart allografts undergoing ordinally acute rejection showed moderate focal lymphocyte infiltrates, while FasL-expressing F1 allografts and isografts showed massive hemorrhage, edema, and massive neutrophil infiltration as early as 1 day after transplantation. In conclusion, FasL expression and surgical procedure (ischemia/reperfusion) were synergistic in the induction of accelerated heart graft rejection, while allogenicity was not necessary. It may be necessary to find ways of controlling neutrophilic reaction/apoptosis in infiltrating lymphocytes to use FasL in clinical organ transplantation.

Prognostic significance of MIB1-determined proliferative activities in intraductal components and invasive foci associated with invasive ductal breast carcinoma

The prognostic significance of the proliferative activities in intraductal components and invasive foci was investigated using 157 cases of invasive ductal breast carcinoma in which intraductal components predominated. Proliferative activity was expressed as the number of MIB1-positive nuclei per 1000 cancer cells in the most active areas of intraductal components (MLI-DCIS) or invasive foci (MLI-INV). MLI-DCIS correlated closely with MLI-INV (r = 0.710, 95% confidence interval, 0.623-0.780; P < 0.0001). Both MLI-DCIS and MLI-INV were related to oestrogen receptor (ER) (P = 0.0006, P = 0.0028 respectively), grade of invasive tumour (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001 respectively) and classification of intraductal components (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001 respectively). In the univariate disease-free survival analysis, both MLI-DCIS and MLI-INV were found to be significant (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0003 respectively). However, in node-negative cases, only MLI-DCIS was significant (P = 0.0416). Multivariate analysis revealed that MLI-DCIS was significant not only in all cases, but also in node-negative cases (P = 0.0223, P = 0.0426 respectively), whereas MLI-INV was not. These findings indicate that MIB1-determined proliferative activity of intraductal components is a significant prognostic determinant of invasive ductal breast carcinoma in which intraductal components predominate.

Accelerated Rejection of FAS Ligand-Expressing Heart Grafts

The Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system plays an important role in the induction of lymphoid apoptosis and has been implicated in the suppression of immune responses. Recently, there has been renewed interest in immune privilege, as it was shown that two privileged sites (the eye and testes) constitutively express FasL, which kills lymphoid cells that invade these areas. We have established murine FasL-transgenic mice (B6) under the control of the cardiac α-myosin heavy chain promotor, and transplanted FasL-expressing F1(B6 × C3H/HeJ) heart grafts into syngeneic (F1) and allogeneic (C3H/HeJ) recipients. FasL-expressing F1 heart allografts placed in C3H/HeJ recipients as well as FasL-expressing F1 isografts placed in nontransgenic and FasL-transgenic F1 were more rapidly rejected, and their survival was much shorter than that of nontransgenic control F1 allografts placed in C3H/HeJ. Native control and FasL-expressing hearts looked normal in mice up to 8 wk of age on hematoxylin-eosin staining. Control heart allografts undergoing ordinally acute rejection showed moderate focal lymphocyte infiltrates, while FasL-expressing F1 allografts and isografts showed massive hemorrhage, edema, and massive neutrophil infiltration as early as 1 day after transplantation. In conclusion, FasL expression and surgical procedure (ischemia/reperfusion) were synergistic in the induction of accelerated heart graft rejection, while allogenicity was not necessary. It may be necessary to find ways of controlling neutrophilic reaction/apoptosis in infiltrating lymphocytes to use FasL in clinical organ transplantation.

The expression of variant exon v7-v8 CD44 antigen in relation to lymphatic metastasis of human breast cancer

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the expression of CD44 splice variant epitopes in human breast cancer and their potential as prognostic indicators. Invasive breast cancer tissues obtained from 91 patients were examined for expression of the standard CD44 antigen and variant CD44 antigens (v5, v6, v7, v7-v8, and v8-v10) by immunohistochemical staining to investigate the relations of these antigens to clinicopathological factors and prognosis. The expression of standard CD44 antigen was detected in 54.9% of 91 patients with primary human breast cancer. The variant epitopes of CD44 examined, i.e., v5, v6, v7, v7-v8, and v8-v10, were expressed in 54.9%, 54.9%, 0%, 34.1%, and 0%, respectively. There was a significant difference in tumor size, lymph nodal status, and degree of lymphatic permeation between patients who were positive for exon v7-v8 and those negative for this variant (p < 0.01). Prognosis was also significantly worse in patients positive for CD44 v7-v8 than in those negative for this variant. However, multivariate analysis with the three prognostic indicators tumor size, lymph nodal status, and the degree of lymphatic invasion, has shown that the expression of CD44 v7-v8 antigen in breast carcinoma was not a significant independent prognostic factor and was closely dependent on lymphatic invasion and nodal status. Fourteen of 31 patients who were positive for CD44 v7-v8 experienced recurrences. The mode of recurrence was lymphatic metastasis in 10 out of these 14 patients. Breast cancer cells expressing v7-v8 CD44 antigen have an extremely high affinity for lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels, and are likely to metastasize to distant lymph nodes even at a very early stage in the progression of this disease. This suggests that not only the anatomical factors but also organ affinity plays an important role in the establishment of lymph nodal metastasis of breast cancer.

Acinic Cell Adenocarcinoma Arising in the Breast of a Young Male: A Clinicopathological, Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Study

A 23-year-old man with acinic cell adenocarcinoma of the breast is reported. He presented with a 4.8 x 4.2 cm mass in his left breast, and excisional biopsy was performed. Under the light microscope, tumor cells had abundant periodic acid-Schiff-positive secretory granules and eosinophlic cytoplasms. Electron microscopy revealed the granules to have various electron densities, a finding characteristic of acinic cell adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were stained with salivary-type amylase. Electron microscpic and immunohistochemical investigation greatly facilitated the diagnosis of this acinic cell adenocarcinoma, which was in an unusual location. We believe this is the first case report of acinic cell adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland studied utilizing light microscopic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical techniques.

High proportion of missense mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Japanese breast cancer families

Mutations in either of two recently identified genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are thought to be responsible for approximately two-thirds of all cases of autosomal-dominantly inherited breast cancer. To examine the nature and frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in Japanese families exhibiting a high incidence of breast cancer, we screened 78 unrelated families in this category for mutations of these two genes. Examining the entire coding sequences as well as exon-intron boundaries of both genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and multiplex-SSCP analysis, we identified possible disease-causing alterations in BRCA1 among affected members of 15 families and in BRCA2 in another 14 families. In 15 of those 29 families, the affected individuals carried missense mutations, although most germline mutations reported worldwide have been deletions or nonsense mutations. Our results, indicating that missense mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 tend to predominate over frameshifts or nonsense mutations in Japanese breast cancer families, will contribute significantly to an understanding of mammary tumorigenesis in Japan, and will be of vital importance for future genetic testing.

[Detection of telomerase activity in intestinal lavage solution from colorectal carcinoma patients]

In terms of colorectal carcinoma, the fecal occult blood test is widely used for mass survey, but has many complicated problems to be overcome. Telomerase activity has been reported in a wide range of malignancies. We have examined telomerase activity of intestinal lavage solution collected from 16 colorectal carcinoma patients and from 10 volunteers (control) by the method of telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. Patients drunk polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS) before examination. Sample solutions were collected by colonoscope at the beginning of colonoscopy. The telomerase activity from colorectal carcinoma patients were positive 9/16 (56.3%) including 2 cases of early stage. In volunteers, were positive 1/10 (10.0%). This method has, therefore, possibility for a new useful method of diagnosis for colorectal carcinoma.

[Relationship between telomerase activity and clinicopathological findings in gastric cancer]

In recent, telomerase has been drawing the attention, because it plays important role in cell immortalization. Since Kim et al exploited TRAP (telomeric repeat amplification protocol) assay which detected telomerase activity efficiently, telomerase activity of various tissues have been detected. In this study, telomerase activity of gastric cancer of resected or biopsy specimen were detected. And we have examined relationship between telomerase activity and clinicopathological factors. In advanced cancer, telomerase activity is negative in 2 cases and positive in 17 cases. In case with lymph node metastasis, negative in 3 cases and positive in 14 cases. In differentiated type, negative 1 cases and positive 20 cases. In noncancerous gastric mucosa, telomerase activity is positive in only 2 cases of 9 cases with intestinal metaplasia. Previous results were same in biopsy specimen. In summary, telomerase activity was detected in 76.7% of gastric cancer and most of advanced cancer or differentiated type. Some intestinal metaplasia cases with telomerase activity suggested precancerous stage.

ST-segment elevation in right precordial leads implies depressed right ventricular function after acute inferior myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of acute inferior myocardial infarction is worse when it is complicated by right ventricular infarction. ST elevation in the right precordial leads is one of the reliable methods for detecting acute right ventricular infarction. The purpose of the study was to examine the relation between ST elevation in the right precordial electrocardiographic leads during acute inferior infarction and the severity of right ventricular systolic dysfunction.

METHODS

This study analyzed the relation between ST elevation > or = 0.1 mV in V4R and the severity of right ventricular systolic dysfunction in 43 consecutive patients (men/women: 35/8; average age 62+/-9 years) with acute inferior myocardial infarction with a rapid-response Swan-Ganz catheter to measure the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF).

RESULTS

RVEF was significantly lower in patients with ST elevation (n = 18) than in those without (n = 25) (33%+/-6% vs 40%+/-9%, p = 0.010). If the infarct-related lesion was located in the proximal right coronary artery, RVEF tended to be lower than if the lesion was located in the distal right coronary artery or the left circumflex coronary artery (33%+/-10% vs 37%+/-9% vs 42%+/-9%, p = 0.101). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that ST elevation in V4R was the only independent predictor of depressed RVEF (odds ratio = 5.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.28 to 22.1, p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

ST elevation in lead V4R during acute inferior myocardial infarction predicts right ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Asynergy of the noninfarcted left ventricular inferior wall in anterior wall acute myocardial infarction secondary to isolated occlusion of the left anterior descending artery

There are patients in whom left ventricular (LV) wall motion decreases in the noninfarcted region and LV systolic function declines globally despite the presence of a localized myocardial infarct attributable to narrowing or occlusion of a single coronary artery. This study examines angiographic characteristics of patients with chronic hypokinesia of noninfarcted myocardium after anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to narrowing of a single coronary artery, namely, the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. The LV ejection fraction, abnormalities in the motion of the noninfarcted LV inferior wall (SD/chord value by Sheehan's technique), the angiographic characteristics of the infarct-related coronary artery, the effect of acute reperfusion therapy, and presence of coronary risk factors were examined in 85 consecutive patients. The SD/chord value in the noninfarcted region showed a positive correlation with the LV ejection fraction (r = 0.505, p <0.0001). By multivariate analysis, hypertension (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36 to 0.80), an infarct-related narrowing proximal to the origin of the first diagonal branch (odds ratio = 0.56, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.84), and patency of the infarct-related lesion during AMI (odds ratio = 1.56, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.30) were independent predictors of wall motion in the noninfarct region. In some patients with single-vessel anterior wall AMI, the motion of the noninfarcted inferior LV wall decreases during the chronic stage and cardiac function declines severely. In most of these patients, the infarct-related narrowing or occlusion is proximal to the origin of the first diagonal branch of the LAD artery.

[Phase I study of TAT-59 (a new antiestrogen) in breast cancer. TAT-59 Study Group]

Phase I study of TAT-59 (Miproxifen), an antiestrogen developed in Japan for breast cancer, was conducted with the collaboration of 12 hospitals. A single dose of 1.25, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg, or 5 consecutive daily doses of 1.25, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/day, were given orally. After single dosing, no clinical adverse effects were found. Decrease of serum Na, Cl, Ca level and increase of serum LDH level were observed in one patient after a single dose of 5 mg of TAT. An increase in the serum LDH level was also observed in one patient after a single dose in the of 10 mg of TAT. An increase in the serum LDH level and total bilirubin, increase of eosinophil, K and milky serum were also observed in one patient after a single dose of 40 mg of TAT, respectively. All of these abnormal values returned to the normal level within 26 days after final administration of TAT. No adverse clinical findings nor abnormal laboratory findings were observed after consecutive administration of TAT. After postprandial single dosing, the time to reach the maximum serum concentration (Tmax) of DP-TAT, dephosphorylated metabolite of TAT, and its demethylated metabolite, DMDP, ranged from 5.0 to 7.3 hr and from 17.0 to 42.8 hr, respectively. The maximum serum concentration (Cmax) and AUC of DP and DMDP elevated in a dose-dependent manner. T1/2 of DP and DMDP ranged from 24.2 to 41.5, and from 91.9 to 214.7 hr, respectively. There were no significant differences between pharmacokinetics of TAT before and after food intake. Based on the above results, we concluded that a Phase II study should be conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety and optimal dose of TAT.

Intrahepatic lymphocyte analyses and assessment of the effects of levamisole in murine hepatic metastasis model

We used hepatic metastasis models to determine the mechanism and effect of levamisole. BALB/c mice and Colon 26 cells were used. Group I was injected with tumor cells through the portal vein. Group II was primed with tumor cells before tumor cells injecting. Group III was same as Group II, but treated with levamisole. Surface antigens of intrahepatic lymphocytes and spleen cells were determined by FACScan with Anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD45, anti-NK1.1 and anti-F4/80. Nodules on the liver were greatest in Group I and fewest in Group III. Concerning intrahepatic lymphocytes, Group II, when compared with Group I, had increases of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and decreases of CD45+ and NK1.1+ cells. Group III when compared with Group II, showed increased CD8+ cells and decreased of NK1.1+ cells. Levamisole is considered to be effective in the prevention of liver metastasis and is suggeste to enhanced CD8+ cells.

Cucumber root lipoxygenase can act on acyl groups in phosphatidylcholine

A cDNA encoding cucumber root lipoxygenase was isolated and expressed in E. coli. The enzyme showed highest activity at pH 5.5 when alpha-linolenic acid dispersed with Tween 20 was used as a substrate but showed little activity at above pH 8.0. On the contrary, it showed the highest activity at pH 9.0 with trilinolenin emulsified with gum arabic. When the assay was performed with linolenic acid dispersed with different concentrations of Tween 20, little activity which could be seen up to the reaction solution became turbid as the linolenic acid/Tween 20 ratio increased, while the activity rapidly emerged afterward. The enzyme could also act on phosphatidylcholine, although the activity was strongly modified by freeze-thaw and sonication treatment on the lipid vesicles. Addition of deoxycholic acid to the phospholipid vesicles drastically enhanced the activity. Addition of free fatty acid was also revealed to be effective to enhance the activity. In the latter case, myristic acid exerted highest activity. Oleic acid enhanced the activity more highly than palmitic acid did. These lines of evidence suggested that the lipoxygenase strictly recognized a specific physical state of the phospholipid substrate in the reaction mixture. The enzyme was irreversibly inactivated as the reaction proceeded, however, the rate of the inactivation was much influenced by the additives. Furthermore, stoichiometry between consumed oxygen and formed conjugated diene could not be observed. (c) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

[The clinical study of radical cystectomy for lymph node positive bladder cancer]

BACKGROUND

The impact of pelvic lymph node dissection on the survival of patients with lymph node positive bladder cancer is controversial. We analyzed the records of the bladder cancer patients treated with radical cystectomy.

METHODS

Between 1976 and 1993, 84 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were treated with radical cystectomy at Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome General Hospital. Sixteen patients (19.0%) had pathologically proved nodal metastases. These patients' records were reviewed with regard to pathological status, and the outcome compared with negative lymph node patients. The two patients with pN3, which we could not completely undergo lymph node dissection of, were excluded from the analyses for recurrence and survival.

RESULTS

There were 10 males and 6 females, aged between 47 and 83 with a mean of 68.3 years. There were significant differences between the patients with positive lymph node and negative in the rate of grade 3 and the rate of infiltration of cancer to the vein and lymphatics of the bladder walls. The frequency of the patients of positive lymph node was 5.3% in pT1, 10.0% in pT2, 28.6% in pT3a, 32.0% in pT3b, 50.0% in pT4, and none in pTis, pTa and pT4is. The five-year survival rates estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method were 68.6% over all 82 patients, 75.7% for the patients with negative lymph node and 30.7% for positive. Of the patients with positive lymph node, two-year survival was 80.0% for pT2-3a, versus 0% for pT3b-4. This difference was highly significant (p < 0.01). But survival analysis for pT2-3a showed no significant difference between the lymph node negative patients and positive. The recurrence rate was 57.1% (8 of 14) in patients with positive lymph node and seven patients suffered from distant metastases. All the patients which had recurrent tumors died by bladder cancer.

CONCLUSION

Radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection can provide favorable outcome in lymph node positive patients with low stage (pT2-3a). But the patients with high stage (> or = pT3b) were poor prognosis. Most of the patients died by distant metastases.

MIB1-determined proliferative activity in intraductal components and prognosis of invasive ductal breast carcinoma

Intraductal components of breast carcinoma may have prognostic significance. In this study, we divided 181 invasive ductal breast carcinomas into comedo and non-comedo groups based on intraductal component morphology, and differences between the two groups in clinicopathological variables, including proliferative activity and survival, were assessed. Proliferative activity was evaluated by using MIB1 antibody, which reacts with the cell-proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen, and was expressed as the number of MIB1-positive nuclei per 1000 cancer cells in intraductal components (MIB1 labeling index). We also investigated which variables had an impact on survival. The comedo group showed a significantly higher MIB1 labeling index than the non-comedo group (P < 0.0001). The differences in disease-free and overall survival between the two groups were not significant (P = 0.2477, P = 0.2069). Multivariate analysis of the entire series showed the MIB1 labeling index to be an independent prognostic factor predicting both disease-free survival and overall survival (P = 0.0160, P = 0.0035). When multivariate analysis was repeated separately for the non-comedo and comedo groups, the MIB1 labeling index remained the most important variable predicting disease-free and overall survival in the non-comedo group (P = 0.0122, P = 0.0040). Moreover, non-comedo patients with a high MIB1 labeling index had significantly shorter disease-free and overall survival than those with a low MIB1 labeling index (P = 0.0040, P = 0.0402). These findings imply that MIB1-determined proliferative activity of intraductal components is an independent predictor of survival, and is the most important predictor in non-comedo cases.

Analysis of the tumor staining obtained by preoperative IV-DSA for breast cancer patients: density and metastasis correlation

We examined the density of tumor enhancement on intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV-DSA) in patients with breast cancer in relation to disease-free survival. The subjects of the present study consisted of 103 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma measuring 5 cm or less treated from July 1988 to September 1993. In the 103 patients, 15 had distant metastasis. The region of interest was set in the areas enhanced by IV-DSA of the breast. The maximum density (MAX) was calculated by the time-density curve. When the patients were divided according to three classes of MAX, i.e., 0-5.0 pixels (group A, n = 23), 5.1-9.0 pixels (group B, n = 50), 9.1 pixels or more (group C, n = 30), disease-free survival was highest in group A followed by group B and C, respectively. The disease-free survival rate in group C was significantly lower than that of group A or B (p < 0.05). Thus, high values of MAX were associated with low rates of disease-free survival. Since the value of MAX was found to be independent from other prognostic factors by multivariate analysis, these results indicate that MAX has a close correlation with metastasis or recurrence of breast cancer, making IV-DSA a promising prognostic factor.

Changes of lipoxygenase and fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase activities in bell pepper fruits during maturation

Developmental changes in fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPO lyase) and lipoxygenase (LOX) during the maturation of bell pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Kyonami) were examined by means of activity measurements, immunological detection of both the enzymes, and analysis of the volatile compounds formed upon homogenization of the fruits. Both the enzyme activities decreased with maturation, and immunological studies showed that the amounts of the enzymes concomitantly decreased. The amounts of six-carbon aldehydes and alcohols formed from bell pepper fruits upon homogenization also decreased during maturation, and with the fully ripened red fruits, these volatile compounds were hardly detectable. These results suggest that the major factor contributing to the changes in the composition of volatile compounds during the maturation of bell pepper fruits was changes in the amounts of HPO lyase and LOX.

Th2-like response and antitumor effect of anti-interleukin-4 mAb in mice bearing renal cell carcinoma

Tumor regression in experimental systems has been linked to the activities of Th1 cells. It is, therefore, conceivable that Th2 cells interrupt the expression of tumor immunity since interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 inhibit the generation of Th1 from precursors and modulate the competence of antigen-presenting cells to activate this lymphocyte subpopulation. Naive murine renal cell carcinoma (renca) cells (1 x 10(5)) were implanted into the subcapsule of the left kidney of Balb/c and Balb/c nude mice at 6-8 weeks of age. After 14 days, Th2 cytokine (IL-4 and IL-10) mRNAs as well as transforming growth factor beta1 mRNA, assessed by reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction were upregulated in the spleen of hosts upon naive renca tumor acceptance, while Th1 cytokine (IL-2 and interferon gamma) mRNAs were almost undetectable. In the renca tumor, IL-10 mRNA was detected but IL-2, interferon gamma, and IL-4 were not. Intraperitoneal administration of anti-(mouse IL-4) mAb (11B11) reduced the renca tumor size (P = 0.018) and prolonged host survival (P = 0.03), but did not reduce the acceptance rate of the tumor (P = 0.18). However, prior depletion of CD4+ or CD8+ cells with monoclonal antibodies abrogated the antitumor effects of anti-IL-4 mAb. In addition, the significant antitumor effect of anti-IL-4 mAb was not observed in Balb/c nude hosts. Renca cells were transfected with the mammalian expression vector pCAGGS containing murine IL-4 cDNA or vector alone, then stable IL-4 transfectants (RencaL or RencaH, low- or high-IL-4-producing respectively) and control renca cells (RencaC) were obtained. RencaL cells, RencaH cells, or RencaC cells (1 x 10(5) each) were implanted into the subcapsule of the left kidney of Balb/c, Balb/c nude, and allogenic C3H/HeJ mice, then tumor formation was evaluated 14 days later. When RencaH cells were innoculated into syngeneic Balb/c hosts, tumor volume was marginally suppressed (P = 0.03) and tumors tended to be rejected (P = 0.06) compared with RencaC cells. However, those effects were not observed in Balb/c nude mice. RencaC, RencaL, and RencaH cells were not accepted by allogeneic C3H mice with or without FK506 administration or donor-specific transfusion. The administration of anti-(mouse IL-4) mAb to Balb/c mice significantly suppressed renca tumor growth by a CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell-dependent mechanism. By contrast, relatively high levels of IL-4 production by renca cells and T cells seemed to be required to induce the rejection and growth suppression of IL-4-producing renca cells in syngeneic hosts.

Bell pepper fruit fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase is a cytochrome P450 (CYP74B)

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyases cleave a C-C bond adjacent to a hydroperoxide group in lipoxygenase derived lipid hydroperoxides to form short-chain aldehydes and oxo-acids. Previously, we showed that fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase from bell pepper fruits is a heme protein whose spectrophotometric properties greatly resemble a cytochrome P450. In order to ascertain the relationship of it to the P450 gene family, we have cloned cDNA encoding fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase from immature bell pepper fruits. The cDNA encodes 480 amino acids, and shares homology with P450s mostly at the C terminus. The heme binding cysteine is recognizable at position 441. The most closely related P450 is allene oxide synthase (CYP74A), with which it has 40% identity. It qualifies the lyase as a member of a new P450 subfamily, CYP74B. From this finding, the enzyme is thought to be a novel member of P450 specialized for the metabolism of lipid peroxides.

[Prospective randomized trial comparing 1/2 FAM (5-fluorouracil (5-FU) + adriamycin + mitomycin C) versus palliative therapy for the treatment of unresectable pancreatic and biliary tract carcinomas (the 2nd trial in non-resectable patients). Japanese Study Group of Surgical Adjuvant Therapy for Carcinomas of the Pancreas and Biliary Tract]

The efficacy of 1/2 FAM, which consists of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), adriamycin (ADM) and mitomycin C (MMC), was compared with that of palliative treatment in patients with unresectable pancreatic and biliary tract carcinomas in a multicenter randomized trial. The patients assigned to 1/2 FAM group were treated with 5-FU 200 mg/m2/day IV, ADM 15 mg/m2/day IV and MMC 5 mg/m2/day IV. These 3 drugs were given concurrently as the initial dose within a week after palliative operation, and this regimen was repeated for at least 2 whole courses, at 4-week intervals before the next course of therapy. Those randomized to the control group were subjected to palliative treatment alone. Completely eligible for analysis were 42 cases of the 1/2 FAM group and 41 of the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to the overall and differentiated survival times according to the tumor sites and the clinical efficacy. As for the duration of 50% inhibition of tumor progression, a significantly better outcome was obtained in 1/2 FAM group. Tumor progression was most significantly inhibited in patients with gallbladder carcinoma. In 1/2 FAM group, tumor reduction was achieved in 1 CR and 2 PR patients. The most frequent adverse reaction was gastrointestinal manifestations, along with diarrhea and alopecia. 1/2 FAM did not contribute to the life prolongation, but inhibited the tumor progression for a significantly longer duration and, to a lesser extent, reduced the tumor size in unresectable pancreatic and biliary tract carcinomas. This regimen is suggested to be useful particularly in the treatment of the latter carcinoma.

Variant of intraductal carcinoma (with scant mucin production) is of main pancreatic duct origin: a clinicopathological study of four patients

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of intraductal "nodular" tumor located in the main pancreatic duct.

METHODS

Four cases were studied, and the results were compared with those in 10 cases of common ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas.

RESULTS

The intraductal nodular carcinoma were large, more than 3 cm in diameter (range, 3-7 cm), lacked macroscopic mucin production, and presented a papillotubular adenocarcinoma. These tumors showed minimal invasion into the periductal tissue, duodenum, and choledochus. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were negative for anti-CEA and faintly positive for anti-CA19-9, in all except one tumor, whereas the common ductal adenocarcinomas were clearly positive for both. The postoperative course was favorable, and all three living patients remained healthy for more than 4 yr.

CONCLUSION

These tumors may be variants of intraductal tumors with a more favorable prognosis.

Relation between Locoregional Hyperthermic Area Detected by Contact Thermography and the Maximum Density of Tumor Stain Obtained by IV-DSA in Breast Cancer Patients

We studied the significance of the locoregional hyperthermic area observed by contact thermography in relation to the maximum density of tumor enhancement obtained by IV-DSA. The subjects were 34 patients with primary breast cancer. The thermal difference between the locoregional hyperthermic area and the surrounding mammary tissues was obtained, and the maximum density of tumor stain on IV-DSA was calculated from the time-density curve. Twenty-three (67.6%) patients had a locoregional hyperthermic area corresponding to the tumor. The higher the degree of thermal difference between the hyperthermic area and the surrounding tissues, the higher the maximum density of tumor enhancement. As the maximum density of tumor stain is considered to reflect the vascularity of the tumor, the degee of the locoregional hyperthermic area obtained by thermography may also reflect tumor vascularity.

[Development of quality of life questionnaire for patients with colorectal cancer in surgical area--a study of reliability and validity of Tokyo Yamabuki Forum Version]

We developed a new questionnaire in the surgical area based on a core quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for patients with gastrointestinal cancer. In this study, we investigated the validity and reliability of a QOL questionnaire (Tokyo Yamabuki Forum Version) for patients with colorectal cancer. The questionnaire was composed of 17 items including 5 scales (basic sensory scale, psychological scale, physiological scale, defection-related scale and active scale) and a face scale as an global scale. The time needed to answer questionnaires was expected to be around 7 minutes and the questionnaires should basically be answered by the patients themselves everyday in the hospital. The study was performed in 10 hospitals in the Tokyo area, and 394 samples collected from 21 patients with rectal and colonic cancers were analyzed. A number of respondents failed to answer the question "Do you feel your foods tasty?", so we judged this item inappropriate and deleted it from the analysis. Fifteen items, including 5 scales showed satisfactory internal consistency and construct validity in correlation and factor analyses. Performance status showed a low correlation between each item, each scale and the global scale, while SDS and STAI showed an inordinately negative correlation with the fundamental and physical scales. Especially, SDS revealed an extremely close correlation with the active scale, and STAI showed an excessive correlation with the psychological scale. In the time course of QOL under chemotherapy, reductions (aggravations) were observed in both the total score of 15 items and global scale within one week postoperatively, but after that recovered to preoperative levels at 2 weeks postoperatively. A tendency to QOL improvement was observed 2 weeks after starting chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy. QOL of 13 patients was measured over 3 months, and the longest term was 8 months. The results suggested that this QOL questionnaire has sufficient reliability and validity to be usable for patients with colorectal cancer in the surgical area and that this model is applicable for long-term QOL surveys and frequent measurement.

Influence of chronic liver damage on regeneration of the organ in rats

To investigate the influence of chronic hepatic damage on liver regeneration, a 70% hepatectomy was carried out in male BDE rats in which chronic hepatic damage had been induced by i.m. injection of 0.1 ml CCl4/100 g b. w. twice a week for 4 weeks. After resection, we examined adenine nucleotide concentration in the remaining liver tissues, also body weight and wet and dry weight of the liver. The total adenine nucleotide concentration fell 6 h after resection from 2.89 +/- 0.22 mumol/g to 2.03 +/- 0.15 mumol/g and then recovered on the 3rd postoperative day. However, control animals showed lowest values 3 h after resection, and had already begun to recover at 6 h. Energy charges fell 3 h after liver both groups to the lowest values, but recovery was slower in the animals with chronic liver damage. These observations suggest that in animals with hepatic damage regeneration is delayed in the initial post-resection period. However, 5 days after resection the wet and dry weights of the liver were completely normalized and there was no difference between the two groups, i.e., 5 days after 70% liver resection we could not find any delayed regeneration tendency in animals with chronic liver damage.

Isolation and characterization of hardening-induced proteins in Chlorella vulgaris C-27: identification of late embryogenesis abundant proteins

Hardening-induced soluble proteins of Chlorella vulgaris Beijerink IAM C-27 (formerly Chlorella ellipsoidea Gerneck IAM C-27) were isolated and purified by two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography (2D-HPLC) on an anion-exchange column, with subsequent reversed-phase chromatography. Some of the proteins were resolved by SDS-PAGE, characterized by amino-terminal sequencing and identified by searching for homologies in databases. Separation of the soluble proteins during the hardening of Chlorella by a combination of 2D-HPLC and SDS-PAGE revealed that at least 31 proteins were induced or increased in abundance. Of particular interest was the induction after 12 h of a 10-kDa protein with the amino-terminal amino acid sequence AGNKPITEQISDAVGAAGQKVG and the induction after 6 h of a 14-kDa protein with the amino-terminal sequence ALGEESLGDKAKNAFEDAKDAVKDAAGNVKEAV. The amino-terminal sequences of these proteins indicated that they were homologous to late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. Furthermore, the level of a 22-kDa protein also increased after 12 h. The amino-terminal sequence of this protein, AAPLVGGPAPDFTAAAVFD, indicated that it was homologous to thioredoxin peroxidase.

Cucumber cotyledon lipoxygenase oxygenizes trilinolein at the lipid/water interface

The reactivity of cucumber cotyledon lipoxygenase with trilinolein was examined. The activity of the enzyme against linoleic acid rapidly decreased with increasing pH of the assay solution, and essentially no activity could be detected above pH 8.5. The rapid decrease in activity was not the result of an inactiveness of the enzyme at alkaline pH, because with trilinolein, the enzyme showed a broad pH-activity profile, and substantial activity could be detected even at pH 9.0. Rather, the decrease in activity was due to the dissociation of the linoleic acid emulsion into acid-soap aggregates and/or the monomeric form, depending on the ionization of the terminal carboxylic group. This suggests that cucumber cotyledon lipoxygenase acts only on an insoluble substrate at the lipid/water interface but not on a soluble one. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses of the products formed from trilinolein revealed that the enzyme inserted oxygen into the acyl moiety of trilinolein without hydrolysis of the ester bonds. Preincubation of the enzyme with triolein emulsions effectively abolished its activity against trilinolein added afterward. Furthermore, the enzyme was adsorbed on the trilinolein or triolein emulsion droplets in an essentially irreversible manner. A reaction velocity curve of the enzyme with trilinolein showed saturation kinetics. This is thought to be due to a regional substrate deficiency as the reaction proceeds. These lines of evidence indicate that the enzyme, once bound to the lipid/water interface, is unable to break free and bind to other emulsions.

Protoplast isolation in the marine brown alga Dictyopteris prolifera (Dictyotales)

Protoplasts were isolated from thalli of Dictyopteris prolifera using a mixture of crude enzymes from vicera of live oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and the following commercial enzymes: an abalone enzyme, cellulase, polygalacturonase and hemicellulase. The enzyme mixtures produced up to 3.3 × 10(7) cells per l g of tissue fresh weight. The conversion to protoplasts of the cells was about 100% using the oyster enzyme or the abalone enzyme alone. The optimum pH for protoplast isolation was 6.0 and 20 hours were required for conversion to protoplasts.

Histopathological study of local residual carcinoma after simulated lumpectomy

From 1989 to 1991, 24 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma underwent simulated lumpectomy at Tokyo Women's Medical College Daini Hospital. The mastectomy specimens were then examined histopathologically in serial sections for the presence of residual tumors or multicentricity. Lumpectomy specimens from cancer foci at resected margins were also examined. In this study, 23 of 24 patients demonstrated positive resection margins (95.8%). Residual tumors were found in mastectomy specimens from 16 patients (66.7%); unilateral multifocal carcinomas were found in 2 of these patients (8.3%). The incidence and severity of residual tumors did not correlate with primary tumor size or the distance between the nipple and the primary tumor but directly correlated with the severity of intraductal spread of the primary tumor. Tumors with central necrosis were associated with a higher incidence of residual tumors. Our study thus indicates that there is a high risk that some residual tumor will be left in the conserved breast when lumpectomy is performed. Multifocal carcinoma and tumors showing severe intraductal spread and central necrosis are thus associated with extensive residual tumors and are likely to cause local recurrence.