Component release from light-activated glass ionomer and compomer cements

The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify any component released from seven commercially available light-cured or resin-modified glass ionomer and compomer cements. Twenty-one separate cylindrical stainless steel moulds 6 mm in diameter and 1.0 mm deep were filled with one of seven glass ionomer or compomer cements, light activated and then immediately immersed in separate containers of distilled water. Water samples were retrieved over a time period of up to 30 days and retained for analysis. An occlusal cavity 6 mm in diameter was prepared in extracted human third molar teeth with a remaining dentin thickness of 1.6-2.0 mm. A polypropylene chamber was attached to the cemento-enamel junction of each tooth to contain 1 mL of distilled water. Ten teeth were each filled with one of three cements and light activated. Water samples (eluates) were retrieved over a period of time. All samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. Only one component, hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), was detected in the eluates from both tooth and mould samples. Analysis of diffusion of the HEMA through dentin showed a relatively sustained movement into the pulp space during the first day, with exponential decline thereafter. Our data show that HEMA was released from all of the light activated glass ionomer cements studied and from the compomer, both directly into water and through dentin. This release may be relevant both to the risk of adverse pulpal responses in patients and to the risk of allergy in patients and dental personnel.

Race/ethnicity, social class, and prevalence of breast cancer prognostic biomarkers: a study of white, black, and Asian women in the San Francisco bay area

We assessed distributions of breast cancer prognostic biomarkers by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position among paraffin-embedded tumor biopsy specimens from 135 US women (48 white women, 44 black women, 43 Asian women) diagnosed with breast cancer between 1966 and 1990. No racial/ethnic or socioeconomic differences in distributions were observed for tumor stage, lymph node involvement, estrogen, progesterone, and epidermal growth factor receptors, oncogenes such as Her2/neu and p53, cytoplasmic proteins cathepsin-D and ps2, and two indices of cell growth, Ki67 and DNA ploidy, adjusting for age at diagnosis, menopausal status, place of birth and, for racial/ethnic comparisons, working class composition of census block-group at diagnosis. Black and Asian women, however, were 3.5 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2, 10.1) and 3.7 times (95% CI = 1.3, 10.6), respectively more likely than white women to have a tumor size of > or = 20 mm, and Asian women were 3.4 times (95% CI = 1.1, 10.4) more likely than black women to be positive for androgen receptor, adjusting for these same factors. No differences in distributions by socioeconomic position were observed for these latter two tumor characteristics. These data suggest that racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer survival are unlikely to be explained solely by differential distributions of molecular breast cancer prognostic biomarkers.

[Function of the accessory pancreatic duct in the pancreaticobiliary maljunction]

We examined the function of the accessory pancreatic duct (APD) in 56 cases of the pancreaticobiliary maljunction. APD existed in 11 of 26 cases of the congenital choledochal cyst. The maximal diameter of APD was over 2 mm in 5 cases. Patency of APD was detected in 5 of 9 cases examined by dye-injection endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). APD existed in 15 of 30 cases of the pancreaticobiliary maljunction without biliary dilatation, and all APDs were less 2 mm in diameter. By dye-injection ERP, APD was patent in 4 of 13 cases. There was no significant relationship between patency of APD and associated biliary carcinoma in the cases of the pancreaticobiliary maljunction, but 5 cases of the congenital choledochal cyst with APD bigger than 2 mm in diameter had no biliary carcinoma. Amylase level of the bile in cases of the pancreaticobiliary maljunction with patent APD was frequently lower than that of cases with nonpatent APD. It is suggested that in cases of the pancreaticobiliary maljunction with patent APD, the incidence of carcinogenesis of the biliary tract might be lower, as the reflux of the pancreatic juice to the bile duct might be reduced by the flow of pancreatic juice from the upper dorsal pancreatic duct into the duodenum via the minor duodenal papilla.

Polyamine content of ordinary foodstuffs and various fermented foods

Soybeans, tea leaves, and mushrooms were conspicuously rich in spermidine, while oranges contained a large amount of putrescine. Among the fermented foods, soy sauces were rich in putrescine and histamine, while Japanese sake contained plenty of agmatine. These polyamines are thought to be produced from amino acids during fermentation with amino acid decarboxylases formed by the micro-organisms.

A nucleotide polymorphism in ERCC1 in human ovarian cancer cell lines and tumor tissues

We studied the DNA sequence of the entire coding region of ERCC1 gene, in five cell lines established from human ovarian cancer (A2780, A2780/CP70, MCAS, OVCAR-3, SK-OV-3), 29 human ovarian cancer tumor tissue specimens, one human T-lymphocyte cell line (H9), and non-malignant human ovary tissue (NHO). Samples were assayed by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequence analyses. A silent mutation at codon 118 (site for restriction endonuclease MaeII) in exon 4 of the gene was detected in MCAS, OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3 cells, and NHO. This mutation was a C-->T transition, that codes for the same amino acid: asparagine. This transition converts a common codon usage (AAC) to an infrequent codon usage (AAT), whereas frequency of use is reduced two-fold. This base change was associated with a detectable band shift on SSCP analysis. For the 29 ovarian cancer specimens, the same base change was observed in 15 tumor samples and was associated with the same band shift in exon 4. Cells and tumor tissue specimens that did not contain the C-->T transition, did not show the band shift in exon 4. Our data suggest that this alteration at codon 118 within the ERCC1 gene, may exist in platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer tissues.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with hyperthermia for metastatic liver tumors of colorectal cancer

The efficacy of combined hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and hyperthermia for unresectable hepatic tumors of colorectal cancer was retrospectively compared with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy alone. Nine cases were treated with combination therapy and eight cases were treated with hepatic arterial infusion alone. The response rate in the combined hepatic arterial infusion/hyperthermia group was higher (44% v 25%) and the survival period longer (2-year survival, 35% v 12%) than in the group treated with hepatic arterial infusion alone. The toxicity was not severe, with the exception of gastrointestinal symptoms, suggesting that this combination of modalities is useful in the treatment of metastatic liver tumors.

Paracoccus denitrificans aromatic amino acid aminotransferase: a model enzyme for the study of dual substrate recognition mechanism

The gene for aromatic amino acid aminotransferase (ArAT) from Paracoccus denitrificans was cloned, sequenced, and overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells. The sequence differed from that reported previously [Takagi, T., Taniguchi, T., Yamamoto, Y., and Shibatani, T. (1991) Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 13, 112-119]. The enzyme (pdArAT) was purified to homogeneity, and characterized. It was similar to aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) and ArAT of E. coli (ecArAT) in many respects, including gross protein structure and spectroscopic properties. pdArAT showed activities toward both dicarboxylic and aromatic substrates, and analysis of the binding of substrate analogs and quasisubstrates to the enzyme showed that both dicarboxylic and aromatic substrates take a similar orientation in the active site of pdArAT; these properties are essentially identical with those of ecArAT. As in the case of ecArAT, neutral amino acids with larger side chains are better substrates for pdArAT, suggesting that hydrophobic interaction between the substrate and the enzyme is important for the recognition of substrates with neutral side chains. pdArAT catalyzed transamination of phenylalanine and tyrosine far more efficiently (10(2)-fold in terms of kcat/Km) than those of straight-chain aliphatic amino acids with similar side-chain surface area, whereas ecArAT did not show significant preference for aromatic amino acids over aliphatic amino acids. This shows that the substrate-side-chain-binding pocket of pdArAT, as compared with the pocket of ecArAT, is well suited in shape for interaction with the phenyl and hydroxyphenyl rings of substrates. Thus, pdArAT is an ideal enzyme among ArATs for the study of the high-specificity recognition of two different kinds of substrates, the one having a carboxylic side chain and the other having an aromatic side chain.

Alveolar bone loss in rats infected with a strain of Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum isolated from a child with prepubertal periodontitis

Prevotella intermedia and fusobacterium nucleatum are associated with various forms of periodontal disease. The purpose of the present study was to infect the clinical isolates of these periodontopathic bacteria and to induce a significant loss of alveolar bone in specific pathogen-free (SPF) rats in the absence of ligatures. P. intermedia YKD8 and F. nucleatum YKZ5 were isolated from a prepubertal periodontitis patient, while P. gingivalis MWB13 was from a patient with juvenile periodontitis. At first, SPF Sprague-Dawley rats (70 days of age, male) were infected with A. viscosus Ny1R and subsequently superinfected with P. gingivalis MWB13, P. intermedia YKD8, or F. nucleatum YKZ5, respectively. The control group was infected with A. viscosus Ny1R alone. All rats were killed and periodontal bone levels were assessed morphometrically 135 days after the first infection with A. viscosus. P. intermedia YKD8 was recovered frequently from rats, with serum antibody levels remaining highly elevated throughout the experiment. Significant loss of alveolar bone was found in rats infected with P. intermedia YKD8, the virulence of which was equivalent to that of P. gingivalis MWB13. F. nucleatum YKZ5 also induced alveolar bone loss, but not significantly when compared with rats infected with A. viscosus Ny1R alone.

High efficiency transformation of Bacillus brevis by electroporation

Various conditions in the Bacillus brevis transformation by electroporation were investigated to increase the efficiency. Competent cell volume and presence of polyethylene glycol 6000 and single stranded DNA on pulsing were critical for the efficiency. As a result, we established the improved method by which 10(7)-10(8) transformants/microgram plasmid DNA could be obtained.

Molecular analysis of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor genes p15INK4b/MTS2, p16INK4/MTS1, p18 and p19 in human cancer cell lines

Cyclin-dependent kinase-4 inhibitor genes (INK4) regulate the cell cycle and are candidate tumor-suppressor genes. To determine if alterations in the coding regions of the p18 and p19 genes, which are novel members of the INK4 family and if they correlate with the development of human cancer, 100 human cancer cell lines were analyzed. Two other INK4 gene family members, p15INK4b/MTS2 and p16INK4/MTS1 genes were also analyzed. Homozygous deletions of the p15INK4b/MTS2 gene were detected in 29 cancer cell lines. Thirty-five homozygous deletions and 7 intragenic mutations of the pl6INK4/MTS1 gene were also detected in these cell lines. Neither homozygous deletions nor intragenic mutations of the p18 and p19 genes were found except in an ovarian cancer cell line, SKOV3, harboring a single base pair deletion in exon 1 of p19. In p16INK4/MTS1 expression analysis, 5 cell lines with both authentic and alternative spliced p16INK4/MTS1 mRNA had no detectable p16INK4/MTS1 protein. These results suggest the hypotheses that either post-translational modification or enhanced degradation may be responsible for the lack of detection of the p16INK4/MTS1 protein. Using Western blot analysis, subsets of 26 human cancer cell lines were examined for p18 expression and 39 cell lines for p19 expression. All of these cell lines expressed the p18 or p19 protein, with the exception of SKOV3, which did not express p19. Therefore, the INK4 gene family may be divided into 2 groups. One group includes p15INK4b/MTS2 and p16INK4/MTS1, in which genetic and epigenetic alterations might contribute to the development of human cancers. The other group includes p18 and p19, in which somatic mutations are uncommon in many types of human cancer, and their role in human carcinogenesis and cancer progression is uncertain.

Isolation and characterization of the human chromosomal gene for prostacyclin-stimulating factor

Prostacyclin-stimulating factor (PSF) is a protein which acts on vascular endothelial cells and stimulates the production of prostacyclin. Recently, we were able to purify PSF from the conditioned medium of cultured human diploid fibroblasts and clone PSF cDNA. In this study, we screened a human genomic library and isolated genomic clones to determine the structure of the human chromosomal PSF gene. By determining the nucleotide sequence and transcription initiation site of this gene, we found that it comprises 5 exons and 4 introns. Southern hybridization analysis indicated the presence of a single copy of the PSF gene per haploid set of chromosomes. The 300 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site had a very high GC content, and 7 binding sites for the transcription regulating factor Sp1 were present.

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma in normal liver with no evidence of HBV or HCV infection

We reported a very rare case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in a normal liver without persistent hepatitis B or C virus (HBV or HCV) infection. A 39-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for epigastralgia. Laboratory data demonstrated normal liver function and she had no evidence of past and persistent HBV or HCV infection. Abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal CT scan demonstrated liver tumor of about 40 mm in maximal diameter in the lateral segment. This tumor was moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from the result of operative sample, and the non-tumor area surrounding the HCC was normal pathological finding. The potential integration of HBV DNA into tumor or non tumor cells was not observed. This is a very rare case of hepatocellular carcinoma developed in a normal liver without HBV and HCV infection.

Neuroendocrine differentiation in pancreatic duct carcinoma special emphasis on duct-endocrine cell carcinoma of the pancreas

To evaluate the significance of neuroendocrine differentiation in duct carcinoma of the pancreas, we investigated 79 pancreatic carcinomas, applying histochemistry and immunohistochemistry (chromogranin A, Leu-7, synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and correlated the morphologic differentiation pattern with clinicopathological characteristics. There were two types of neuroendocrine differentiation: scattered (n = 23) and diffuse (n = 3). The scattered type of pancreatic duct carcinoma contained scattered endocrine cells amounting to less than 10% of the neoplastic cells and was seen more frequently in well-differentiated carcinomas. There was no characteristic clinical feature found in the scattered type when compared with the tumors devoid of endocrine cells (n = 53). In contrast, the diffuse type showed diffuse immunostaining with NSE and synaptophysin in tumor cells and dense core granules ultrastructurally. These tumors showed a greater hypervascularity in angiography (p < 0.01) and the patients had relatively longer survival (33.3 months, p < 0.05) than unresectable cases of other histological types of pancreatic cancer. Two types of neuroendocrine differentiation (scattered and diffuse) existed in pancreatic ductal carcinoma. The diffuse type (Duct-Endocrine Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas) showed synchronous duct and endocrine differentiation and particular clinical features.

Effect of oxygen-enriched aeration on regeneration of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cell culture

The effect of the oxygen concentration in the aeration gas on regeneration from rice cells in bioreactor cultures was investigated. The efficiency of regeneration in cultures aerated with over 40% oxygen was higher than that in a flask culture. In the case of a culture in which the dissolved oxygen(DO) was saturated by aeration with air, the efficiency of regeneration was less than the half that of cultures aerated with 40% oxygen. In cultures with the DO levels controlled at 8,10 and 12 mg/ℓ, the efficiency of regeneration was highest at 12 mg/ℓ. In the oxygenenriched cultures, although cell aggregation was observed and the color of plantlets was relatively pale, more than 90% of them grew into healthy plants.

Effects of the addition of hyaluronate segments with different chain lengths on the viscoelasticity of hyaluronic acid solutions

The effects of the addition of sodium hyaluronate segments (sHA) with different chain lengths on the viscoelasticity of high molecular weight sodium hyaluronate (HA) aqueous solutions were studied. The additive effects of sHA depended on the chain length of sHA. Shorter sHA decreased storage (G') and loss (G") moduli, whereas longer sHA increased both moduli. In physiological saline, the effects of the addition of sHA depended on the chain length of sHA, as in aqueous solutions, except that shorter segments did not decrease both moduli. The effects of the addition of monosaccharides, i.e., N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) and sodium glucuronate (GlcANa), were also studied. Although GlcNAc increased G' and G", GlcANa decreased both moduli. A shift factor "A," which depended on chain-length effects, a sugar effect, and a salt effect, was developed to explain these additive effects quantitatively.

Concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor in the sera of normal controls and cancer patients

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to play crucial roles in tumor angiogenesis. We have investigated the circulating level of VEGF in sera from cancer patients as well as from healthy normal controls using a sensitive enzymatic immunoassay. Immunoreactive VEGF proteins were detectable in normal sera, and the cutoff level was determined to be 180 pg/ml. In examined patients with all types of cancer, including breast, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and lung cancer, an aberrant increase in the circulating level of VEGF was detected. For example, in 137 primary breast cancer patients, 12 (8.8%) showed an aberrant increase in VEGF levels. This aberrant expression of VEGF in sera was significantly associated with the progression of the disease, and with VEGF protein expression in tumor tissues. In addition, a Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of the VEGF165 form in sera from a patient with recurrent breast cancer. It was concluded that VEGF was detectable in normal sera, and its level was increased in some populations of cancer patients. A positive angiogenesis regulator, VEGF might function as an endocrine growth factor, particularly for solid tumors.

Suppression of growth in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo of human carcinoma cell lines by transfected p16INK4

The function of p16INK4 as a putative tumor suppressor gene was examined by investigating its ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cell lines in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. A p16INK4 cDNA expression vector was transfected into five human cancer cell lines that varied in their p16INK4 and retinoblastoma (Rb) status. Suppression of colony-forming efficiency was seen in four cell lines. Of two cell lines wild type for p16INK4 but null for Rb protein expression, one (Hep 3B) showed inhibition of colony formation, whereas the other (Saos-2) did not. This observation may demonstrate involvement of p16INK4 independent of Rb. The transfected p16INK4 gene was frequently selected against and lost during continued growth in vitro. When compared to the colon carcinoma cell line (DLD-1),p16INK4-transfected DLD-1 clone 1 cells were less tumorigenic in athymic nude mice. Tumors arising from p16INK4-transfected DLD-1 clones, which were growth suppressed in vitro, either lost the integrated exogenous p16INK4 or expressed reduced amounts of p16INK4 protein. Therefore, p16INK4 was also selected against during tumor formation in vivo. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that p16INK4 is a tumor suppressor gene.

Treatment of T3 and T4 carcinomas of the gallbladder

Forty-nine patients with T3 and T4 carcinoma of the gallbladder were treated by three different regimens. Group 1 consisted of 26 patients treated with combined resection alone; group 2 was twelve patients whose tumors had spread to the hepatoduodenal ligament treated with combined resection plus intraoperative radiation therapy; group 3 comprised eleven patients with nonresectable tumors treated with hyperthermia in combination with chemoradiation therapy (HCRT). The difference in the survival rates between group 1 and 2 were statistically significant (p < 0.001); however, the difference between group 2 and 3 was not significant. In group 1, there was a significant difference between patients with and without lymph node involvement in the 3-year survival rate (p < 0.01). Thus, the only patients without involvement of regional lymph nodes and the hepatoduodenal ligament have the best potential for long-term survival through aggressive surgical approaches. HCRT may provide an alternative palliation for patients with advanced carcinoma showing obstructive jaundice.

[Molecullar structure and function of the p16/INK4a/CDKN2/MTS1 and the INK4 family, and their association with carcinogenesis]

The p16INK4a was isolated as a gene which binds and inhibits the cyclin-dependent kinase 4. Other laboratories reported that the isolated gene frequently homozygously deleted within chromosome 9p21 was the p16INK4a. The p16INK4a gene was thought be a hot gene like the p53 gene at the time. Nevertheless, the gene was thought to be a false tumor suppressor gene due to the low incidence the alterations of the gene in various surgical tumor samples. Since then, there have been a lot of reports supporting that p16INK4a is a really tumor suppressor gene including the reports on the high incidence of p16INK4a alterations in some kinds of tumors, on the higher incidence of p16INK4a alterations in the metastatic tumors than that of the primary tumors, on the G1 arrest of p16INK4a lack cells transfected with p16INK4a cDNA, and on the inactivation of p16INK4a gene by hypermethylation. Therefore, the p16INK4a gene has become the tumor suppressor gene, lately. Moreover, the INK4 family including p15INK4b, p18INK4c, and p19INK4d was isolated. These reports taken together, p16INK4a and INK4 family might play important roles in the genesis and development of cancer.

Intragenic mutations of the p16(INK4), p15(INK4B) and p18 genes in primary non-small-cell lung cancers

The p15(INK4B), p16(INK4) and p18 genes are members of the gene family coding for inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6. p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4) are located at 9p21, a chromosomal region frequently deleted in many human neoplasms. To examine the role of these 3 genes in lung carcinogenesis, somatic mutations within the genes were analyzed by single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing in 71 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples. Six somatic mutations in the p16(INK4) gene and 3 cases with a polymorphic allele were observed. Loss of heterozygosity in the p18 gene was found in 1 sample. We did not find any intragenic mutations in the p15(INK4B) or p18 genes. We conclude that p16(INK4) mutations play a role in the formation of some NSCLCs, whereas the involvement of p15(INK4B) and p18 is uncommon.

An aspartate aminotransferase from an extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus HB8

The aspartate aminotransferase gene (AspAT, EC 2.6.1.1) of an extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus HB8, was cloned and sequenced, and its gene product was overproduced. The purified T. thermophilus AspAT was stable up to about 80 degrees C at neutral pH. T. thermophilus AspAT was strictly specific for acidic amino acid substrates, such as aspartate, glutamate, and the respective keto acids. The gene coding for T. thermophilus AspAT showed that it comprised 1,155 bp with a high G+C content (70 mol%), and encoded a 385-residue protein with a molecular weight of 42,050. The amino acid sequence of T. thermophilus AspAT deduced from its gene showed about 15, 46, and 29% homology with those from Escherichia coli, Bacillus sp. YM-2, and Sulfolobus solfataricus, respectively. When the amino acid sequence of T. thermophilus AspAT was compared with that of E. coli AspAT, the number of Cys was found to have decreased from 5 to 1, that of Asn from 23 to 9, that of Gln from 16 to 8, and that of Asp from 20 to 13, all of which are known to be relatively labile at high temperatures. Conversely, the number of Pro was increased from 15 to 25, Arg from 22 to 32, and Glu 27 to 37. As shown by the E. coli AspAT structure, there was a marked tendency for the extra prolyl residues to be located around the surface of the molecule. This was quite different from that in the case of RecA protein, which shows an increased number of prolyl residues in the interior of its molecule. Different strategies of different proteins as to prolyl contribution to thermostability have been suggested. Despite the high degree of conservation of active-site residues, Arg292 in E. coli AspAT, which interacts with the distal carboxylate of the substrate, was not found in T. thermophilus AspAT. Arg89 may complement the function of Arg292.

Japan's financing system for health care of the elderly

The multiplicity of Japan's health insurance system fails to achieve equality among the different insurance groups of the sharing of the financial burden. This "horizontal" inequality is effectively offset by a unique redistribution mechanism established in 1982. However, there is no reserve fund so that savings can be accumulated for the greater financial need in the future. This will inevitably lead to a heavier financial burden for the future working generation or more utilization of the personal assets of the elderly. How to achieve "vertical" or intergenerational equality in financing the cost of health care for the elderly is the biggest social policy challenge for Japan.

Characteristics of the antitumor activity of M-16 and M-18, major metabolites of a new mitomycin C derivative KW-2149, in mice

The cell growth inhibitory activity, antitumor activity and toxicity of M-16 and M-18, the major metabolites of a new mitomycin C (MMC) derivative KW-2149, in mouse and human were compared with those of KW-2149 or MMC in vitro and in vivo. The growth inhibitory activity of M-18, a symmetrical disulfide dimer, against human uterine cervix carcinoma HeLa S3 cells was almost equivalent to that of KW-2149 and their IC50 values were about 10-fold smaller than that of MMC. The activity of M-16, a methyl sulfide form, was almost equivalent to that of MMC. The cell-killing activity of MMC and M-16 was augmented in the hypoxic condition, whereas that of KW-2149 and M-18 was reduced. M-16 also exhibited almost equivalent activities to MMC in vivo in terms of many biological profiles, i.e., antitumor activity against murine P388 leukemia, ascitic or solid B16 melanoma or human lung carcinoma xenograft L-27, and bone marrow toxicity in mice. These in vitro and in vivo results indicate that the antitumor activity and toxicity of KW-2149 might not be mediated by M-16 in mice. On the other hand, M-18 exhibited almost equivalent activities to KW-2149 in these regards, suggesting the involvement of M-18 in the biological activities of KW-2149. However, the small values of the area under the curve of M-18 in mice make this unlikely. Thus the biological activities of KW-2149 in mice are not explained by the M-16 or M-18 concentration in plasma and are postulated to be manifested by KW-2149 itself.

Genetic heterogeneity of chromosome 11 associated with tumorigenicity in HeLa D98-OR cells

D98-OR is a tumorigenic subline of HeLa cells. We isolated nine subclones from D98-OR and examined their tumorigenicity in nude mice. Three, two, and four subclones were highly, weakly, and nontumorigenic, respectively. While they all contained two copies of intact chromosome 11, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis revealed that the allelic composition of this chromosome differed among them. The highly tumorigenic subclones were heterozygous for the 11p and 11q loci, whereas those that were weakly or nontumorigenic were homozygous. Thus, the loss of one chromosome 11 with the duplication of another associated with the reduced tumorigenicity. Taken together with previous reports, our results indicate that a putative tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 11 controls tumorigenic expression in a gene dosage-dependent manner, and most importantly, suggested that the functional inactivation of the gene requires only a "one-hit" mutation.

Efficient production of casoxin D, a bradykinin agonist peptide derived from human casein, by Bacillus brevis

We efficiently produced a small peptide by the host-vector system using Bacillus brevis as a host. DNA encoding the physiologically functional casoxin D, composed of seven amino acids, was ligated in tandem. An expression-secretion vector containing DNA, which codes for a fusion protein of epidermal growth factor-casoxin D pentamer, was constructed. B. brevis transformed with this plasmid produced about 0.5 g/liter of the fusion protein in the culture supernatant. The fusion protein was purified with ammonium sulfate fractionation from the supernatant and digested with two kinds of proteinases. A peptide well separated by high pressure liquid chromatography was identified as biologically active casoxin D.

Hematogenous metastases of pancreatic ductal carcinoma

To investigate the heterogeneity of hematogenous metastases of pancreatic ductal carcinoma, we investigated carcinomatous spread in 130 autopsy cases. Hepatic metastases occurred most frequently, in 81 cases (62%), which may be explained by the fact that all veins draining the pancreas flow into the portal system. We closely examined the 49 cases without hepatic metastases. Sixteen patients had pulmonary metastases without hepatic metastases, whereas seven had peculiar hematogenous metastases without hepatic or pulmonary metastases. Fifteen of these 23 patients had pancreatic body carcinomas. The unusual patterns of spread might be due to (a) hepatofugal portosystemic shunting induced by splenic vein obstruction, (b) retrograde lymphatic infiltration from metastatic tracheobronchial lymph nodes, or (c) aggressive characteristics of the tumors indicated by peculiar histologic features such as pleomorphic or mucoepidermoid carcinoma, etc. Sixteen patients showed only lymph node metastases and 10 had no distant metastases. Seventeen of these 26 cases had pancreatic head carcinoma. Histologically, two patients had mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, and six had adenocarcinomas producing rich mucin. The average age of the group with no distant metastases was higher.

Reduced neck movement after operations for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Complaints resulting from reduced neck movements were investigated in 50 patients who had operations for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Seventy per cent had difficulty in performing 11 basic movements of daily living. Lateral bending or rotation were more difficult than flexion and extension. To look backwards was the most difficult movement. Complaints were highest among those in whom more than three levels of fusion had been carried out.

A case of pleomorphic carcinoma of the pancreas showing sequential histological change by immunohistochemical study

Pleomorphic carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare, histologically characterized pancreatic tumor with a rapid and fatal course. We report a case of a resected pleomorphic carcinoma located in the body of the pancreas in a 61-yr-old male. Histological analysis of the resected specimen revealed the coexistence of pleomorphic carcinoma with adenocarcinoma, but the recurrent tumors at autopsy 20 mo later were only of the adenocarcinomatous type. Cells in the adenocarcinomatous component showed a diffuse reactivity for CA19-9, CEA, and cytokeratin, and a focal reactivity for vimentin. In contrast, vimentin was diffusely expressed in pleomorphic lesion. Adenocarcinoma at autopsy expressed CA19-9, CEA, and cytokeratin, but not vimentin. These findings suggest that the recurrent adenocarcinoma may have developed as a consequence of sequential change in the nature of the tumor.

Angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory activities of various fermented foods

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE, E.C. 3.4.15.1) inhibitory activity were measured with 11 kinds (31 items) of fermented foods. Strong inhibitory activity was detected in soy sauce, fish sauce, natto, nyufu, and cheese, but not in mirin, sake, or vinegar.

Mutations in the p16INK4/MTS1/CDKN2, p15INK4B/MTS2, and p18 genes in primary and metastatic lung cancer

We examined the genomic status of cyclin-dependent kinase-4 and -6 inhibitors, p16INK4,p15INK4B, and p18, in 40 primary lung cancers and 31 metastatic lung cancers. Alterations of the p16INK4 gene were detected in 6 (2 insertions and 4 homozygous deletions) of 22 metastatic non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs; 27%), but none were detected in 25 primary NSCLCs, 15 primary small cell lung cancers (SCLCs), or 9 metastatic SCLCs, indicating that mutation in the p16INK4 gene is a late event in NSCLC carcinogenesis. Although three intragenic mutations of the p15INK4B gene were detected in 25 primary NSCLCs (12%) and five homozygous deletions of the p15INK4B gene were detected in 22 NSCLCs (23%), no genetic alterations of the p15INK4B gene were found in primary and metastatic SCLCs. The p18 gene was wild type in these 71 lung cancers, except 1 metastatic NSCLC which showed loss of heterozygosity. We also examined alterations of these three genes and expression of p16INK4 in 21 human lung cancer cell lines. Alterations of the p16INK4 and p15INK4B genes were detected in 71% of the NSCLC cell lines (n = 14) and 50% of the NSCLC cell lines (n = 14), respectively, but there were none in the 7 SCLC cell lines studied. No p18 mutations were detected in these 21 cell lines. These results indicate that both p16INK4 and p15INK4B gene mutations are associated with tumor progression of a subset of NSCLC, but not of SCLC, and that p15INK4B mutations might also be an early event in the molecular pathogenesis of a subset of NSCLC.

Reactivity of the co-type and baa3-type cytochrome c oxidases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with different endogenous cytochromes c

The reactivity between different cytochromes c purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells grown aerobically in the absence of nitrate and isolated cytochromes co and baa3 was determined. The P. aeruginosa cytochrome co reacted most rapidly with the membrane-bound cytochrome c-551 among three c-type cytochromes analyzed, whereas the cytochrome baa3 reacted best with the membrane-bound cytochrome c-555. The results indicated that two terminal electron transfer systems are present in aerobic P. aeruginosa: one contains the cytochrome c-551 and cytochrome co, and the other contains the cytochrome c-555 and cytochrome baa3.

Effects of high pressure treatment on Ca2+ release and Ca2+ uptake of sarcoplasmic reticulum

To clarify the mechanism of pressure-induced meat tenderization or acceleration of meat conditioning, the pressure-induced morphological and biochemical changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), and Ca2+ release from SR in the rabbit skeletal muscle treated with high pressure (100-300 MPa, 5 min) were investigated in comparison with those of the SR from conditioned muscle. The destruction of the membrane structure of the SR expanded with increasing pressure applied to the muscle. Significant changes in the SDS-PAGE profile were not observed in the SR from the pressurized muscle up to 200 MPa, but a marked decrease of the ATPase protein and high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding protein were observed in the SR from the pressurized muscle at 300 MPa. The ATPase activities increased in the SR isolated from the muscle exposed to high pressure up to 200 MPa. When the muscle was pressurized at 300 MPa, the ATPase activity dropped to the same level with that of the SR from the untreated muscle. Ca2+ uptake ability of the SR vesicles measured using a fluorescent chelating reagent decreased with increasing pressure applied to the muscle. Ultrastructural studies showed that Ca2+, which was mainly localized in the SR region of the untreated fiber bundles, was translocated into myofibrillar space in the pressurized muscle. It is clear that a brief exposure of the muscle to high pressure causes considerable changes in membrane structure and biochemical function of SR as compared with those of SR in the muscle induced by conditioning.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anti-hypertensive substances in fermented soybean, natto

Natto is a traditional Japanese fermented food made by fermenting boiled soy beans with Bacillus natto. Its contents of inhibitors against the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, EC3.4.15.1) were investigated. Relatively strong inhibitory activity (IC50: 0.4 mg/ml, 11.8 inhibition units/g natto) was detected in natto extracts and the inhibitory activity observed in the viscous fraction was more potent than in the bean extract. Two groups of inhibitors in the viscous material, high and low molecular weight inhibitors, were resolved by dialysis test. The inhibitor of high molecular weight was a protein with low IC50 value (0.12 mg/ml). The two types of low molecular weight inhibitors were detected in ethanol extracts (IC50: 0.53 mg/ml and 0.95 mg/ml) and they were found to be stable over a wide range of pH and temperature up to 100 degrees C. They were different in the mode of ACE inhibition. One is competitive, and the other noncompetitive against the hydrolysis of Bz-Gly-His-Leu by ACE.

High-incidence of allelic loss at the rb gene locus in advanced human ovarian-cancer

We examined 26 ovarian cancers for allelic losses at the loci of five tumor suppressor genes, p53, DCC, RB, APC and WT1. The loss of the p53 gene was most common among these five loci (13/20, 65%). The incidence of allelic loss at the RB locus was significantly higher in advanced stage (III-IV) (6/12, 50%) than in early stage (I-II) tumors (1/14, 7%). There were no cases in which the RB gene was lost but the p53 gene was retained. These results indicate that allelic loss of the RB gene locus occurs later than that of the p53 gene and plays a role in the progression of ovarian cancer.

Differential effect of duocarmycin A and its novel derivative DU-86 on DNA strand breaks in HeLa S3 cells

Duocarmycin A (DUMA) and DU-86, a semisynthetic derivative of duocarmycins (DUMs) and a possible active form of KW-2189, both showed potent cell growth-inhibitory and cell-killing activities against human uterine cervix carcinoma HeLa S3 cells. Both drugs showed similar profiles of inhibition of macromolecular synthesis and influence on cell-cycle distribution. Namely, they inhibited [3H]thymidine uptake at lower concentrations than [3H]uridine or [3H]leucine uptake, suggesting that the inhibition of DNA synthesis is the primary site of their actions. Furthermore, they induced the accumulation of cells in early S phase. However, a significant difference was observed between these drugs in terms of DNA-fragmentation activity against HeLa S3 cells by using two independent methods, pulse-field gel electrophoresis and alkaline elution. DNA fragmentation was insignificant in the cells treated with DU-86, in contrast to the cells treated with DUMA. The analysis of DNA adducts in the cells revealed that DU-86 alkylated adenine quite selectively, while DUMA alkylated both adenine and guanine. These results suggest that the pyrrolidone ring of DUMA is responsible for its adduct formation with guanine and the subsequent DNA-fragmentation and inhibition of DNA synthesis, while DU-86 alkylated adenine and inhibited DNA synthesis through mechanisms other than DNA-fragmentation.

Overexpression of human cyclin D1 reduces the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) type II receptor and growth inhibition by TGF-beta 1 in an immortalized human esophageal epithelial cell line

Cyclin D1 has been implicated in G1 cell cycle progression and is frequently amplified, overtranscribed, and oversynthesized in human tumors, including esophageal carcinomas. To further address the role of cyclin D1 in cell cycle control and tumorigenesis, we have stably transfected the human cyclin D1 in the nontumorigenic esophageal epithelial cell line HET-1A. These transfected cells, which express increased amounts of cyclin D1, have enhanced colony-forming efficiency and saturation density and are resistant to growth inhibition by TGF-beta 1 compared with the parental cell line or a control vector cell clone. The clones which express increased amounts of cyclin D1 exhibited a decrease in the amount of TGF-beta type II receptor, indicating a plausible mechanism for their diminished response to TGF-beta 1. Therefore, deregulated expression of the cyclin D1 gene can modulate the negative growth factor pathway of TGF-beta 1 and may disturb the control of epithelial cell proliferation in esophageal carcinogenesis.

Mutations and altered expression of p16INK4 in human cancer

Cell cycle arrest at the G1 checkpoint allows completion of critical macromolecular events prior to S phase. Regulators of the G1 checkpoint include an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase, p16INK4; two tumor-suppressor proteins, p53 and RB (the product of the retinoblastoma-susceptibility gene); and cyclin D1. Neither p16INK4 nor the RB protein was detected in 28 of 29 tumor cell lines from human lung, esophagus, liver, colon, and pancreas. The presence of p16INK4 protein is inversely correlated with detectable RB or cyclin D1 proteins and is not correlated with p53 mutations. Homozygous deletions of p16INK4 were detected in several cell lines, but intragenic mutations of this gene were unusual in either cell lines or primary tumors. Transfection of the p16INK4 cDNA expression vector into carcinoma cells inhibits their colony-forming efficiency and the p16INK4 expressing cells are selected against with continued passage in vitro. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that p16INK4 is a tumor-suppressor protein and that genetic and epigenetic abnormalities in genes controlling the G1 checkpoint can lead to both escape from senescence and cancer formation.

Intraoperative radiation therapy for pancreatic carcinoma. The choice of treatment modality

Ninety patients with carcinoma of the pancreas treated between 1976 and 1990 were reviewed retrospectively. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) in combination with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for localized but unresectable tumors (n = 29) prolonged survival significantly more than IORT alone (n = 16) (p < 0.01); it seems EBRT enhanced or contributed to the better results obtained with IORT plus EBRT. Moreover, IORT, alone or in combination, relieved pain. Adjuvant IORT for residual tumors (n = 20) might not effectively prolong survival, because the difference in survival rate between noncurative resection plus IORT and nonresection plus IORT in combination with EBRT was not significant. Curative tumor resection of stage III disease in combination with IORT (n = 9) resulted in significantly longer survival as compared with curative tumor resection alone (n = 8) (p < 0.05). It may be advisable to administer IORT in combination with EBRT to patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma, avoiding aggressive tumor resection, when curative tumor resection cannot be performed.

X-ray crystallographic study of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-type aspartate aminotransferases from Escherichia coli in open and closed form

We determined the three-dimensional structures of aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) from Escherichia coli and its complex with inhibitor (2-methyl-L-aspartate) at 1.8A resolution. This enzyme reversibly catalyzes the transamination reaction and is a dimer of two identical subunits. Each subunit has 396 amino acid residues and one pyridoxal 5'-phosphate as a cofactor, and is divided into two domains, one large and the other small. Upon binding of the inhibitor, the small domain rotates by 5 degrees toward the large domain to close the active site. This domain movement is caused mainly by small but important main-chain conformational changes in the residues located over the domain interface of the small domain. In chicken mitochondrial AspAT, the domain movement was larger, with a rotational angle of 13 degrees. By comparison of these two structures, the difference in the rotational angles was found to be caused by the larger opening of the domain in the open form of chicken mitochondrial AspAT. Although the overall structures of these two enzymes were almost identical, the surface area of the domain interface in the E. coli enzyme was larger than that in mitochondrial AspAT, suggesting that the structure of the domain interface is responsible for the degree of movement of the small domain.

In vivo wear pattern of experimental composite resins containing different filler components

Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an electron probe surface roughness analyzer (ERA), we conducted the in vivo study of the effect of various filler components on the wear of composite resins. Experimental light-cured composite resins were prepared employing three different filler components; -(1) Silica type, (2) Strontium type, and (3) Barium type. The filler content for all three types was 80 wt%, with the mean particlesize being 2.6 microns in diameter. The resin monomers consisted of 40 wt% Bis-GMA, 40 wt% TEGDMA and 20 wt% UTMA. These materials were placed in 2 mm diameter cylindrical cavities located in the OCA (occlusal contact area) or the CFA (contact free area) of cast crowns temporarily set in a volunteer patient's mouth. The crowns were removed at monthly intervals for longitudinal SEM observation. After two months, worn surfaces were also analyzed by ERA. The result showed that the wear patterns of the composites were characterized by the filler components, especially in the OCA.

Interactions between neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) and the substance P (NK1) receptor expressed in mammalian cells

Interactions between neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP) and the substance P receptor (SPR; NK1) were investigated by examining substance P (SP) degradation, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization in epithelial cells transfected with cDNA encoding the rat SPR and rat NEP. Expression of NEP accelerated the degradation of SP by intact epithelial cells and by membrane preparations, and degradation was reduced by the NEP inhibitor thiorphan. In cells expressing SPR alone, specific 125I-SP binding after 20 min incubation at 37 degrees C was 92.2 +/- 3.1% of maximal binding and was unaffected by thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR markedly reduced SP binding to 13.9 +/- 0.5% of maximal, and binding was increased to 82.7 +/- 2.4% of maximal with thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR also reduced to undetectable the increase in intracellular Ca2+ in response to low concentrations of SP (0.3 and 0.5 nM), and significantly reduced the response to higher concentrations (1 and 3 nM). The Ca2+ response was restored to control values by inhibition of NEP with thiorphan. In contrast, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization were only slightly reduced when cells expressing SPR alone were mixed with a 3- to 24-fold excess of cells expressing NEP alone. Therefore, in this system, NEP markedly down-regulates SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization only when coexpressed in the same cells as the SPR.

Characteristics of antitumor activity of KW-2189, a novel water-soluble derivative of duocarmycin, against murine and human tumors

Methyl(1S)-1-bromomethyl-7-methyl-5-[(4-methylpiperazinyl)-carb onyloxy]- 3-[(5,6,7-trimethoxy-2-indolyl)-carbonyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrolo[3, 2-e] indole-8-carboxylate hydrobromide (KW-2189), a novel derivative of duocarmycin B2, was selected for extensive evaluation based on its improved antitumor activity, water solubility, and stability in the culture medium, as compared with duocarmycin B2. Although the in vitro cell growth-inhibitory activity of KW-2189 was less potent than that of duocarmycin B2, it significantly inhibited the growth of five murine solid tumors including Colon 26 adenocarcinoma, Colon 38 adenocarcinoma, and B16 melanoma in vivo. KW-2189 was also effective against murine P388 leukemia and L1210 leukemia not only by local administration (i.p.-i.p. system), but also by systemic administration (i.p.-i.v. or i.v.-i.v. system). The most remarkable feature of KW-2189 was its efficacy against various human xenografts, which was observed in 14 tumors among 16 tested tumors including drug-insensitive tumors by single i.v. administration. Tumor regression was observed in mice bearing LC-6 lung, St-4 and St-40 stomach, Li-7 liver, PAN-2 pancreas, and MX-1 breast carcinomas. In many cases, the activities of KW-2189 were more than those of clinically active agents, mitomycin C, Adriamycin, cisplatin, and cyclophosphamide. Delayed lethal toxicity, which was reported in mice treated with CC-1065 whose structure was similar to KW-2189, was not observed in mice treated with KW-2189. KW-2189 inhibited DNA synthesis more significantly than RNA or protein synthesis, although DNA strand breaks were not observed. KW-2189 was activated by porcine liver esterase, mouse liver homogenate or Hep G2 homogenate, and DU-86-DNA adducts were detected in KW-2189-treated HeLa S3 cells, suggesting that KW-2189 was converted to DU-86 in the cells. These results indicate that KW-2189 is an interesting candidate for further development as a novel antitumor agent.

Viscoelasticity of hyaluronic acid with different molecular weights

Storage and loss moduli of hyaluronic acid solutions with different molecular weights were observed as a function of frequency in the presence of sugars and salts. The hyaluronic acid solutions of higher molecular weight (Mw > 17 x 10(6)) fractions showed entanglement, whereas lower molecular weight fractions did not. For inducing the entanglement of molecular chains of hyaluronic acid, increasing the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid was more effective than increasing the concentration of the lower molecular weight fractions (Mw = 7. 8 x 10(5). Glucose, fructose, galactose, and sucrose increased both storage and loss moduli, while NaCl, KCl and CaCl2 decreased both moduli. It is suggested that sugars create hydrogen bonds and strengthen the transient network. Cations shield the electrostatic repulsion of hyaluronic acid molecules, and the polymer chains are shrunk into compact coils from expanded stiffened coils.

Construction of aminotransferase chimeras and analysis of their substrate specificity

Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) and E. coli aromatic amino acid aminotransferase (AroAT) have almost identical and high activities toward acidic amino acid substrates. AroAT also has high activity toward aromatic amino acid substrates. The two proteins have 44% amino acid sequence homology. In order to study the mechanism responsible for the different substrate specificities of these aminotransferases, chimeric enzymes of AspAT and AroAT were constructed using homologous recombination in E. coli cells. Five chimeric enzymes were obtained, even though the nucleotide sequence homology between the two parent enzymes was as low as about 50%. The yields of the legitimate chimeric genes were related to the lengths of the homologous region between the two parent genes. Homologous recombination occurred in the region where more than eight nucleotides out of ten were identical. The substrate specificity of the chimeric enzymes suggest that not only the amino acid residues in the active site but also those distant from the active site contribute to the substrate specificity of the parental aminotransferases.

Characterization of antibodies to the rat substance P (NK-1) receptor and to a chimeric substance P receptor expressed in mammalian cells

Antibodies to neuropeptide receptors can be used to localize and characterize the receptors in tissues and cell lines. Two strategies were used to study the rat substance P receptor (SPR, NK-1) by immunological methods. First, a polyclonal antiserum was raised by immunizing rabbits with a peptide corresponding to the 15 amino acid residues (KTMTESSSFYSNMLA, SPR393-407) at the intracellular C-terminus of the rat SPR coupled to bovine thyroglobulin. An antiserum was obtained with a titer for half-maximal binding of 125I-SPR393-407 of 1:70,000. Nonradioactive SPR393-407 inhibited 50% of binding at a concentration of 10 pM. Binding of 125I-SPR393-407 to the antiserum was also displaced in a parallel manner by membrane proteins from tissues expressing high levels of the SPR (brain and submaxillary gland). Second, a chimeric SPR construct of a hydrophilic Flag peptide (DYKDDDDK) genetically engineered in sequence with the extracellular N-terminus of rat SPR was generated by polymerase chain reaction. The Flag-SPR chimera was expressed in rat kidney epithelial cells (KNRK) and judged to be fully functional, assessed by binding of 125I-substance P (apparent Kd of 5.63 nM) and calcium mobilization in response to substance P (EC50 of 0.66 nM). Antibodies to SPR393-407 and the Flag peptide stained the plasma membrane of KNRK cells expressing the native SPR or the Flag-SPR chimera. Staining was abolished by preincubation with SPR393-407 or the Flag peptide. Cells transfected with vector alone were unstained. The SPR antiserum recognized a broad protein band on Western blots of membranes prepared from cells expressing SPR but not from cells transfected with vector alone. The signal was quenched by preincubation of the antiserum with SPR393-407. By immunohistochemistry, the SPR antiserum was found to bind to neurons in the dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord and to ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus of the rat ileum near substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers. Staining was abolished by preabsorption of the antiserum with SPR393-407. These antibodies can be used to localize the SPR in tissues and cells and to examine the function of the receptor in cell lines.

A case-matched control study of intrahepatoarterial chemotherapy in combination with or without regional hyperthermia for treatment of primary and metastatic hepatic tumours

The efficacy of the combined application of intrahepatoarterial (IHA) chemotherapy and regional hyperthermia for the treatment of unresectable hepatic tumours was studied in a case-matched, retrospective control study. Well-matched pairs of patients with the same or similar background factors, who had been treated with IHA chemotherapy plus hyperthermia (group A; n = 32) and with IHA chemotherapy alone (group B; n = 32) were included in this study. In group A, partial responses (PRs) were found in 2 of 8, 4 of 8, and 5 of 16 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic gastric cancer, and metastatic colorectal cancer, respectively. In group B, PRs were found in 1 of 8, 3 of 8, and 5 of 16 patients with those diseases, respectively. Overall, PRs were found in 12 (37%) and 9 (28%) of 32 patients in groups A and B, respectively; progressive disease was found in 6 (19%) in group A and in 12 (38%) in group B. These results indicate that this combination therapy is of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of unresectable hepatic tumours.