Inhibition of subgenomic hepatitis C virus RNA in Huh-7 cells: ribavirin induces mutagenesis in HCV RNA

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major problem throughout the world. Combination therapy of interferon (IFN) and ribavirin is the best treatment for eradication at present, but the mechanism is not completely understood. We used the HCV replicon system to investigate this mechanism. The effects of six drugs (UDCA, glycyrrhizin, TJ-9, bezafibrate, ribavirin, and alpha-IFN 2b) on HCV subgenomic RNA (genotype 1b, NS5B 415Y) were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, cloning and sequencing. The HCV replication was inhibited by alpha-IFN 2b (7.39-13.2% at 10 U/mL, 3.29-6.12% at 100 U/mL, 1.3-4.86% at 1000 U/mL) and by ribavirin (4.36-13.9% at 100 microg/mL), but not by the other drugs at 24-72 h after treatment. Furthermore, the combination treatment was superior to IFN monotherapy and to ribavirin monotherapy at 72 h post-treatment. Sequence analyses of the double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR)-binding domain and flanking regions within the HCV NS5A region revealed that the total numbers of substitutions caused by ribavirin (n = 36) or combination treatment (n = 57) were more than those of IFN alone (n = 5) and controls (n = 6). The HCV replicon system is the most efficient system for HCV replication and is an excellent choice for testing anti-HCV drugs and disinfectants. Our results further suggested that the combination of alpha-IFN 2b and ribavirin might induce mutations, and inhibit HCV RNA synthesis in hepatocytes to a greater extent than ribavirin monotherapy.

Dynamic changes in AP-1 transcription factor DNA binding activity in rat brain following administration of antidepressant amitriptyline and brain-derived neurotrophic factor

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of the antidepressant, amitriptyline, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding activity in the rat brain. Acute administration of amitriptyline (5 or 10 mg/kg) initially increased but then decreased AP-1 DNA binding activity in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. Chronic administration of amitriptyline (5 or 10 mg/kg, once daily for 3 weeks) initially decreased AP-1 DNA binding activity but ultimately resulted in its persistent elevation in the rat frontal cortex. In contrast, the chronic administration of amitriptyline did not affect the low activity of AP-1 DNA binding in the hippocampus. However, chronic administration of amitriptyline (10 mg/kg, once daily for 3 weeks) significantly increased BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus (by 26.9%) and frontal cortex (by 24.6%). Direct infusion of BDNF (1 microg) into the hippocampal dentate gyrus significantly increased hippocampal AP-1 DNA binding activity. These results suggest that AP-1 transcription factor may be modulated by BDNF and that it may be an important target for the action of antidepressants.

Is skeletal muscle damaged by the oxidative stress following anaerobic exercise?

We investigated whether the injury of skeletal muscle owing to the action of free radicals and the subsequent oxidative damage to tissues occurred during anaerobic exercise. To estimate injury to skeletal muscle, we determined certain indices of oxidative damage to skeletal muscle; i.e., leukocyte counts, concentrations of hypoxanthine, xanthine, urate, tissue- and serum-type CK-M isoforms, myoglobin, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of serum. Blood for these tests was collected at 3 min post-exercise. Post-anaerobic exercise concentrations of lactate were significantly increased from pre-exercise. The neutrophil and lymphocyte counts and alanine concentration were significantly increased by anaerobic exercise, even when the results were corrected for plasma volume changes; the plasma concentrations of hypoxanthine, urate, and TAC of serum were also significantly increased. The plasma concentration of xanthine was negatively correlated with TAC of serum. The activities of tissue- and serum-type CK-M were significantly increased post-exercise. When the hypoxanthine, urate, TAC of serum, myoglobin, and tissue- and serum-type CK-M were corrected for plasma volume changes, the post-exercise increases were no longer significantly different from the pre-exercise results. We suggest that these latter test results following anaerobic exercise exclude the presence of oxidative damage to skeletal muscle.

Immortalization of human esophageal keratinocytes by E6 and E7 of human papillomavirus type 16

Transduction of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E6/E7 into primary culture of human esophageal keratinocytes using a recombinant adenovirus prolonged the life-span, while untreated cells senesced within 14-16 population doublings (PDLs). Up-regulation of telomerase activity and acquisition of serum-resistant growth were observed in the esophageal keratinocytes with extended life-span between 50 and 100 PDLs, and drastically increased after 100 PDLs. A keratinocyte sample with a polymorphism of Pro/Pro at codon 72 of p53 showed resistance to HPV16 E6/E7-induced life-span-extension and immortalization, in contrast to others with p53 polymorphisms of Arg/Arg or Arg/Pro, which did not. The high efficiency of E6/E7-induction by adenovirus vector also revealed the M1 and M2 stages of keratinocyte immortalization first described in this report.

Detection of human papillomaviruses in cervical neoplasias using multiple sets of generic polymerase chain reaction primers

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate precisely the differences in the spectra of human papillomavirus (HPV) types detected by different generic primer pairs commonly used for detection of this extraordinarily heterogeneous virus.

METHODS

Three sets of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for the L1 open reading frame (ORF) and two sets for E6/E7 ORFs were used to detect HPVs in DNAs from 107 cervical tissues, including 77 cervical neoplasias. HPV types were determined by analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and nucleotide sequencing.

RESULTS

A high overall detection rate of HPV in cervical neoplasias (76/77, 98.7%) was achieved by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with multiple sets of generic primers, while the detection rate for each individual primer pair varied from 48/77 (62%) to 70/77 (91%). Only in 34 of 77 cases (44%) were HPV DNAs positive for all sets of primer pairs. Further determination of HPV types by RFLPs and nucleotide sequencing showed inconsistencies between the PCR primer pairs used.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that the HPV detection rate is critically affected by the choice of PCR primers, and that appropriate use of combinations of generic PCR primer sets followed by RFLP analyses is both necessary and sufficient for typing most HPVs in cervical lesions. More precise methods such as sequencing would be necessary in only a few cases.

Association of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene promoter polymorphism with the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a potent proinflammatory cytokine, may be involved in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The production of TNF-alpha is elevated in the airways of these patients. A polymorphism at position -308 of the TNF-alpha gene promoter (TNF-alpha-308*1/2) is known to be associated with alteration of TNF-alpha secretion in vitro. In this study we examined the differences in TNF-alpha-308*1/2 allele frequency to investigate the association of this polymorphism with the presence of smoking-related COPD. TNF-alpha-308*1/2 allele frequency in 106 patients (73 men and 33 women) was compared with 110 asymptomatic smoker/ex-smoker control subjects matched for sex and age and population control subjects consisting of 129 blood donors. Genotype was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique on genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes. TNF-alpha-308*1/2 allele frequencies were significantly different among the groups: 0.835/0.165 in patients with COPD, 0.918/0.082 in smoker/ex-smoker control subjects, and 0.922/0.078 in population control subjects. These results indicate that TNF-alpha-308*1/2 alleles are significantly associated with the presence of smoking-related COPD.

A simple and rapid method for the routine assay of total ascorbic acid in serum and plasma using ascorbate oxidase and o-phenylenediamine

A simple and rapid analysis of total ascorbic acid (AsA) in serum and plasma and its automated analysis are described. AsA is oxidized by ascorbate oxidase (AsA oxidase) to dehydroascorbic acid that then reacts with o-phenylenediamine (OPDA) to form a quinoxaline derivative that absorbs at 340 nm. The change in absorbance is directly proportional to the total AsA concentration. The assay was validated with a linear concentration range of 0.8-80 mg/L, and the within-day and between-day assays precision did not exceed 8.6% and 12.5%, respectively. On 47 sera, the manual enzymatic procedure gave 0.2 mg/L on average lower values than those of an automated enzymatic procedure with a correlation coefficient of 0.847. On another 66 sera, results by automated enzymatic method correlated well with the HPLC method and the regression equation is Y (enzymatic, automated)=0.97 X (HPLC)+0.1, r=0.980, Sy.x=0.6 mg/L. An experienced analyst can perform about 24 manual assays per hour whereas the automated procedure gave a rate of 100 assays per hour.

An automated assay for measuring serum ascorbic acid with use of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy, free radical and o-phenylenediamine

We developed a novel, cost-effective, and automated assay for ascorbic acid (AsA) in serum using a COBAS MIRA S analyzer (Roche Diagnostic System). Our method has a wide dynamic range and covers AsA concentrations from well below the lower reference interval to well above it. AsA is oxidized by 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy, free radical (TEMPO) to dehydroascorbic acid (DAsA). The latter condenses with o-phenylenediamine (OPDA) to form a quinoxaline derivative that absorbs light at 340 nm. The change in absorbance at 340 nm is proportional to the concentration of AsA in the specimen. The automated system permitted the assay of 65 specimens per hour at a cost of approximately US$ 0.01 per specimen for reagents. The assay can be applied directly to serum specimens (direct method) and also to sera with a prior deproteinization step with metaphosphoric acid. The detection limit for the direct serum assays is 0.8 vs. 0.4 mg/l with the deproteinization method. The recovery of AsA from a supplemented serum pool was of >95% for both procedures. We used four distinct methods on 66 patients sera. The direct method for AsA correlated well with an HPLC method (r=0.964, P<0.001); the direct method also correlated well with a method that uses AsA oxidase (r=0.975, P<0. 001). The deproteinization method correlated well with HPLC (r=0.981, P<0.001), and with the AsA oxidase procedure (r=0.994, P<0.001). Ten within-day determinations on a serum pool gave a C.V. <4.3% for both the direct and deproteinization procedures. The between-day assays of the same serum pool over 10 days gave a C.V. of <6.7% by both methods.

Immunohistochemical expression of the sialyl Lewis x antigen on gastric cancer cells correlates with the presence of liver metastasis

The expression of the sialyl Lewis x antigen (sLe(x)) on surgical specimens of primary gastric cancer correlates with the degree of differentiation and synchronous and metachronous liver metastasis. Multivariate analysis by means of Quantification theory II revealed that sLe(x) expression was an independent risk factor for liver metastasis from gastric cancer.

Decline in plasma retinol in unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia treated with bilirubin adsorption using an anion-exchange resin

When an anion-exchange resin column (Plasorba BR-350) was used for the treatment of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, we found an unexpected decrease in plasma retinol (vitamin A) concentrations in a patient with type I Crigler-Najjar syndrome. The purpose of our study was to investigate the mechanism of this decrease in plasma retinol. When the patient's serum bilirubin exceeded the bilirubin binding capacity of 14.7 mumol bilirubin/g serum albumin (i.e., 720 mumol/L of bilirubin), abrupt deterioration of the patient's neurologic status (suppression in his gait and speech) occurred, so the need to apply plasmapheresis to reduce the unconjugated bilirubin was indicated. Blood was drawn from the radial artery at a flow rate of 160 mL/min and pumped into a membrane plasma separator at a rate of 40 mL/min. The plasma was passed through the bilirubin adsorbent column and returned to the venous blood line of the plasma separator. Plasma samples were taken at the inlet and outlet of the bilirubin adsorbent column before and after treatment. The concentration of unconjugated bilirubin in plasma was effectively reduced by the perfusion, but plasma retinol was coincidentally decreased by the perfusion to vitamin A deficiency levels. The patient's plasma retinol was 2,127 nmol/L at the beginning of therapy and decreased to 1,492 nmol/L after repeated adsorption treatments. As the amounts of decrease in retinol (912 +/- 123 nmol/L) after the perfusion were almost equal to those in retinol-binding protein (1,010 +/- 192 nmol/L), retinol may have been removed as a form of holo retinol-binding protein. Decreases in retinol and retinol-binding protein levels were also observed in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis with a dextran sulfate column (i.e., a cation-exchange resin column). In the patient with Crigler-Najjar syndrome, retinol taken dietarily was removed by plasmapheresis. However, the patient manifested no clinical symptoms associated with vitamin A deficiency, since his liver storage of retinol could supply the loss caused by plasmapheresis treatment. We should measure plasma retinol concentrations to evaluate the loss of retinol during plasmapheresis treatment coupled with an anion-exchange resin column.

Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 protein transcriptionally modulates fibronectin gene expression by induction of protein complexes binding to the cyclic AMP response element

Although human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E6 protein has a transcription-modulatory activity for a wide variety of viral promoters, a cellular target for this activity of E6 has not yet been identified. In this study, using differential hybridization, we identified a mouse fibronectin (FN) gene as a putative cellular target whose expression is up-regulated by E6. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assays with mouse and rat FN promoter-CAT fusion constructs indicated that HPV16 E6 transactivates the FN promoters in a p53-independent manner. Deletion and site-specific mutation analyses revealed that transactivation by HPV16 E6 depends upon a cyclic AMP response element (CRE) located at -160 relative to the start site of transcription. Gel retardation assays demonstrated that nuclear extracts from the HPV16 E6-expressing cells, compared to those from parental 10T1/2 cells, have increased binding activity to the CRE. Antibodies against c-Jun and ATF-2 disrupted this binding activity. These data indicate that HPV16 E6 transcriptionally modulates FN gene expression via the CRE by inducing the binding of the protein complexes, probably including c-Jun and ATF-2, to the CRE.

Transactivation of prothymosin alpha and c-myc promoters by human papillomavirus type 16 E6 protein

The human papillomavirus type 16 E6 protein exerts a transforming activity through inactivation of tumor suppressor p53. Recently E6 has been shown to have additional transforming activities independent of p53. E6 is able to transactivate or repress several specific viral promoters. However, underlying molecular mechanisms and cellular target genes for the activity are not well understood. Using a differential hybridization technique, we identified the prothymosin alpha gene as a cellular target of E6 transactivation. E6 was able to transactivate the prothymosin alpha promoter in H358 cells lacking p53 and in C33A cells harboring a mutant p53 allele. Disruption of the E-box in intron 1 of the prothymosin alpha promoter abolished the responsiveness to E6. Then we determined if E6 up-regulates the expression of Myc, by which the prothymosin alpha promoter is transactivated through the E-box. We found that E6 is also able to transactivate the c-myc promoter in H358 cells and in C33A cells. These results suggest that E6 is able to transactivate the c-myc promoter independently of p53, and that the prothymosin alpha promoter is subsequently transactivated by Myc.

[Evaluation of combination chemotherapy with 5-FU and CDDP for human gastric carcinoma transplanted into nude mice]

Combined chemotherapy of 5-FU and CDDP is useful for advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. To evaluate the efficacy of this chemotherapy, using human gastric carcinoma (NSC-30) maintained in the subcutaneous (sc) space in nude mice, we designed the following four experimental groups: 1) control group, 2) 5-FU group, 3) CDDP group, and 4) combined therapy group of 5-FU and CDDP (FP group). 5-FU (150 mg/kg) was injected into the intraperitoneal space for seven days using AlZet osmotic pumps. CDDP (9 mg/kg) was injected into the intraperitoneal space at one time. The tumor growth of drug administered groups was inhibited compared with the control group, especially in the FP group. Body weight and general condition of nude mice did not differ between groups. We also measured tumor concentrations of 5-FU and thymidylate synthetase (TS) total, free, inhibition rate between 5-FU group and FP group. The tumor 5-FU concentration of FP group was slightly higher than in 5-FU group, but the TS inhibition rate was almost the same. In conclusion, this combined therapy using Alzet osmotic pump is a useful drug sensitivity test as a conventional system.

Clinicopathologic evaluation of immunohistochemical E-cadherin expression in human gastric carcinomas

BACKGROUND

E-cadherin plays a crucial role in cell-cell adhesion in epithelial tissues. Recent studies have shown a correlation between decreased E-cadherin expression and cancer cell detachment.

METHODS

The expression of E-cadherin was immunohistochemically analyzed using antihuman E-cadherin antibody in 121 cases of human gastric carcinoma.

RESULTS

In noncancerous areas, the epithelial cells, including those with intestinal metaplasia, were stained positively in the plasma membrane. In contrast, E-cadherin expression of the cancer cells varied from case to case in primary and secondary sites. Tumors with a decrease in E-cadherin occurred significantly more frequently in undifferentiated adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05) and scirrhous type (P < 0.01). The rate of E-cadherin-negative tumors was higher in patients with peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01) or in those with distant lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), though the tumors with liver metastasis had relatively positive E-cadherin expression. Patterns of initial recurrence had similar results. Reduction or loss of E-cadherin expression correlated with shorter survival in patients after curative operation regardless of stage of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The decreased E-cadherin expression correlates with dedifferentiation, infiltrative tumor growth, distant metastasis, and poor survival for patients with gastric carcinoma. Thus, immunohistochemical study of E-cadherin may have clinicopathologic value for patients with gastric carcinoma.

Progression in gastric carcinoma relative to the ratio of CD44 epithelial variant transcript to CD44 hematopoietic variant transcript

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that CD44 splice variants play a role in the progression of certain epithelial cancers and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study, we investigated the epithelial variant/hematopoietic variant (E/H) ratio (the amount of the CD44 epithelial variant transcript relative to the CD44 hematopoietic variant transcript) in human gastric carcinoma compared with normal gastric mucosa.

METHODS

The ratio was determined for tumors and adjacent noncancerous mucosa from 30 gastric carcinoma patients using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting. We also determined the tumor (T)E/H--noncancerous mucosa (N)E/H (the difference between E/H ratios of tumor tissue and adjacent noncancerous mucosa) and examined these measurements for correlations with the pathologic features of gastric carcinoma, as well as for their usefulness as an indicator of tumor progression.

RESULTS

The E/H ratio in tumor tissue was significantly higher than in adjacent noncancerous mucosa (P < 0.01). The TE/H--NE/H in patients with lymph node metastases was 0.16 +/- 0.11, compared with 0.07 +/- 0.08 in cases without lymph node metastases (P < 0.05). Significant correlations also were observed between the TE/H--NE/H and the depth of invasion, blood vessel invasion, and lymphatic vessel invasion (P < 0.03, P < 0.03, and P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that increases in the E/H ratio may be a useful indicator of progression in gastric carcinoma.

Progression in gastric carcinoma relative to the ratio of CD44 epithelial variant transcript to CD44 hematopoietic variant transcript

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that CD44 splice variants play a role in the progression of certain epithelial cancers and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study, we investigated the epithelial variant/hematopoietic variant (E/H) ratio (the amount of the CD44 epithelial variant transcript relative to the CD44 hematopoietic variant transcript) in human gastric carcinoma compared with normal gastric mucosa.

METHODS

The ratio was determined for tumors and adjacent noncancerous mucosa from 30 gastric carcinoma patients using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting. We also determined the tumor (T)E/H--noncancerous mucosa (N)E/H (the difference between E/H ratios of tumor tissue and adjacent noncancerous mucosa) and examined these measurements for correlations with the pathologic features of gastric carcinoma, as well as for their usefulness as an indicator of tumor progression.

RESULTS

The E/H ratio in tumor tissue was significantly higher than in adjacent noncancerous mucosa (P < 0.01). The TE/H--NE/H in patients with lymph node metastases was 0.16 +/- 0.11, compared with 0.07 +/- 0.08 in cases without lymph node metastases (P < 0.05). Significant correlations also were observed between the TE/H--NE/H and the depth of invasion, blood vessel invasion, and lymphatic vessel invasion (P < 0.03, P < 0.03, and P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that increases in the E/H ratio may be a useful indicator of progression in gastric carcinoma.

Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 protein up-regulates the expression of the high mobility group protein HMG-I(Y) gene in mouse 10T1/2 cells

Using a differential hybridization technique, we have identified a mouse cellular gene, high mobility group protein HMG-I(Y), whose expression is up-regulated by the E6 protein of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16. This gene was overexpressed in E6-expressing mouse 10T1/2 cells, but not in G418-resistant 10T1/2 cells. The expression of the HMG-I(Y) gene was up-regulated by the transient expression of E6 from a zinc-inducible human metallothionein-IIA gene promoter. Expression was found to be more efficient at a confluent cell density than at a subconfluent cell density. The up-regulation of HMG-I(Y) gene expression by E6, in particular at a confluent cell density, may be part of an altered genetic program in host cells infected with HPV-16.

Progression in gastric carcinoma relative to the ratio of CD44 epithelial variant transcript to CD44 hematopoietic variant transcript

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that CD44 splice variants play a role in the progression of certain epithelial cancers and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study, we investigated the epithelial variant/hematopoietic variant (E/H) ratio (the amount of the CD44 epithelial variant transcript relative to the CD44 hematopoietic variant transcript) in human gastric carcinoma compared with normal gastric mucosa.

METHODS

The ratio was determined for tumors and adjacent noncancerous mucosa from 30 gastric carcinoma patients using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting. We also determined the tumor (T)E/H--noncancerous mucosa (N)E/H (the difference between E/H ratios of tumor tissue and adjacent noncancerous mucosa) and examined these measurements for correlations with the pathologic features of gastric carcinoma, as well as for their usefulness as an indicator of tumor progression.

RESULTS

The E/H ratio in tumor tissue was significantly higher than in adjacent noncancerous mucosa (P < 0.01). The TE/H--NE/H in patients with lymph node metastases was 0.16 +/- 0.11, compared with 0.07 +/- 0.08 in cases without lymph node metastases (P < 0.05). Significant correlations also were observed between the TE/H--NE/H and the depth of invasion, blood vessel invasion, and lymphatic vessel invasion (P < 0.03, P < 0.03, and P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that increases in the E/H ratio may be a useful indicator of progression in gastric carcinoma.

Clinicopathologic evaluation of immunohistochemical E-cadherin expression in human gastric carcinomas

BACKGROUND

E-cadherin plays a crucial role in cell-cell adhesion in epithelial tissues. Recent studies have shown a correlation between decreased E-cadherin expression and cancer cell detachment.

METHODS

The expression of E-cadherin was immunohistochemically analyzed using antihuman E-cadherin antibody in 121 cases of human gastric carcinoma.

RESULTS

In noncancerous areas, the epithelial cells, including those with intestinal metaplasia, were stained positively in the plasma membrane. In contrast, E-cadherin expression of the cancer cells varied from case to case in primary and secondary sites. Tumors with a decrease in E-cadherin occurred significantly more frequently in undifferentiated adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05) and scirrhous type (P < 0.01). The rate of E-cadherin-negative tumors was higher in patients with peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01) or in those with distant lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), though the tumors with liver metastasis had relatively positive E-cadherin expression. Patterns of initial recurrence had similar results. Reduction or loss of E-cadherin expression correlated with shorter survival in patients after curative operation regardless of stage of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The decreased E-cadherin expression correlates with dedifferentiation, infiltrative tumor growth, distant metastasis, and poor survival for patients with gastric carcinoma. Thus, immunohistochemical study of E-cadherin may have clinicopathologic value for patients with gastric carcinoma.

Sialosyl Tn antigen expression is associated with the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Several studies have revealed a correlation between sialosyl Tn antigen (STN) and certain clinicopathologic features of various cancers, and that STN is an independent prognostic factor. However, the clinical significance of the expression of STN in gastric cancer has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate immunohistochemically the clinical significance of expression of STN in gastric cancer.

METHODS

The expression of STN in surgically resected specimens of human gastric cancer was evaluated immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody (TKH-2), in 60 patients whose serum STN levels were measured and in 54 patients with advanced cancer who had been followed for more than 5 years after gastrectomy. The correlations between the level of STN expression and clinicopathologic factors were analyzed. The staining intensity was graded as follows: (-), less than 5% of the cancer cells expressed STN; (+), 5-50%; (++), more than 50%.

RESULTS

Sialosyl TN antigen staining was detected mainly on the cell membrane, in the cytoplasm, and in the luminal contents, and 57.2% of the 60 specimens expressed STN, whereas the corresponding value for positive serum levels was 15%. A higher percentage of advanced tumors expressed STN than did the early cases, but the difference was not statistically significant. All cases with strong staining, the (++) cases, were advanced cases either with lymph node metastases or with cancer invading in or beyond the muscle layer proper. The expression of STN appeared to be related to the clinical stage, the extent of cancer invasion, and the presence of lymph node metastases. Sialosyl TN antigen was detected in the serum in less than 6% of the patients whose tumors were (-) or (+) for STN expression, and in 86.7% of the patients whose tumors expressed high levels of STN (++). The estimated 5-year survival in advanced cases (Stage III) was significantly better in those with negative STN expression than in those with positive STN expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that STN may be a useful marker associated with the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Cloning and sequencing of the murine farnesyltransferase alpha-encoding cDNA from a cell line which expresses the human papillomavirus type-16 E6 gene

Using a differential hybridization technique, the murine farnesyltransferase alpha (FTA)-encoding cDNA was cloned from a mouse 10T1/2 cell line which expresses the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E6 gene. Sequence analysis revealed that the murine 1647-bp FTA cDNA encoded 377 amino acid (aa). The murine and human sequences showed 83.2% nucleotide and 92.6% aa sequence identity.

Enhancement effect of an anti-angiogenic agent, TNP-470, on hyperthermia-induced growth suppression of human esophageal and gastric cancers transplantable to nude mice

The effect of a combination of TNP-470 (AGM-1470, an anti-angiogenic agent) and hyperthermia on tumor growth was examined using human esophageal (ESO-2) and gastric (NSC-8) cancers transplantable to nude mice. TNP-470 alone at a dose of 30 mg/kg three times a week for 2 weeks was sufficient to obtain an antitumor effect. A combination of this dose of TNP-470 and 43 degrees C hyperthermia for 30 min inhibited tumor growth markedly in comparison with either treatment alone. It was considered that angiogenesis after hyperthermia was inhibited by TNP-470, and then regrowth of the tumor cells was potently suppressed by reduction of O2 pressure, pH and nutrient supply in the tumor tissue.

Transcription-modulatory activity of full-length E6 and E6*I proteins of human papillomavirus type 16

The E6 gene of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) has the potential to encode full-length as well as truncated E6 proteins (E6*I and E6*II) by alternative splicings. Spliced ORF E6*I is considered to facilitate the translation of the neighboring E7 ORF; however, the putative E6*I protein is suspected to be functionless. In this study, the transcription-modulatory functions of full-length E6 and E6*I proteins were examined using cDNAs from a cervical carcinoma cell line. E6*I cDNA was able to trans-activate the autologous P97 promoter and the heterologous adenovirus E2 promoter. Full-length E6 was found to trans-activate the heterologous promoter, but repress transcription from the autologous P97 promoter. The transcription-modulatory functions of full-length E6 and E6*I proteins suggested that transcriptional regulation of HPVs associated with mucosal malignant lesions is complex.

The potential for the development of liver metastasis from alpha-fetoprotein-producing human gastric carcinomas in nude mice

The potential for liver metastasis in addition to the transplantability and doubling time of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)-producing and non-AFP-producing human gastric carcinomas were studied in nude mice. The potential for liver metastasis was analyzed histopathologically from intrasplenic injections of tumor cell suspensions prepared from subcutaneous tumors. Tumor fragments prepared aseptically from 15 AFP-producing and 140 non-AFP-producing gastric cancers were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice with transplantability rates of 80% (12/15 cases) and 50% (70/140 cases), respectively. The mean tumor doubling times in the first generation were 10.6 days for AFP-producing and 13.2 days for non-AFP-producing gastric carcinomas. Serially transplantable tumor lines in nude mice were established from six AFP-producing and 10 non-AFP-producing carcinomas. When tumor cell suspensions prepared from the subcutaneous tumors were injected into spleens, all six AFP-producing carcinomas (two poorly differentiated and four tubular adenocarcinomas) but only four out of the 10 non-AFP-producing carcinomas (two poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, one mucinous carcinoma and one papillary adenocarcinoma) demonstrated a potential for liver metastasis. The results indicate AFP-producing gastric carcinomas to possess a higher potential for liver metastasis than do non-AFP-producing carcinomas, a distinguishing feature which thus reflects a poor prognosis.

[Effect of concomitant use of anticancer drugs and a Ca2+ antagonist, on human gastric cancer transplanted into nude mice]

We examined the effect of concomitant use of anticancer drugs such as Carmofur or 5-FU and Nicardipine, a Ca2+ antagonist, on human gastric cancer transplanted into nude mice, and obtained the following results: 1. Combined administration of Carmofur or 5-FU together with Nicardipine caused potentiation of an antitumor effect. 2. After Carmofur was used together with Nicardipine, the FU level in the tumor tissue was significantly elevated. In conclusion, it was found that in the combined use of Carmofur or 5-FU together with Nicardipine, a Ca2+ antagonist, caused a higher level of the FU in tumor tissue and potentiation of an antitumor effect on human gastric cancer transplanted into nude mice.