Congenital oligodendroglioma: a case report of a 34th-gestational week fetus with immunohistochemical study and review of the literature

A case of congenital oligodendroglioma occurring in a 34th-gestational week fetus is reported. The tumor was necrotic, hemorrhagic, and gelatinous. It covered the basal part of the brain, and almost the entire cerebellum was replaced by the tumor. The tumor cells had small, round, hyperchromatic nuclei and watery clear cytoplasm, and were arranged in a paved or alveolar pattern. Immunohistochemically, S100 protein, myelin-basic protein, neuron-specific enolase and Leu 7 were weakly positive for the cytoplasm, but glial fibrilliary acidic protein, synaptophysin, neurofilament, desmin, and vimentin were negative. Many tumor cell nuclei were positive for mutant p53 protein, and the labeling index was 85%. But there was no genetic alteration in exons 4 to 9 of p53 gene from the peripheral blood. The apoptosis index was 1.5%. Considering the p53 labeling index and the apoptosis index together, this congenital oligodendroglioma may be regarded as potentially malignant despite the benign morphological features.

Interaction of the DNA topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitor meso-2,3-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazine-1-yl)butane (ICRF-193), a bisdioxopiperazine derivative, with the conserved region(s) of eukaryotic but not prokaryotic enzyme

ICRF-193 [meso-2,3-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazine-1-yl)butane], a bisdioxopiperazine compound, has been shown to be a catalytic inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase II by stabilizing the enzyme in the form of a closed "protein clamp," an intermediate form in the catalytic cycle (Roca et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91: 1781-1785, 1994). In view of its usefulness as a probe in the functional analysis of the enzyme, we tried further to define the domain(s) of the enzyme interacting with the drug by examining its inhibitory activity on type II topoisomerases from various species of eukaryotes and prokaryotes. ICRF-193 inhibited the enzyme from yeast, fly, frog, plant, and mammals at IC50 values in the range of 1-13 microM. Experiments using fission yeast truncated mutant type II enzyme lacking both amino-terminal 74 amino acids and carboxy-terminal 265 amino acids revealed that ICRF-193 interacts with the 125 kDa "core" polypeptide of the enzyme. In contrast, prokaryotic type II enzymes, Escherichia coli DNA gyrase, topo IV, and phage T4 topo, were not affected by the drug. From these results, the domain(s) common to eukaryotic but not to prokaryotic type II enzymes interacting with ICRF-193 was speculated.

The association of sialyl Lewis(a) antigen with the metastatic potential of human colon cancer cells

BACKGROUND

The vascular endothelium plays a critical role in cancer metastasis by directing circulating cancer cells into extravascular tissues and by expressing cell adhesion molecules. The authors investigated the interaction between a cell line derived from human colon cancer and cultured murine endothelial cells, in vitro, and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Variant cell lines with high (WiDr-HA) or low (WiDr-LA) levels of cell surface sialyl Lewis(a) antigen (s-Le(a)) were isolated from the heterogeneous WiDr cells (WiDr-P) in order to characterize the biological behavior of colon cancer cells having elevated cell surface contents of s-Le(a).

RESULTS

A correlation was found to exist between the degree of s-Le(a) expression, and the attachment of cancer cells to activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, or to F-2 cells isolated from murine vascular endothelial cells. The adhesion of WiDr-P and WiDr-HA to F-2 cells was inhibited by the addition of anti-s-Le(a) antibody (Ab). WiDr-P and WiDr-HA both demonstrated the capacity to metastasize to the liver, by the inoculation of cancer cells to the spleen, while WiDr-LA did not do so. The number of metastatic nodules of WiDr-HA was significantly higher than that of WiDr-P. Treatment with anti-s-Le(a) Ab inhibited the metastasis of WiDr-P and WiDr-HA to the liver, but not with anti-s-Le(x) Ab.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that s-Le(a) plays an important role in cell adhesion molecules, in the metastasis of colon cancer.

Induction of intestinal lesions in nu/nu mice induced by transfer of lymphocytes from syngeneic mice infected with murine retrovirus

BACKGROUND

Murine leukemia virus, LP-BM5, induces severe immunodeficiency with abnormal lymphoproliferation in susceptible C57BL/6 mice. In a previous study, it was shown that a Sjögren's syndrome-like systemic exocrinopathy is induced in the virus infected mice.

AIMS

To examine lymphocyte functions of the virus infected mice.

METHODS

Four-week old mice were inoculated with the virus and their spleen cells were transferred into syngeneic nu/nu mice. Their organs were examined by light and electron microscopy. Phenotypes of the colon infiltrating cells were examined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

All nu/nu recipients had died by six weeks after cell transfer, showing runting disease like cachexia with diarrhoea and anal bleeding. Histopathological examination revealed that systemic exocrinopathy was adoptively transferable and that the colon became thickened due to mononuclear cell infiltration into the mucosal and submucosal layer with hyperplasia of intestinal epithelial cells. No virus particles were found in the colon. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that most of the infiltrating CD4+ T cells showed CD45RBlow. No intestinal lesions were observed in the virus infected mice nor in nu/nu mice inoculated with normal lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION

Lymphocytes of the virus infected mice induced colitis and hyperplasia of intestinal epithelial cells as well as systemic exocrinopathy in nu/nu mice. Our experimental system may give some insight into intestinal lesions associated with virus infection.

DNA topoisomerase II as the cellular target of a novel antitumor agent ICRF-193, a bisdioxopiperazine derivative, in Xenopus egg extract

We have investigated the molecular target of an antitumor agent ICRF-193, a bisdioxopiperazine derivative, in in vitro chromosome condensation system of Xenopus egg extract (XEE), where DNA topoisomerase II was previously demonstrated to play a crucial role. Demembranated Xenopus sperm head chromatin is converted to metaphase chromosome-like structure in XEE in two steps, i.e., swelling of the chromatin followed by condensation of chromosome. When ICRF-193 was added to the reaction, swelling of the chromatin was not affected but chromosome condensation was completely blocked. This blockade was reversed by exogenous supplement of calf thymus topoisomerase II, which was in turn neutralized by anti-topoisomerase II monoclonal antibody. These results demonstrate that topoisomerase II is the molecular target of the drug ICRF-193.

Increased level of circulating adhesion molecules in the sera of breast cancer patients with distant metastases

The adhesion of circulating cancer cells to the vascular endothelium is an important at step in the hematogenous metastasis of cancer. E-selectin expressed on endothelial cells and carbohydrate ligands expressed on cancer cells mediate this adhesion. We investigated the clinical significance of such cell adhesion molecules in breast cancer. The cytosol concentration of sialyl Lewis(x) was found more elevated in cancerous tissue than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissue. In the serum, sialyl Lewis(x) and soluble E-selectin were seen elevated in patients with advanced and recurrent breast cancer, especially in those with distant metastases. From the above, we have concluded that sialyl Lewis(x) and soluble E-selectin could be used as tumor markers with a close relationship to the metastasis of breast cancer.

A novel G1-specific enhancer identified in the human heat shock protein 70 gene

Expression of the human heat shock protein 70 gene (hsp70) is induced by various kinds of stress and by oncogenes. In the absence of stress, hsp70 is mainly expressed in the G1and S phases of the cell cycle, but the elements contributing to cell cycle-dependent expression from the hsp70 promoter remain elusive. We have previously reported that two elements, named HSP-MYCA and HSP-MYCB, located approximately 200 bp upstream (-200) from the transcription start site (+1) of human hsp70, are important for initiation of DNA replication at the hsp70 locus. In this report we examine the effect of these two elements on transcriptional activity from the hsp70 promoter, especially in terms of cell cycle-dependent expression. Various segments of the hsp70 promoter region (up to -300) were linked to the luciferase gene and the constructs were transfected into mouse L cells to examine their transcriptional activity. A strong enhancer activity was defined in the HSP-MYCB element, but not in HSP-MYCA. Mutations introduced within HSP-MYCB abolished the transcriptional activation. In synchronized cells, pHB-Luc (a luciferase construct containing approximately 2.4 kb of the hsp70 promoter region) as well as endogenous hsp70 showed two peaks of expression; one in G1 and the other in the S phase. Site-directed mutagenesis of HSP-MYCB in pHB-Luc abolished the expression peak in G1, but not that in the S phase. To test promoter specificity, wild-type and mutant HSP-MYCB elements were then linked to the luciferase gene in combination with the hsp70 , the cyclin A or the PCNA promoter. Both in transient experiments and established cell lines, a strong peak of expression in mid-G1phase was observed with all the constructs containing wild-type HSP-MYCB, but not with the constructs containing the mutant sequence. These results suggest that the HSP-MYCB sequence is a G1-specific enhancer and is responsible for cell cycle-dependent expression of hsp70.

Familial aggregation of soft tissue sarcomas: a report of three cases from a Li-Fraumeni-like family

Three rare cases of familial aggregation of soft tissue sarcomas (malignant fibrous histiocytoma in a mother and liposarcomas in her two children) are described. The mother developed a late onset of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in her right thigh. Her son and daughter both developed retroperitoneal liposarcomas at the ages of 38 and 33 years, respectively. The mother also developed gastric carcinoma as a second malignancy after a 2-year interval. These clinical features closely resemble those of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, but do not fulfill the exact diagnostic criteria. Genetically, the germline mutation of the p53 gene between exons 4 and 9 was not detected by sequencing DNA obtained from the peripheral blood of the mother. Immunohistochemically, p53 protein was found only in the liposarcoma of the daughter. These results strongly suggest that this familial aggregation of soft tissue sarcomas is very rare, and that it is a unique feature of a familial cancer syndrome that to our knowledge has not been defined or described previously.

Adhesion molecules and TGF-beta1 are involved in the peritoneal dissemination of NUGC-4 human gastric cancer cells

Peritoneal dissemination frequently occurs after surgery in patients with gastric cancer. The presence of peritoneal metastasis after surgery affects prognosis. Very little is known about the biochemical processes involved in the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to peritoneal mesothelial cells. We conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the role of adhesion molecules and TGF-beta1 in this process, using 4 cell lines derived from human gastric cancers. NUGC-4 cells, which disseminate early after inoculation into the abdominal cavity of nude mice, predominantly express CD44H and beta1 integrin. We found that NUGC-4 cells adhered to monolayers of mesothelial cells more firmly than to other cell lines. Adhesion of NUGC-4 cells to mesothelial cells was partially inhibited by antibodies against CD44H or the beta1 subunit of integrin and was completely blocked by a combination of these 2 antibodies. Treatment with ligands for CD44H and beta1 integrin also inhibited adhesion. In the NUGC-4 cell culture medium, larger amounts of TGF-beta1 were detected in relation to the increase in cancer cells than in the other cell lines. TGF-beta1 increased the expression of CD44H in NUGC-4 cells and in mesothelial cells and augmented adhesion and implantation of NUGC-4 cells to mesothelial cells accompanied by accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Treatment with antibodies against both CD44H and beta1 integrin inhibited the dissemination of NUGC-4 cells in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice and prolonged their survival time. Our findings suggest that CD44H and integrins mediate the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to mesothelial cells and that TGF-beta1 participates in the promotion of the disease. Increased expression of CD44H and of the amount of ligands for CD44H and integrins induced by TGF-beta1 promotes early development of peritoneal dissemination.

Adhesion molecules and TGF-beta1 are involved in the peritoneal dissemination of NUGC-4 human gastric cancer cells

Peritoneal dissemination frequently occurs after surgery in patients with gastric cancer. The presence of peritoneal metastasis after surgery affects prognosis. Very little is known about the biochemical processes involved in the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to peritoneal mesothelial cells. We conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the role of adhesion molecules and TGF-beta1 in this process, using 4 cell lines derived from human gastric cancers. NUGC-4 cells, which disseminate early after inoculation into the abdominal cavity of nude mice, predominantly express CD44H and beta1 integrin. We found that NUGC-4 cells adhered to monolayers of mesothelial cells more firmly than to other cell lines. Adhesion of NUGC-4 cells to mesothelial cells was partially inhibited by antibodies against CD44H or the beta1 subunit of integrin and was completely blocked by a combination of these 2 antibodies. Treatment with ligands for CD44H and beta1 integrin also inhibited adhesion. In the NUGC-4 cell culture medium, larger amounts of TGF-beta1 were detected in relation to the increase in cancer cells than in the other cell lines. TGF-beta1 increased the expression of CD44H in NUGC-4 cells and in mesothelial cells and augmented adhesion and implantation of NUGC-4 cells to mesothelial cells accompanied by accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Treatment with antibodies against both CD44H and beta1 integrin inhibited the dissemination of NUGC-4 cells in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice and prolonged their survival time. Our findings suggest that CD44H and integrins mediate the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to mesothelial cells and that TGF-beta1 participates in the promotion of the disease. Increased expression of CD44H and of the amount of ligands for CD44H and integrins induced by TGF-beta1 promotes early development of peritoneal dissemination.

[Effects of carcinostatic agents in the hematogenous metastasis of cancer]

The experimental studies in vitro and in vivo were performed to investigate the effects of carcinostatic agents in the adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells. Certain carcinostatic agents induce the expression of E-selectin on endothelial cells and enhance the expression of carbohydrate ligands on cancer cells. Consequently, increased adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells was observed by the treatment of carcinostatic agents. In the trans-splenic hepatic metastasis model using nude mice, the augmentation of cancer metastasis was observed by the treatment of carcinostatic agents. From the above, we concluded that carcinostatic agents may increase the metastatic ability of cancer cells in patients with cancer.

Increased concentration of soluble E-selectin in the sera of breast cancer patients

E-selectin which is expressed on endothelial cells plays an important role in the adhesion of cancer cells to the vascular endothelium, being the ligand for a carbohydrate antigen expressed on cancer cells. In this study, the clinical usefulness of this protein was examined. E-selectin was expressed on the endothelial cells of the small vessels adjacent to the cancer nests in 63 of the 104 (60.6%) primary tumors of breast cancer. The expression of E-selectin in locations adjacent to the cancer nests was more pronounced than that in distant ones. The mean value of serum soluble E-selectin (ng/ml) was 38.3 in benign breast disease, 47.8 in those with no evidence of recurrence, 49.4 in stage I/II primary breast cancer, 75.8 in stage III/IV primary breast cancer, and 93.7 in recurrent breast cancer. The mean value of serum soluble E-selectin was 106.2 ng/ml in patients with distant metastases, and 50.4 ng/ml in those with no evidence of distant metastases. Thus, the concentration of soluble E-selectin was significantly elevated in the sera of patients with distant metastases. These findings suggested that cancer cells induced the expression of E-selectin on endothelial cells and, that serum soluble E-selectin is useful as a tumor marker having a close relationship to metastasis in breast cancer.

Peritoneal dissemination is inhibited by treatment with antibodies against CD44H, beta(1) integrin, and carcinostatic agents in NUGC-4 human gastric cancer cells

Peritoneal dissemination frequently occurs after surgery in patients with gastric cancer. The presence of peritoneal metastasis after surgery affects the prognosis, therefore, a way must be found to effectively prevent the development of peritoneal dissemination. Very little is known about the biochemical processes involved in the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to peritoneal mesothelial cells. We conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the role of adhesion molecules and TGF-beta 1 in this process, using 4 gastric cancer cell lines. NUGC-4 cells, which disseminate early after inoculation into the abdominal cavity of nude mice, predominantly expressed CD44H and beta(1) integrin. We found that NUGC-4 cells adhered to monolayers of mesothelial cells more firmly than other cell lines. Adhesion of NUGC-4 cells to mesothelial cells was partially inhibited by antibodies against CD44H or the beta(1) subunit of integrin, and was completely blocked by a combination of these 2 antibodies. Treatment with ligands for CD44H and beta(1) integrin also inhibited this adhesion. In the NUGC-4 cell culture medium, larger amounts of transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-beta 1) was detected in proportion to the increase in cancer cells than in the other cell lines. TGF-beta 1 increased the expression of CD44H in NUGC-4 cells and in mesothelial cells, and augmented the adhesion and implantation of NUGC-4 cells to mesothelial cells accompanied by accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Carcinostatic agents decreased the expression of CD44H but increased the expression of E-cadherin in NUGC-4 cells. Treatment with carcinostatic agents and antibodies against CD44H and beta(1) integrin inhibited the dissemination of NUGC-4 cells in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice, and prolonged their survival time. These findings suggest that CD44H and integrins mediate in the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to mesothelial cells, and TGF-beta 1 participates in the promotion of the disease. It is possible that a treatment strategy that interferes with CD44H or integrins function and increases the functions of E-cadherin immediately after surgery may result in the decreased intra-abdominal spread of gastric cancer.

Responses of monkeys with pollinosis to two major allergens of Japanese cedar pollen

We examined the responses of two Japanese monkeys with pollinosis to two major allergens (Cry j 1 and Cry j 2) of Japanese cedar pollen. The two monkeys (A and B) had specific IgE antibodies to the allergens and showed a strong positive reaction to both of them in the intradermal test. In the histamine release test with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), monkey A showed a typical pattern similar to that seen in human patients, while monkey B released a low level of histamine. The proliferative response of PBMC to both allergens in monkey A was weak, but was typical in monkey B. From clinical as well as immunological points of view, these monkeys may be a suitable animal model for Japanese cedar pollinosis in humans.

Involvement of hepatocyte growth factor in increased integrin expression on HepG2 cells triggered by adhesion to endothelial cells

Adhesion of cancer cells to vascular endothelium is an important step in haematogenous metastasis of cancer. A human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2, strongly adheres to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) through the interaction of E-selectin and its carbohydrate ligand sialyl Lewis X. In this study, we investigated alteration in integrin expression on HepG2 cells, which follows the selectin-mediated initial adhesion of HepG2 cells to HUVECs. Expression of alpha2beta1 integrin was markedly increased when the HepG2 cells adhered to HUVECs. Among the tested cytokines that are known to be produced by endothelial cells, recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (rHGF) could replace the effect of HUVECs, and a similar increase in integrin expression was observed by the addition of 20 ng ml-1 rHGF to HepG2. The increment of alpha2beta1 integrin expression was significantly inhibited by anti-HGF neutralizing antibody treatment. HepG2 cells expressed alpha2, alpha6, beta1, and beta4 integrin subunits, but expression of integrins other than alpha2beta1 was not affected by the rHGF treatment. The rHGF treatment of HepG2 cells resulted in augmented adhesion to immobilized collagen. This augmentation in adhesion to collagen was completely blocked by the addition of anti-alpha2- or anti-beta1-integrin antibody. In double-chamber chemoinvasion experiments, transmigration of the HepG2 cells through extracellular matrix (ECM) gel was significantly accelerated by co-cultivation with HUVECs. A similar level of enhancement in transmigration activity of the cancer cells was observed by the addition of rHGF. Our interpretation of the results described above is that the cancer cells received stimulation from cytokines, such as HGF, presented by vascular endothelial cells, following the initial adhesion of cancer cells via selectins. This resulted in the secondary increment in the expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as the alpha2beta1 integrin, and led to the augmented adhesive activities of cancer cells towards extracellular matrices at vascular walls. We suggest that this sequence of events is involved in the facilitated migration of some cancer cells to extravascular tissues.

Adhesion of human gastric and pancreatic cancer cells to peritoneal mesothelial cells is mediated by CD44 and beta(1) integrin

Peritoneal dissemination is a common cause of the recurrence of gastric or pancreatic cancer after patients have undergone surgery. The presence of peritoneal metastasis after surgery affects the prognosis of patients with gastric or pancreatic cancer. Very little is known about the biochemical processes involved in the initial attachment of cancer cells to peritoneal mesothelial cells. We conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the role of adhesion molecules in this process, using 5 cell lines derived from human gastric and pancreatic cancers. NUGC-4 and SW1990 cells, which disseminate earlier than the other 3 types of cancer cells after inoculation into the abdominal cavity of nude mice, express large amounts of CD44H. We found that NUGC-4 and SW1990 cells adhere to monolayers of mesothelial cells more firmly than the other cell lines, as shown by adhesion assays performed at 4 degrees C. The adhesion of NUGC-4 and SW1990 cells to mesothelial cells was partially inhibited by antibodies against CD44H or the beta(1) subunit of integrin, and they almost completely blocked adhesion when these 2 antibodies were used in combination in vitro. These 2 antibodies also inhibited the peritoneal metastasis of NUGC-4 and SW1990 cells and prolonged their mean survival time in vivo. These findings suggest that CD44H and beta(1) integrin play important roles in the initial attachment of gastric and pancreatic cancer cells to mesothelial cells. Our results suggest that changes in the expression of CD44H and beta(1) integrin in cancer cells is associated with their ability to adhere to peritoneal mesothelial cells, and thus with the peritoneal metastatic ability of gastric and pancreatic cancer cells. Therefore, the expression of CD44H and beta(1) integrin in gastric and pancreatic cancers could be used as prognostic indicators of peritoneal metastasis. It is possible that a treatment strategy that interferes with the functions of CD44H or beta(1) integrin may result in decreased intra-abdominal spread of cancer.

The association of metastasis with the expression of adhesion molecules in cell lines derived from human gastric cancer

Peritoneal dissemination and hepatic metastasis commonly occur after patients with gastric cancer have undergone surgery. The presence of metastasis after surgery is sure to affect the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. We conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the role of adhesion molecules in this process, using 2 cell lines derived from human gastric cancer. Although both cell lines expressed several adhesion molecules to varying degrees, NUGC-4 cells, which disseminated early after inoculation into the abdominal cavity of nude mice accompanied by the formation of bloody ascitic fluid, predominantly expressed CD44H. However, MKN74 cells, which demonstrated hematogenous metastasis in the liver after inoculation into the spleen of nude mice, strongly expressed the sialyl Lewis(x) antigen (s-Le(x)), but did not express CD44H at all. When the binding of both these cancer cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells was examined it was found that MKN74 cells adhered more strongly than NUGC-4 cells. The adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells was inhibited by treatment with antibodies against s-Le(x) and E-selectin. In the liver metastasis model of nude mice, treatment with anti-s-Le(x) antibodies significantly inhibited the development of MKN74 cell liver metastasis, both in the number of tumor nodules and in liver weight. NUGC-4 cells adhered to monolayers of mesothelial cells more strongly than MKN74 cells. The adhesion of NUGC-4 cells to these cells was partially inhibited by antibodies either against CD44H or the beta 1 subunit of integrin, but was completely blocked by a combination of these 2 antibodies. These antibodies markedly inhibited the dissemination of NUGC-4 cells in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice, and prolonged their mean survival time. These findings suggest that s-Le(x) and E-selectin mediate the adhesion of gastric cancer cells to endothelial cells, and CD44H and beta 1 integrin play important roles in the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to mesothelial cells. It is possible that compounds that interfere with the function of cell adhesion molecules may decrease the incidence of gastric cancer metastasis.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma in two siblings

We report here on two cases of retroperitoneal liposarcoma which heterochronously occurred in two siblings. A huge myxoid liposarcoma, 20 x 14 cm size, was noticed in a 33-year-old female, who died with multiple liver metastasis in about half a year. Two years later after the death of the younger sister, pleomorphic liposarcoma, 8 x 8 cm in size, was noticed in a 39-year-old male who died with local recurrence and multiple metastasis one year after the operation. Their mother (69 years old) had had an operation for malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the right thigh at age 66. There was no evidence of multiple lipomatosis, an autosomal dominant trait, in the siblings or their family. Diverse soft-tissue sarcomas, but not liposarcoma, occur excessively in siblings with the syndrome of Li-Fraumeni. To our knowledge this is the first such report of its sibship occurrence.

Adhesion molecules involved in pleural dissemination of esophageal cancer cells

Pleural dissemination is a common cause of recurrence after surgery of patients with esophageal cancer. Very little is known about the biochemical processes involved in the initial attachment of cancer cells to pleural mesothelial cells. The authors conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the role of adhesion molecules in this process, using 2 cell lines derived from human esophageal cancer. TE-1 cells, which pronouncedly express CD44H, adhered to the monolayers of mesothelial cells more firmly than T.Tn cells. On the other hand, the adhesion of TE-I cells to mesothelial cells was markedly inhibited by antibodies to CD44H or the beta(1) integrin subunit, and more strongly blocked by using a combination of the two antibodies. These antibodies inhibited the dissemination of TE-1 cells in the pleural cavity of nude mice. The findings suggest that CD44 and integrin play important roles in the initial attachment of esophageal cancer cells to mesothelial cells.

Primordial germ cells in the embryos of Medaka fish

In the second International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2) mission in 1994, four small Japanese killifish (Medaka, Oryzias latipes) made a space travel of 15 days aboard a space shuttle. These four adult Medaka fish successfully mated in space for the first time among vertebrate animals. Moreover, the eggs they laid developed normally, at least in their external appearance, hatching as fry (baby fish) in space. Fish mated and laid eggs every day during the first week. Near the end of the mission most of the eggs had a well-developed body with two pigmented eyes. In total, 43 eggs were laid (detected), out of which 8 fry hatched in space, as truly 'space-originated' babies. A further 30 fry hatched within 3 days after landing. This is the normal hatching rate, compared with the ground-based data. Among the 8 space-originated fry, four were killed for histological sections, and germ cells at the gonadal region were counted for each fry. Their numbers were in the range of the germ cells of the normal control fry (ground-kept samples). Thus, as embryos developed normally in their external appearance, inside the embryos the formation of primordial germ cells took place normally in space, and their migration to the genital ridges was not hindered by microgravity. The two of the remaining space-originated fry have grown up and been creating their offspring in the laboratory. This proved that the primordial germ cells formed in space were also normal from a functional point of view. The four space-travelled adult fish re-started mating and laying eggs on the 7th day after landing and continued to do so every day afterward. Fertilization rate and hatchability of these eggs were as high as the eggs laid by the laboratory-kept fish. This fact implies that in gametogenesis of adult fish, there are no specific stages of germ cells extremely susceptible to microgravity.

Alteration of integrins by heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor in human breast cancer cells

The adhesion of cancer cells to the vascular endothelium is an important step in the hematogenous metastasis of cancer. Human breast cancer cells adhere to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) through the interaction of E selection on HUVECs and the carbohydrate ligand sialyl Lewisx on the cancer cells. We investigated the alteration of integrin expression on human breast cancer cells, following selectin-mediated initial adhesion to HUVECs. Four cell lines derived from human breast cancer expressed alpha 2-, alpha 3-, alpha 5-, alpha 6- and beta 1-integrins. The expression of alpha 2 beta 1- and alpha 3 beta 1-integrins on BT-20 cells, strongly expressing epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, was markedly increased by addition of the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF). The expression of alpha 2 beta 1-integrin on SK-BR-3 cells also was increased by the addition of HB-EGF. However, no such effect of HB-EGF on the expression of integrins was observed in T-47D and MCF-7 cells, nor on expression of the EGF receptor. The increase of integrin expression in BT-20 cells was inhibited by the addition of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. HB-EGF treatment of BT-20 or SK-BR-3 cells resulted in the augmentation of cancer cell adhesion to immobilized collagen. When BT-20 cells were cocultured with HUVECs, a similar level of augmentation of cancer cell adhesion to collagen was observed. The augmentation of cancer cell adhesion to collagen was inhibited by addition of an anti-HB-EGF-neutralizing antibody. Our interpretation of the results described above is that the cancer cells receive stimulation from cytokines, such as HB-EGF, produced by vascular endothelial cells, following the initial adhesion of cancer cells via selectins. This results in a secondary increase in the expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as the beta 1-integrin family, and leads to augmentation in the adhesive activities of cancer cells at the vessel walls. We postulate that these events are the ones involved in the enhanced transmigration of cancer cells to extravascular tissues following the selectin-mediated adhesion to the endothelium.