Actions of a novel therapeutic formulation: Zn, Se and Mn plus Lachesis Muta venom (O-LM) on radiation deleterious immune effects

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Background: We have previously reported that O-LM inhibits malignant cell proliferation and increases survival in rodent tumor models (Int J Cancer S13:183, 2002). Molecular and immunological basis of O-LM action were reported (J Clin Oncol 24:18S, 2006). As O- LM selectively protects normal tissues from high doses of ionizing radiation (Proc Int Cancer Congress,1495–9, 1998), we here investigated O- LM protective action upon radiation effects on immune cells. Methods: Balb/c mice (n=15 each group) were employed: control (C); 2Gy whole body irradiated (IR); treated with O-LM (Zn, Se, Mn 4μg/ml each; L. Muta 4 ng/ml; 0.1 ml/day, sc) for 15 days and 2Gy irradiated (O-LM+IR). Mice were sacrificed at day 3, 7 or 15 post-irradiation (PI). Proliferation was evaluated in lymphocytes by [3H]- Thymidine incorporation after T- or B selective mitogen stimulation. In cell-free supernatants (SN) from mitogen-stimulated cultures cytokines involved in lymphocyte regulation and/or inflammation were determined by ELISA. Results: Irradiation induced a decrease in T lymphocyte proliferation at 3 and 7 days PI (% of decrease in IR: 47.6±9.0, p<0.05; 42.0±7.2, p<0.02 respectively). Pretreatment with O-LM recovered proliferation to basal values (day 3 PI 93.4±10.2%; day 7 PI 130.9±15.3%, O-LM+IR vs. C; p=NS). No modifications were observed in B cells. At day 3 PI, a marked decrease in IFN? levels was obtained in SN of IR mice that was reverted by O-LM treatment (pg/ml: IR 1653±419; C 10884±2783, p<0.02; O-LM+IR 16924±4284, p<0.05 vs C). Also, at day 7 PI, an important increase in TNFa was observed in IR mice, that were reverted by O-LM (pg/ml: IR: 300.7±62.3 vs O-LM+IR: 28.7±2.3, p<0.02). No differences were found in IL-2 levels. Conclusions: The therapeutic action of O-LM is based on its ability of targeting simultaneously multiple pathways involved in cancer development. Present data demonstrate that O-LM protects animals from irradiation by recovering the immune function, improving T lymphocyte activity and modulating the production of key cytokines as IFN? and TNFa. The reported effect may represent a potential benefit for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Molecular and immunologycal basis of a novel therapeutic formulation: Oligoelements Zn, Se and Mn plus Lachesis Muta venom (O-LM)

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Background: We have previously reported that O-LM inhibited malignant cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, increasing survival in rodent tumor models. We also demonstrated a protective action of O-LM against undesirable effects of chemotherapy and ionizing radiation, enhancing their therapeutic action. Furthermore, O-LM applied to patients with advanced breast, colon and pancreatic cancer resulted in increased survival and better quality of life with no side effects. In this work we further investigated the mechanisms involved in O-LM therapeutic effect. Methods: Two groups of Nude mice, control and O-LM (Zn, Se, Mn 4μ g/ml each; L. Muta 4 ng/ml) treated (0.1 ml/day, sc) were inoculated with PANC-1 cells to evaluate tumor development. PCNA, P53, antioxidant enzymes, apoptosis, microvessels and immune cell markers were studied by immunohistochemistry. In control and O-LM treated BALB/c mice we determined in vitro responses to T and B selective mitogens. Results: O-LM treated tumors showed significant lower growing rate, smaller mass (3,77±0,95 vs 9,75±2,30 cm3) and an important peritumoral lymphoid infiltrate. Apoptotic cells and P53 expression were increased while PCNA was negative and microvessels counts were lower than controls. O-LM produced a 3-fold increase in Superoxide Dismutase activity. The infiltrates showed an important number of CD11 bearing cells and B220 positive but CD3 and CD19 negative cells, suggesting the presence of NK cells. In BALB/c mice T selective mitogen Con A, but not B selective mitogens responses were enhanced, with a maximum after 60 days of O-LM treatment. A 4-fold increase in IFNγ release was observed in cell-free supernatants from lymph node culture stimulated with Con A obtained from 60-days treated mice. Conclusions: Present data demonstrate the capacity of O-LM to modulate free radical production, the expression of tumor markers and suggest an important up-regulation of innate and T-cell mediated immunity induced by in vivo treatment with O-LM. These results reinforce the hypothesis that the effective therapeutic action of O-LM is based on its ability of targeting simultaneously multiple pathways involved in cancer development with the additional advantage of the total absence of adverse effects.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

[Re-evaluation of the diagnosis in congenital hypothyroidism]

Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has become routine in Italy. It provided new information regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of CH infants and allowed to identify transient disorders of thyroid function in infancy. In fact, when the permanence of hypothyroidism has not been established in the newborn period, a confirmation of the diagnosis at 2-3 years of life should be performed. In this study results regarding the diagnosis reevaluation performed in 23 out of 184 CH children followed at the follow-up center for CH of the University of Rome "La Sapienza", are reported. Eleven of 23 reevaluated children had transient hypothyroidism (TH) and permanent CH was confirmed in the others. Four of the 11 TH children had law gestational age at birth, 1 had high antithyroid peroxidase titre due to maternal autoimmune thyroiditis and 2 were resident in iodine deficient areas. Our results show the importance of diagnosis reevaluation to identify transient disorders of thyroid function in infancy and confirm the role of neonatal, maternal and environmental factors in the etiopathogenesis of TH.

Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E expression in malignant thyroid cells and in human thyroid carcinomas

Evidence of the involvement of cyclin gene alterations in human cancer is growing. In this study, we sought to determine the pattern of expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E in normal and malignant thyroid cells. Quiescent rat thyroid cells in culture, induced to synthesize DNA by thyrotropin (TSH), expressed cyclin D1 gene after 6 hr and cyclin E gene with a peak at 18 hr from the stimulus; K-ras-transformed rat thyroid cells, which grew without addition of hormones necessary for normal cell proliferation, expressed elevated levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin E, compared with normal differentiated thyroid cells. Human benign and malignant thyroid tumors and their relative normal tissues were then analyzed. Neither major genetic alterations nor amplifications for cyclin D1 and cyclin E genes were found by Southern blot analysis in genomic DNAs extracted from all types of thyroid tumors. Moreover, statistical analyses of densitometric values from Northern blots did not show increased levels of cyclin D1 and E mRNAs in the tumor samples, compared with normal thyroid. Immunohistochemical analyses of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of tissues with specific antibodies revealed a prevalent cytoplasmic cyclin E staining in the thyroid tissues analyzed. Cyclin D1, instead, was present in the cytoplasm of normal thyroids and adenomas, but in 31% of thyroid papillary carcinomas analysed, it was overexpressed, with a localization in the nucleus. Our in vivo observations suggest that unlike cyclin E, elevated nuclear cyclin D1 expression defines a subset of thyroid papillary carcinomas, and might be a contributory factor to thyroid tumorigenesis.

[Hürthle cell tumors: personal experience]

Hürthle cell tumors of the thyroid gland are uncommon lesions (3% of all well differentiated tumors). Histological diagnosis is often difficult: according to recent criteria only those tumors with almost 75% of oxyphil cells are well recognized as Hürthle cell neoplasms. Extracapsular and blood-vessels invasion, capsular penetration, DNA patterns and tumoral necrosis are indicative for malignancy. The Authors report their experience in the management of 46 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for Hürthle cell neoplasms. Histological findings, surgical approach and post-operative follow up are discussed.