Regulation of human lymphocyte proliferation by a tumour cell-derived DNA fraction

Circulating free tumor DNA and colorectal cancer

Cancer is characterized by multiple somatic genetic and epigenetic alterations that could be useful as molecular markers for detecting tumor DNA in different bodily fluids. In patients with various diseases as well as in healthy subjects, circulating plasma and serum carry small amounts of non-cell-bound DNA. In this free circulating DNA, tumor-associated molecular alterations can be detected in patients who have cancer. In many instances, the alterations identified are the same as those found in the primary tumor tissue, thereby suggesting tumor origin from a fraction of the circulating free DNA. In fact, various types of DNA alterations described in colorectal cancer have been detected in the circulating free DNA of patients with colorectal cancer. These alterations include KRAS2, APC and TP53 mutations, DNA hypermethylation, microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Also, advances in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technology now allow the detection and quantification of extremely small amounts of tumor-derived circulating free DNA in colorectal cancer patients. The present report summarizes the literature available so far on the mechanisms of circulating free DNA, and on the studies aimed at assessing the clinical and biological significance of tumor-derived circulating free DNA in colorectal cancer patients. Thus, tumor-derived circulating free DNA could serve as a marker for the diagnosis, prognosis and early detection of recurrence, thereby significantly improving the monitoring of colorectal cancer patients.

Antiproliferative effect of a prostatic cell-derived activity on the human androgen-dependent prostatic carcinoma cell line LNCaP

We have identified a new antiproliferative activity from the conditioned medium of two androgen-independent prostatic cancer cell lines, PC3 and DU-145. This antiproliferative activity selectively inhibited cell proliferation of an androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell line LNCaP in a dose-dependent manner. No antiproliferative activity was observed against mouse fibroblast 3T3, normal human lymphocytes, human leukemic cells, including promyelocyte HL-60 or T cell HUT-78, or human adenocarcinoma cell lines, including prostatic cells JCA-1, ovary NIH:OVCAR-3, cervix C-33A, or breast MDA-MB-231. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the antiproliferative activity did not induce apoptosis in LNCaP cells, but it prevented some G1 LNCaP cells from entering into the S phase of the cell cycle. The antiproliferative activity was sensitive to high temperature (100 degrees C) and to proteinase digestion; however, it was resistant to 56 degrees C, pH 2.0, and reducing agent treatment, as well as to DNase and RNase digestion. The antiproliferative activity was partially purified by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, and SDS-PAGE, with an apparent molecular weight of 50 kD. The antiproliferative activity was not affected by neutralizing antibody against TGF-beta 1,2,3, TNF-alpha, PDGF, EGF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, or IL-6.

L-5178-Y lymphoma associated immunosuppression in Balb/c mice

Lymphoma L-5178-Y bearing Balb/c mice were unable to mount a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). A suppressor factor present in the ascitis of these mice inhibited the response if given during DNFB sensitization, but not during challenge. The factor was not present in lymphoma-bearing Balb/c nu/nu mice. It appeared to be a 35-66 kDa protein. Non-specific esterase staining indicated that the spleens of tumor-bearing and ascitis-injected mice contained a large excess of macrophages. Our observation that the suppressor factor prevented the very start of the immune response may indicate why immunostimulation is difficult to obtain in cancer bearing hosts.