Radiosensitization of tumor-targeted radioimmunotherapy with prolonged topotecan infusion in human breast cancer xenografts

Clinical radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of solid tumors holds great promise, but as yet has been unable to deliver tumoricidal radiation doses without unacceptable toxicity. Our experimental approach aims to potentiate the therapeutic action of radioimmunoconjugates at the tumor site and thus improve the efficacy of RIT by combination with other treatment modalities. The topoisomerase I inhibitors are a unique class of chemotherapeutic agents that interfere with DNA breakage-reunion by inhibiting the action of topoisomerase I. Preclinical studies suggest that prolonged infusion of topoisomerase I inhibitors enhances cell toxicity due to ionizing radiation. We evaluated the efficacy of combined treatment with continuous administration of topotecan and 90Y-MX-DPTA BrE3 monoclonal antibody (which recognizes an epitope of breast epithelial mucin expressed in most breast cancers) on human mammary carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Topotecan or 90Y-BrE3 treatment alone delayed overall tumor growth rate transiently but did not affect survival. The combination of RIT with topotecan substantially reduced growth of relatively large established tumors and caused complete tumor regressions and prolonged tumor-free survival in a substantial proportion of treated animals. In vitro studies demonstrated an increase in apoptotic rate and a decrease in cell proliferation of tumor cell lines treated with this combination. We combined the radiosensitization property of topotecan and the specificity of systemic RIT to establish a novel therapy for solid tumors in an experimental tumor xenograft model.

Influence of lactoferrin feeding and injection against systemic staphylococcal infections in mice

Human and bovine lactoferrins (Lfs) and bovine lactoferrin hydrolysate (LH) were assessed in vitro and in vivo for their antibacterial effects on Staphylococcus aureus. Lactoferrins showed weak in vitro antibacterial activity while Fe-saturated Lfs and LH showed no activity. Lactoferrin-treated mice (1 mg, i.v.) when injected i.v. with 10(6) staphylococci, showed 30-50% reduction in kidney infections, and viable bacterial counts in the kidneys decreased 5-12-fold. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent up to 1 mg Lf. Lactoferrins were effective when given 1 day prior to the bacterial challenge, after which there was no significant effect even at doses up to 5 mg. Apo- and Fe-saturated forms of human and bovine Lfs were all equally effective, while LH was not protective. Human and bovine Lfs with different degrees of iron saturation (9-97%) were found to be equipotent. Feeding mice with 2% bLf in drinking water also reduced the kidney infections by 40-60%, and viable bacterial counts, 5-12-fold. The results suggest a potential for the use of Lfs as natural antibacterial proteins for preventing bacterial infections.

Induction of lactoferrin expression in murine ES cells by retinoic acid and estrogen

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein present in high concentrations in milk and exocrine fluids such as bile and tears. Many functions have been attributed to lactoferrin, including antimicrobial and antiviral activities, immunomodulation, and cell growth regulation. Lactoferrin expression is controlled by different regulators, including retinoic acid and estrogen. However, the expression pattern of lactoferrin in mammalian early development has not yet been reported. Murine embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that can contribute to all tissues and were used for this study. We show here that while no lactoferrin protein or mRNA was detected in untreated murine embryonic stem cells, retinoic acid and estrogen can induce high levels lactoferrin expression in these cells. Expression, demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and ELISA assay, was dose and time dependent. Our study provides an in vitro model for examining lactoferrin expression in early development and differentiation.

Biologic activity of interleukin 1 (IL-1) alpha in patients with refractory malignancies

Interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) is a cytokine with pleiotropic effects, including cytotoxic-cytostatic activity against some tumor cell lines. We have conducted a phase I study of recombinant human IL-1 alpha (rhIL-1 alpha) in 17 patients with refractory malignancies to examine its toxicity and biologic activity. rhIL-1 alpha was given as a 2-h IV infusion daily for 5 days at five dose levels (0.08, 0.2, 0.8, 2.0, and 5.0 micrograms/m2). Seventeen patients with malignancies were treated, with no objective tumor responses noted. Common toxicities included: fever (100%), rigors and/or chills (96%), myalgia (54%), and headache (48%). Three patients developed grade III hypotension. The maximum tolerated dose was 2.0 micrograms/m2. rhIL-1 alpha induced a significant increase in absolute neutrophil count over baseline (p < 0.05), a delayed but significant increase in platelet count over baseline (p < 0.05), and there was a marked increase in the number of progenitors [colony-forming units (CFU)-G, CFU-M, CFU-GM, CFU-GEMM and burst-forming units (BFU-E)] observed in the peripheral blood. Nine of 12 evaluable patients showed an increase in bone marrow cellularity or myeloid:erthyroid ratio. Immunophenotyping did not demonstrate an increase in peripheral blood or bone marrow CD34+ cells. Interferon-gamma-mediated monocyte cytotoxicity (MCCTX) was significantly enhanced from baseline (p < 0.001), although an increase in direct MCCTX did not reach statistical significance. In summary, rhIL-1 alpha administration is well tolerated at a dose of 2.0 micrograms/m2 with fever, rigors, myalgia, and headache being the most frequent toxicities. Although there were no objective tumor responses, we have demonstrated significant biologic activity with increased neutrophil and platelet counts, increased peripheral blood progenitor cells, and enhanced interferon-gamma-mediated MCCTX.

Initial clinical evaluation of radiolabeled MX-DTPA humanized BrE-3 antibody in patients with advanced breast cancer

To evaluate radiometal-labeled humanized BrE-3 (huBrE-3) monoclonal antibody as a radioimmunolocalization and therapeutic agent in breast cancer patients, tumor localization, pharmacokinetics, radiation dosimetry, and immunogenicity of (111)In-labeled combined 1-p-isothiocyanatobenzyl 3-methyl- and 1-p-isothiocyanatobenzyl 4-methyldiethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) huBrE-3 were studied. Seven women with BrE-3 antigen-positive, metastatic breast carcinoma underwent (111)In huBrE-3 infusion (5 mCi; 50 mg), followed by serial gamma camera imaging and plasma sampling. Region of interest analysis of images was used to make radiation absorbed dose estimates for (111)In huBrE-3. Data were extrapolated to 90Y huBrE-3. Human anti-human antibody (HAHA) response was measured in serum samples obtained up to 3 months after infusion. Patients tolerated infusions well. Seventy-six percent of 105 known sites of disease were identified on planar and single-photon emission computed tomography scans. For six of seven patients, a biexponential model fit the plasma time-activity curve best with an average T1/2alpha=10.6+/-8.5 (SD) h and average T1/2beta=114.2+/-39.2 h. Radiation absorbed dose estimates for (111)In huBrE-3 for whole body averaged 0.53+/-.08 rads/mCi. Dose estimates for 90Y huBrE-3 for marrow averaged 8.4+/-11.9 rads/mCi, and for tumors, 70+/-31.5 rads/mCi. Liver radioactivity uptake averaged 19.7+/-8.8% injected dose at 24 h after infusion, translating into an average radiation absorbed dose 21.1+/-12 rads/90Y mCi administered. Only one of seven patients demonstrated a low level of HAHA response. Although the plasma half-lives are longer and marrow dose higher for radiolabeled huBrE-3 compared with the murine construct, the excellent tumor localization, good tumor dosimetry, and low immunogenicity support the use of 90Y-huBrE-3 antibody for radioimmunotherapy of breast cancer.

The effect of continuous infusion IL-1 alpha on carboplatin-induced thrombocytopenia and anti-tumor activity in RIF-1 tumor bearing mice

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) has potent effects on hematopoiesis and can significantly enhance the anti-tumor activity of cytotoxic drugs. Studies were undertaken here to determine whether IL-1 alpha, administered by continuous infusion, could prevent carboplatin (CBDCA)-mediated thrombocytopenia and enhance CBDCA-mediated anti-tumor effects. RIF-1 tumor bearing mice were treated with CBDCA and IL-1 alpha either by a single bolus injection or by continuous infusion through the use of ALZET pumps. The duration and extent of CBDCA-induced thrombocytopenia in tumor-bearing mice was diminished when IL-1 alpha was administered continuously as compared to CBDCA alone or CBDCA plus a single bolus injection of IL-1 alpha. In addition, IL-1 alpha induced potentiation of CBDCA anti-tumor activity in vivo was significantly increased when IL-1 alpha was administered by continuous infusion. These results demonstrate the potential efficacy of IL-1 alpha by continuous infusion.

Effect of high-dose, fractionated local irradiation on MNU-induced carcinogenesis in the rat mammary gland

The effect on chemical carcinogenesis in the mammary gland of high-dose fractionated, local irradiation, as is used in the treatment of human breast cancer, was examined in a rat model of this disease process. For this purpose, a highly reproducible method was employed for administering a therapeutic dose and fractionation schedule via an anterior portal to a single mammary gland chain of rats in a manner that minimized whole body irradiation. This approach offers significant advantages over whole body irradiation techniques previously used for investigations of radiation-mediated effects on the carcinogenic process. Among the advantages are that higher doses of radiation can be administered to the target tissue with minimal side effects and that the contralateral mammary gland chain can serve as a 'within animal control'. When this approach was used to study the effect of high-dose fractionated radiation on the risk of development of mammary cancer in rats given 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea prior to radiation, an enhanced tumorigenic response was observed that greatly exceeded the response resulting from either radiation or carcinogen administered alone. This result was unanticipated, based on data from animal studies of the effects of whole body irradiation on mammary tumor development and the outcome of clinical series. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are presented.

Sequence specificity and transcriptional activation in the binding of lactoferrin to DNA

Lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein found in high concentrations in human milk and other epithelial secretions and in the secondary (specific) granules of neutrophils, is thought to be responsible for primary defence against microbial infection, mainly as a result of lactoferrin sequestration of iron required for microbial growth. Many other functions have been attributed to lactoferrin, including immunomodulation and cell growth regulation (reviewed in ref. 4). Some of these functions appear to be at least in part independent of the iron-binding activity of lactoferrin. It also has been consistently observed that lactoferrin interacts avidly with nucleic acids. Lactoferrin enhancement of the activity of natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cells in vitro is inhibited by RNA and DNA. Lactoferrin taken up by K562 human myelogenous leukaemia cells appears in the nucleus where it is bound to DNA. We report here that binding of lactoferrin to DNA occurs under stringent conditions with distinct sequence specificity, and that interaction between lactoferrin and these sequences intracellularly leads to transcriptional activation.

Potentiation by interleukin 1 alpha of cisplatin and carboplatin antitumor activity: schedule-dependent and pharmacokinetic effects in the RIF-1 tumor model

We have previously demonstrated that the cytokine interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) significantly potentiates the antitumor activity of a variety of chemotherapeutic agents, including cisplatin (cDDP). In studies described here, we examined the potential of combining IL-1 alpha and the platinum analogue carboplatin (CBDCA) and compared the schedule-dependent and pharmacokinetic effects for IL-1 alpha combinations with cDDP and CBDCA. RIF-1 tumor-bearing mice (C3H/HeJ) received i.p. injections of varying doses of CBDCA, alone or concurrently with IL-1 alpha (48 or 480 micrograms/kg). Clonogenic cell kill and tumor regrowth delay were significantly increased when CBDCA was combined with IL-1 alpha, at both doses, compared to either CBDCA or IL-1 alpha alone (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Although pretreatment with IL-1 receptor antagonist blocked the acute tumor hemorrhagic response induced by IL-1 alpha alone, IL-1 receptor antagonist only partially blocked IL-1 alpha enhancement of CBDCA or cDDP-mediated tumor cell kill. The IL-1 alpha enhancement of CBDCA-mediated tumor cell kill was highly schedule dependent, with maximum antitumor activity observed when IL-1 alpha was administered 4-12 h before CBDCA. In contrast, administration of IL-1 alpha from 24 h before or as late as 6 h after cDDP resulted in the same antitumor activity as simultaneous administration of cDDP and IL-1 alpha. Tumor and normal tissue platinum content were significantly increased by IL-1 alpha in animals treated with CBDCA (P < 0.01) but not in those treated with cDDP. The observed differences between cDDP and CBDCA may be explained by their known differential rates of clearance and protein binding affinities and are compatible with an induced alteration in CBDCA pharmacokinetics.

Human lactoferrin inhibits growth of solid tumors and development of experimental metastases in mice

The antitumor effects of the multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein, lactoferrin (Lf), were investigated. Lf inhibited growth in mice of transplantable solid tumors induced by v-ras transformed fibroblasts and a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma. Lf also substantially reduced lung colonization (experimental metastasis) by B16-F10 melanoma cells in syngeneic mice. Iron-saturated and apo-Lf exhibited comparable levels of tumor inhibition and antimetastatic activity. Transferrin, a related iron-binding protein, had no effect on lung colonization. In the B16-F10 system, elimination of natural killer cell activity by pretreatment of mice with anti-asialo GM1 antibody abrogated the effects of Lf, whereas inhibition of macrophage function with silica did not. The results demonstrate a novel activity for Lf and suggest a potentially important role for this molecule in the primary defense against tumorigenesis.

Iron-induced conformational change in human lactoferrin: demonstration by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analysis of effects of iron binding to the N and C lobes of the molecule

Analysis of Fe-saturated- and apo-lactoferrin by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) without heating the samples prior to application revealed a substantial difference in mobility. The mobility shift was fully reversible on repetitive removal and readdition of Fe. Binding of a single Fe to the N-lobe binding site was sufficient to cause the gel shift; binding of a second Fe to the C-lobe site did not further alter mobility. Removal of Fe from the N lobe of Fe2 lactoferrin did not restore mobility to the position of apolactoferrin. No change in mobility with Fe binding was detected in N and C lobes isolated from intact lactoferrin by controlled trypsin digestion. The data indicate that a conformational change induced by Fe binding to a single site on lactoferrin is detectable by SDS-PAGE and that this change requires an intact molecule, possibly due to the need for interactions between the two homologous lobes of the molecule.

Analysis of the antimetastatic effects of synthetic muramyl tripeptide (CGP 19835A) encapsulated in liposomes in combination with other immunomodulatory agents and chemotherapeutic drugs

The synthetic molecule muramyl tripeptide (CGP 19835A) encapsulated in liposomes is effective in increasing the survival of mice with spontaneous experimental lung metastases induced by the RENCA renal adenocarcinoma and B16 melanoma tumor models. The present study was aimed at extending the effects of CGP 19835A to another highly metastatic carcinoma model and at evaluating the efficacy of combination therapy with standard cytotoxic agents and other immunomodulators. C57BL/6 mice received whole tumor implants of PancO2, a spontaneously metastasizing pancreatic adenocarcinoma, subcutaneously in the hind leg. Therapeutic effects were measured by increased survival which is a direct function of the growth of spontaneous lung metastases in this system. No therapeutic efficacy was observed with CGP 19835A alone or in combination with any of a series of cytotoxic or biological agents, including cis-platinurn (cis-Pt), mitomycin C (MMC), adriamycin (ADR), cyclophosphamide (CP), interferon gamma (IFN gamma), and interleukin 2 (IL-2). In accord with previous studies, when the B16-F10 melanoma was used as an experimental metastatic tumor model, CGP 19835A, alone and in combination with CP, significantly reduced the number of pulmonary metastases. Cis-Pt, however, partially negated the effects of CGP 19835A when a combination of the two agents was used. The results indicate that CGP 19835A is an effective therapeutic agent in some models of spontaneous or experimental lung metastases, but not others, and that the effects of CGP 19835A are not enhanced by the accompanying cytotoxic drugs tested here.

Iron binding to human lactoferrin alters reactivity of the protein with plant lectins

Binding of Fe by human apolactoferrin results in altered reactivity of the glycoprotein with plant lectins. Reaction with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) was abolished with Fe binding. Reaction with the lectins from Datura stramonium (DSA) and Aleuria aurantia (AAA) was significantly reduced but not fully abolished on Fe binding, while reaction with the Artocarpus integrifolia lectin (Jacalin) and Sambucus nigrabark (SNA) was not changed at all. Loss of WGA reactivity occurred when only one of two Fe binding sites on the molecule was saturated. The results demonstrate conformational changes that are associated with high-avidity binding of Fe by lactoferrin.

Radioimmunolocalization of metastatic breast carcinoma using indium-111-methyl benzyl DTPA BrE-3 monoclonal antibody: phase I study

Pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled BrE3 monoclonal antibody (Mab), reactive against a breast mucin epitope, were assessed in 15 patients with advanced breast cancer. Patients received 5 mCi (185 MBq) of 111In-methyl benzyl isothiocyanate DTPA (MX-DTPA) conjugated BrE-3 Mab intravenously with total antibody doses of 10, 50 or 100 mg. Serial quantitative imaging, blood and urine clearance were obtained to measure pharmacokinetics, assess tumor localization and estimate radiation dose. Organ function was followed to determine toxicity. Mild allergic reactions occurred in four patients. Eighty-six percent of 70 known lesions and 5 unsuspected lesions were detected by antibody imaging. Biexponential modeling of radiolabeled antibody in serum showed a T1/2 alpha = 9.5 +/- 2.7 hr and T1/2 beta = 56 +/- 25.4 hr. Total urinary excretion averaged 35.5% +/- 19.3% injected dose (ID) by Day 8. Quantitative imaging showed that 0.02-2.56% ID localized in tumors. Extrapolating dosimetry from 111In-MX-DTPA-BrE-3 to 90Y-MX-DTPA-BrE-3, we estimate therapeutic radiation doses could be delivered to some tumors with tolerable toxicity.

Effect of conjoint administration of tamoxifen and high-dose radiation on the development of mammary carcinoma

PURPOSE

Tamoxifen is currently advocated for post-menopausal breast cancer patients receiving definitive irradiation after limited surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess in an experimental model for breast cancer whether the efficacy of irradiation is altered by conjoint administration of tamoxifen. To this end, rats with small tumors induced by 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU) were treated with tamoxifen, radiation, or a combination of the two modalities.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Female Sprague Dawley rats were injected i.p. with 50 mg MNU/kg body weight at 50 days of age. At 64 days post carcinogen, the majority of the rats had at least one palpable mammary tumor. At that time radiation with or without tamoxifen treatment was initiated and given 5 days per week for 5 weeks. Radiation dose was 4500 cGy delivered as 25, 180 cGy fractions. Tamoxifen, 500 mg/kg body weight, was administered subcutaneously each day during the irradiation interval. The study was terminated 28 weeks after carcinogen treatment.

RESULTS

High dose radiation alone induced a reduction in the size of existing tumors, but resulted in a significant increase in the number of tumors that were detected. Treatment with tamoxifen alone also caused a reduction in tumor volume, but had no effect on final incidence or number of mammary tumors. Combined modality treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the volume of existing tumors and suppressed the enhanced occurrence of additional tumors observed when only radiation alone was administered.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study indicate that in the context of fractionated, high dose radiation treatment of established mammary cancers, tamoxifen may reduce the likelihood of subsequent tumor development and by so doing prove a helpful simultaneous conjoint adjuvant treatment to post-operative irradiation.

Synergistic enhancement by interleukin-1 alpha of cisplatin-mediated antitumor activity in RIF-1 tumor-bearing C3H/HeJ mice

Administration of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) plus certain cytotoxic drugs causes substantially greater clonogenic tumor-cell kill and tumor-regrowth delay than does treatment with either agent alone. IL-1 alpha itself has little effect on tumor growth despite its ability to induce acute hemorrhagic necrosis, restrict tumor blood flow, and cause microvascular injury in a variety of murine model systems. To investigate further IL-1 alpha's ability to enhance the antitumor activity of cytotoxic drugs, we initiated studies to examine the effect of IL-1 alpha on cisplatin (cDDP)-mediated cytotoxicity using the RIF-1 tumor system. The antitumor activity of IL-1 alpha and cDDP was quantitated through standard clonogenic tumor-cell survival assays, a tumor hemorrhagic necrosis assay and tumor-regrowth delay studies, with the interaction between IL-1 alpha and cDDP being analyzed through median dose-effect. In vitro, IL-1 alpha had no enhancing effect on the cDDP-mediated tumor-cell kill. For examination of the in vivo efficacy of this regimen, RIF-1 tumor-bearing C3H/HeJ mice (14 days postimplantation) were treated concurrently with single i.p. injections of IL-1 alpha and/or cDDP at various doses. The increased clonogenic tumor-cell kill obtained with IL-1 alpha/cDDP was dose-dependent, with significant enhancement by IL-1 alpha being observed (P < 0.001), even at the lowest doses tested (2 mg/kg and 6 micrograms/kg for cDDP and IL-1 alpha, respectively), but it did not correlate with an increase in tumor hemorrhage. Using median dose-effect analysis, this interaction was determined to be strongly synergistic. When treated animals were monitored for long-term antitumor effects, combinations with IL-1 alpha significantly increased the tumor-regrowth delay and decreased the fractional tumor volume (P < 0.001). These results demonstrate that IL-1 alpha synergistically enhances cDDP mediated in vivo antitumor activity and suggest that the combination of IL-1 alpha and cDDP may have potential therapeutic application in the design of effective treatment modalities for cancer.

Differential effect in vitro of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) on normal and virus-infected erythroid progenitors from Friend virus (FVA)-infected mice

In vivo administration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) suppresses both normal and Friend virus (FVA)-infected erythroid progenitor cells (CFU-E). To examine the mechanism of erythroid suppression by TNF, we examined TNF's direct effect on normal and virus-infected cells in vitro. Productively infected fibroblast cell lines, fresh acute virus-infected spleen cells, and virus-infected CFU-E were sensitive, whereas uninfected CFU-E were resistant to TNF cytotoxicity in vitro. When FVA-infected erythroblasts were depleted from the spleen cell population in vitro with antivirus antibodies, TNF suppression of the remaining (uninfected) cells was abrogated. In contrast, both normal and virus-infected macrophage progenitor cells and immature erythroid progenitor cells were equally sensitive to TNF cytotoxicity in vitro. Normal erythroblasts had significantly fewer TNF receptors than FVA-infected erythroblasts, which also were morphologically less mature. These results suggest that TNF can differentially suppress late-stage virus-infected erythroid progenitors in vitro.

Induction of permanent regression of Friend virus (FV) leukemia by adoptive transfer of T helper and not T cytotoxic cells

Friend virus (FV) induces a progressive erythroleukemia that can be made to permanently regress by the transfer of in vitro cultured virus-specific T cells (CTL/RFB) without any other adjunctive treatment. To determine the role of T cells in regression, CTL/RFB were enriched for specific T-cell subsets by treatment with monoclonal anti-Lyt2.2 or anti-L3T4 antibody and complement (C'). Pre-treatment of CTL/RFB with anti-Lyt2 antibody and C' did not affect permanent regression incidence, while CTL/RFB depleted of L3T4+ cells induced temporary regressions with all mice recurring. The number of splenic Lyt2+ (CD8+ equivalent) cells was constant irrespective of the leukemic status of the animals. However, the number of L3T4+ cells (CD4+ equivalent) in leukemic mice was three-fold lower than that of normal mice with regressed mice demonstrating a 30% increase in the number of L3T4+ cells compared to normals. Spleen cells from leukemic animals were also unable to produce IL-2 in response to mitogen stimulation. These results indicate that L3T4+ cells are involved in regression of erythroleukemia.

Absence of tumorigenicity in athymic mice by normal human epidermal keratinocytes after culture in serum-free medium

The very rapid growth rate (1 population doubling/day) of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (HK) cultured in serum-free medium can be utilized for wound closure in burn treatment. However, rapid growth in vitro may present the possibility of neoplastic transformation. To investigate this possibility, HK were cultured from primary isolation to large populations in MCDB 153 medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF, 10 ng/ml), insulin (5 micrograms/ml), hydrocortisone (0.5 micrograms/ml), and Bovine Pituitary Extract (BPE, 70 micrograms/ml). HK were studied for their ability to form tumors in athymic mice after subcutaneous inoculation. Sixteen separate HK strains were inoculated from primary cultures, or from secondary cultures either before or after storage in liquid nitrogen. Transformed cell lines, SCC 13 and FL, derived from human epithelial carcinomata were used as controls for tumor formation. HK formed no tumors (0/79) after 26 weeks incubation, SCC 13 formed nodular tumors (3/5) after 20 weeks incubation, and FL formed tumors (5/5) after 4 weeks incubation. HK cells were not found by histological examination of inoculation sites of keratinocyte cultures derived from primary culture from skin. In contrast, palpable tumors from both SCC 13 and FL were returned to tissue culture and continued to proliferate. These results support the conclusion that the rapid growth rate of human epidermal keratinocytes in vitro can be attributed to permissive culture conditions, and not to neoplastic transformation.

Potentiation of mitomycin C and porfiromycin antitumor activity in solid tumor models by recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha

The time- and dose-dependent effects of recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) on the antitumor activity of mitomycin C (MMC) and porfiromycin (PORF) were studied in RIF-1 and Panc02 solid tumor model systems. IL-1 alpha produced dose-dependent sensitization of clonogenic RIF-1 tumor cells to MMC in vivo. IL-1 alpha chemosensitization was highly schedule dependent, and the most efficacious schedules produced dose-modifying factors of 3.6 and 5.1 for MMC and PORF, respectively. More than additive clonogenic cell kill after IL-1 alpha-chemotherapy combinations reflected increased cellular sensitivity to MMC and PORF. The combinations also produced marked decreases in the yield of viable tumor cells, suggesting that the bioreductive drugs may have also potentiated the microvascular injury and ischemia produced by IL-1 alpha. Dexamethasone inhibited and ketoconazole, an inhibitor of corticosterone biosynthesis, enhanced IL-1 alpha-mediated chemosensitization in these models. IL-1 alpha mediated chemosensitization to MMC, and PORF was also demonstrated by tumor growth inhibition in the RIF-1 model and increased survival of mice in the spontaneously metastasizing Panc02 system. Chemosensitization of bone marrow spleen colony-forming units was not seen. IL-1 alpha (1000 units/ml) had no effect on MMC and PORF cytotoxicity in RIF-1 and PORF cell lines in vitro. The results indicate that the tumor-specific IL-1 alpha-induced pathophysiologies can sensitize solid tumors to agents which are preferentially activated, retained, and cytotoxic to cells under hypoxic conditions. Our results suggest that strategies combining bioreductively activated hypoxic cell cytotoxins and biological agents might offer efficacious alternatives or adjuvants to conventional combination approaches.

Acute hemorrhagic necrosis of tumors induced by interleukin-1 alpha: effects independent of tumor necrosis factor

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein synthesized in response to the endotoxin bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is the classical mediator of acute hemorrhagic necrosis of tumors. We have demonstrated that interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), with a spectrum of activities very similar to those of TNF, also causes acute hemorrhagic necrosis of tumors. Both TNF and IL-1 induce a cascade of events including the synthesis or release of each other. The present studies were thus undertaken to determine whether the hemorrhagic necrosis induced in tumors by IL-1 alpha is due to TNF. Kinetic parameters of IL-1 alpha-induced hemorrhage were similar to those observed with recombinant murine TNF-alpha (TNF-alpha) or LPS in RIF-1 fibrosarcomas in C3H/HeN (endotoxin-sensitive) mice. However, the amount of TNF found in the sera or tumors of animals treated with LPS was more than 20-fold higher than in mice treated with IL-1 alpha, and LPS induced similar degrees of hemorrhagic necrosis, which was measured by determining the packed volume of red blood cells by 59Fe labeling. A low but significantly hemorrhagic dose of IL-1 alpha induced no detectable TNF in tumors. Pretreatment with 250 micrograms of neutralizing antibody to TNF had no effect on IL-1 alpha-induced hemorrhage, whereas TNF-alpha- and LPS-induced hemorrhagic effects were significantly reduced. These results demonstrate an important antitumor activity of IL-1 alpha that appears to be independent of TNF.

Negative regulators of in vivo erythropoiesis: interaction of IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha and the lack of a strict requirement for T or NK cells for their activity

The macrophage-derived cytokines interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have significant effects on hematopoiesis in vitro and in vivo. Studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that, in vivo, IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha suppress late stage erythropoiesis while stimulating the macrophage-granulocyte lineage. In the present studies, we have examined the mechanisms of these effects. Normal mice were treated with a single dose of either recombinant murine IL-1 alpha or TNF-alpha (1.25 x 10(6) or 10(5) U/mouse i.p., respectively) with or without pretreatment of the animals with monoclonal anti-murine TNF-alpha antibody at a dose that has been shown to be capable of abrogating endogenous TNF activity induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After 5 days, effects on late-stage erythropoiesis and macrophage formation were measured by determining the number of their progenitors, erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E) and macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-M), in the spleen. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody treatment significantly abrogated CFU-E suppression by IL-1 alpha but had no effect on the IL-1 alpha-induced stimulation of CFU-M. IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha suppressed CFU-E in vivo and stimulated CFU-M in the spleens of T-cell- and natural killer (NK)-cell-deficient mice. Neither cytokine suppressed CFU-E colony formation in vitro. These results demonstrate that IL-1 alpha-induced suppression of CFU-E is mediated through induction of TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha stimulation of CFU-M was independent of TNF-alpha, and the in vivo hematopoietic effects of these cytokines do not strictly require intact T- and NK-cell function for activity.

Enhanced lung colonization and tumorigenicity of fused cells isolated from primary MCA tumors

Cells derived from cell-cell fusion events were clonally isolated from primary methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced tumors in allophenic mice. Compared with non-fused cells isolated from the same cultures, the fused cells had markedly greater experimental metastasizing (lung colonizing) activity, but only slightly greater tumorigenicity and the same cloning efficiency in soft agar. Cell-cell fusion may thus contribute to the generation of tumor heterogeneity that underlies the process of tumor progression.

In vitro studies on the mechanism of action of hepsulfam in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients

In the present study we have characterized the cytotoxicity and DNA damage induced by hepsulfam and busulfan in cells isolated from both chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients and normal donors. hepsulfam inhibited colony-forming units-granulocyte, macrophage to a greater extent than busulfan in peripheral blood cells (PBCs) isolated from CML patients. Normal PBCs were equally sensitive to both agents and were more sensitive than the cells isolated from CML patients. Hepsulfam induced DNA interstrand cross-links in PBCs and bone marrow from both CML and normal volunteers, whereas busulfan produced few or no DNA interstrand cross-links. In addition, hepsulfam induced higher levels of DNA interstrand cross-linking than busulfam in three samples isolated from CML patients in blast crisis. Busulfan did however cause a small number of DNA strand breaks to be formed in human cells. Both agents produced similar levels of DNA-protein cross-links in PBCs from CML patients. These results suggest that the mechanism of DNA reactivity of hepsulfam and busulfan differ and that hepsulfam may prove useful in the treatment of CML.

Pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and gamma camera imaging of 111In-KC-4G3 murine monoclonal antibody in athymic nude mice with or without human tumor xenografts

The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of the monoclonal antibody radioconjugate 111In-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-KC-4G3, which is directed against a high molecular weight mucin(s) antigen expressed on the human milk fat globule and many epithelial cell membranes, were examined in BALB/c nude mice with and without xenografts of the human tumor lines ZR-75 (mammary adenocarcinoma, KC-4G3 antigen positive) and BALL-1 (B-cell lymphoma, KC-4G3 antigen negative). Plasma of ZR-75 and BALL-1 tumor-bearing nude mice inoculated with 111In-KC-4G3 had a higher initial volume of distribution (V1), steady state volume of distribution (Vss), and plasma clearance and a lower initial half-life (t1/2 alpha) than non-tumor-bearing nude mice. There were no significant differences in biological half-life (t1/2 beta) in tumor- and non-tumor-bearing nude mice. Urinary and fecal excretion of radioactivity by ZR-75 tumor-bearing mice was greater than that of BALL-1 and non-tumor-bearing mice. Localization of 111In-KC-4G3 in mice bearing xenografts of ZR-75 was significantly greater than in mice with BALL-1 tumors. Uptake of 111In-KC-4G3 by ZR-75 tumors averaged 14% of injected dose/g at 72 h after inoculation and was unaffected by antibody dose. Significantly, the radioconjugate concentration in ZR-75 tumors remained relatively constant from 72 to 336 h post-inoculation, while that in normal tissues declined considerably over this period. Nonspecific reticuloendothelial tissue uptake of 111In-KC-4G3 was only moderately affected by pretreatment with a large excess of unlabeled normal mouse immunoglobulin and was not changed by treatment with asialofetuin. Further enhancement of specific localization of 111In-KC-4G3 was obtained by subtraction of the blood pool identified by co-inoculation of 131I-labeled, isotype-identical, normal mouse immunoglobulin. Gamma camera images of 111In-KC-4G3-inoculated ZR-75 tumor-bearing mice showed enhanced tumor localization compared to mice with BALL-1 tumors. The results of this study suggest that 111In-KC-4G3 may prove useful for imaging and possibly therapy of human malignancies expressing the high molecular weight epithelial mucin(s).

Multiple forms of lactoferrin in normal and leukemic human granulocytes

Multiple forms of lactoferrin (Lf) were detected in granulocytes isolated from normal individuals and patients with granulocytic leukemias. One class of Lfs bound iron; a second class did not bind iron but possessed potent ribonuclease activity. The different forms of Lf were similar, if not identical, in their physical, chemical, and antigenic properties. The multiple forms of Lf may relate to the various functions ascribed to the molecule.

Immunotherapeutic approaches to leukemia: the use of the Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia model system

We have developed a model system to study immunologically mediated regression of leukemia based on Friend virus-induced erythroleukemias. This system has been used to evaluate the immunotherapeutic activity of macrophages, specifically reactive T-cells (CTL/RFB), lymphokine-activated killer cells and interleukin 2, and tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon-gamma. In the present studies, CTL/RFB were evaluated for their ability to prevent disease recurrence. Animals with the regressing strain of Friend virus at Day 39 post virus were treated with either one or two injections of 5 x 10(6) CTL/RFB. Animals given one or two injections of CTL/RFB had a significantly lower rate of recurrence than did untreated animals. The helper T-cell component of CTL/RFB was implicated in causing leukemia regression. Interleukin 1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor alpha, multifunctional cytokines with similar biological activities, were evaluated for their ability to suppress leukemic erythroid colony-forming cells and induce regression. Interleukin 1 alpha suppressed the conventional strain of, but not the polycythemia-inducing strain of, Friend virus-leukemic late erythroid colony-forming units and caused only a temporary regression of disease, while tumor necrosis factor alpha suppressed both forms of the disease and with multiple inoculations could cause permanent disease regressions. This system provides an excellent model for examining the efficacy of immunotherapy of leukemias with various mediators and effector mechanisms.

Potentiation of interleukin 1 alpha mediated antitumor effects by ketoconazole

In the present studies, the regulatory role of adrenal hormones on the antitumor activity of recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) was investigated. Ketoconazole, a potent but transient inhibitor of adrenal steroid hormone biosynthesis, inhibited IL-1 alpha induced increases in plasma corticosterone. In s.c. RIF-1 tumors (C3H/HeJ mice) ketoconazole potentiated IL-1 alpha induced hemorrhagic necrosis (59Fe labeled RBC uptake) and prolonged intervals of low tumor perfusion (86Rb+ uptake) and attendant depletion of tumor high energy phosphate reserves as determined by in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In normal muscle and skin the ketoconazole-IL-1 alpha combination had no effect on RBC content and little or no effect on tissue perfusion. Ketoconazole potentiation of IL-1 alpha induced tumor pathophysiologies was accompanied by time and ketoconazole dose dependent potentiation of RIF-1 tumor clonogenic cell killing. Although ketoconazole at 40 mg/kg and IL-1 alpha at 25 micrograms/kg alone each produced approximately 50% clonogenic cell kill, a combined treatment (IL-1 alpha 1 h after ketoconazole) resulted in surviving fractions of approximately 1.5%. In vitro, ketoconazole and IL-1 alpha induced only additive clonogenic cell kill in primary RIF-1 explant cultures. The effect of elevated plasma corticosterone levels, induced by ketamine-acepromazine anesthesia, on IL-1 alpha responsiveness was also studied in the RIF-1 tumor model. In C3H/HeJ mice, anesthesia increased plasma corticosterone levels within 30 min, abrogated the IL-1 alpha effect on tumor perfusion, and prevented depletion of tumor high energy phosphate metabolite reserves. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that IL-1 alpha mediated adrenal hormone responses exert a profound negative feedback on IL-1 alpha antitumor activities. Our data also indicate that adrenal steroid hormone biosynthetic pathways could provide a focus for modulation strategies to increase the efficacy of cytokine based therapeutic interventions.

Macrophage control of normal and leukemic erythropoiesis: identification of the macrophage-derived erythroid suppressing activity as interleukin-1 and the mediator of its in vivo action as tumor necrosis factor

Macrophages have been shown to directly influence the growth and development of mature erythroid progenitors (CFU-E) in normal and erythroleukemic mice. We examined the mechanism by which macrophages mediate their effect on in vivo erythropoiesis. As reported for whole macrophages, serum-free supernatants (SN) from normal resident peritoneal macrophages suppressed in vivo normal and conventional Friend virus (CFV)-infected CFU-E and caused clinical regression of CFV-induced leukemia in mice. Macrophage SN had no effect on the erythropoietin (EPO)-independent CFU-E characteristic of infection with the polycythemia-inducing strain of Friend virus (FVP), or progression of FVP leukemia. Using biochemical, immunologic, and functional assays, the erythrosuppressive factor in macrophage SN was identified as interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha). The in vivo erythroid suppressive effects of macrophages, macrophage SN, and IL-1 alpha were reversed by simultaneous treatment with EPO. IL-1 alpha itself had no effect on CFU-E colony formation in vitro. Pretreatment of animals with antibodies to murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) completely abrogated the suppression of CFU-E by macrophages, macrophage SN, or human recombinant IL-1 alpha. These results suggest that macrophages regulate erythropoiesis by production of IL-1 alpha, which in turn mediates its in vivo suppressive effects on CFU-E through TNF.

In vivo effects of recombinant human and murine interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) on murine hematopoiesis

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) has profound effects on hematopoiesis that could be exploited therapeutically. The cytokine potentiates immature myeloid and erythroid progenitor cells and suppresses late-stage erythropoiesis. To evaluate the species specificity of IL-1 alpha's activities, we compared the dose-related in vivo effects of recombinant murine IL-1 alpha (MuIL-1 alpha) with recombinant human IL-1 alpha (HuIL-1 alpha) on mouse hematopoietic precursor cells. Normal mice were treated with a single i.p. injection of either HuIL-1 alpha or MuIL-alpha at various doses and assayed 48 hours later. MuIL-1 alpha induced a significantly greater suppression of mature erythroid progenitors (CFU-E) than an equivalent dose of HuIL-1 alpha. Likewise, the immature erythroid (BFU-E) as well as the mature macrophage (CFU-M) progenitors were stimulated to a significantly greater extent with MuIL-1 alpha than with HuIL-1 alpha. These results demonstrate that isologous system should be utilized to optimally evaluate the in vivo use of IL-1 alpha for potentiating hematopoiesis.

In vivo suppression of erythropoiesis by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha): reversal with exogenous erythropoietin (EPO)

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) selectively kills tumor cells in vitro and in vivo and is being tested as a cancer therapeutic agent. We have shown that TNF-alpha significantly suppresses late-stage erythropoiesis, leading to anemia in chronically treated mice. These erythropoietic effects could limit the clinical use of TNF-alpha. Therefore, we have examined whether erythropoietin (EPO) could be used to prevent TNF-alpha-induced erythroid suppression. Normal mice were treated with a single dose of recombinant murine TNF-alpha (10(5) U/mouse, i.p.) with and without various concentrations of recombinant human EPO. After 3 days, effects on late-stage erythropoiesis were measured by determining the number of mature erythroid colony-forming cells (CFU-E) in the spleen and bone marrow. Simultaneous treatment with EPO abrogated the suppressive effect of TNF-alpha in a dose-dependent manner. EPO treatment also prevented the decrease in peripheral blood-hematocrit that was observed with chronic (5 x 10(4) U/mouse/day for 5 days) administration of TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha-induced hemorrhagic necrosis of tumors and stimulation of macrophage (CFU-M) progenitors were unaffected by EPO treatment. These results demonstrate that simultaneous injection of EPO can abrogate the TNF-alpha-induced suppressive effects on erythropoiesis.

The effect of adrenalectomy and dexamethasone on interleukin-1 alpha induced responses in RIF-1 tumours

In the present studies the effect of bilateral adrenalectomy on the pathophysiologic responses to recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha (rHIL-1 alpha) was determined in RIF-1 tumour models. Acute vascular injury and haemorrhagic responses were quantitated by the intra-tumour accumulation of 59Fe radiolabelled erythrocytes. In vivo clonogenic tumour cell kill was determined by an excision assay. A single, intraperitoneal rHIL-1 alpha treatment (6.25 x 10(7) D10 units kg-1, 25 micrograms kg-1) resulted in acute tumour haemorrhage and approximately 55% clonogenic tumour cell kill (24 h). Bilateral adrenalectomy, 24 h before rHIL-1 alpha, significantly increased haemorrhagic responses, but haemodynamic toxicity was severe. This toxicity could be ameliorated by giving dexamethasone (5 mg kg-1) before or up to 3 h after rHIL-1 alpha. The effect of dexamethasone on rHIL-1 alpha induced tumour responses in adrenalectomised mice was sequence dependent. Given before rHIL-1 alpha, dexamethasone inhibited tumour haemorrhage. When dexamethasone was given up to 3 h after rHIL-1 alpha, tumour haemorrhage was directly related to sequence interval. Although adrenalectomy and dexamethasone alone had little effect on RIF-1 tumours, adrenalectomy increased rHIL-1 alpha mediated clonogenic tumour cell kill. The surviving fraction 24 h after rHIL-1 alpha (6.25 x 10(7) D10 units kg-1, 25 micrograms kg-1) and dexamethasone (5 mg kg-1, 2 h after rHIL-1 alpha) was 1.3 +/- 0.4%. The surviving fraction after this combination in intact mice (36.7 +/- 1.4%) was approximately 30-fold higher than that seen in adrenalectomised mice. The results indicate that adrenal responses secondary to rHIL-1 alpha treatment exert a negative feedback on rHIL-1 alpha mediated responses in solid tumours.

31P-nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the effect of recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha on the bioenergetics of RIF-1 tumors

The effect of a single injection of human recombinant interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) on s.c. RIF-1 tumors in mice was studied by in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Spectra were obtained before and up to 24 h after IL-1 alpha. At 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after IL-1 alpha injection, RIF-1 tumors exhibited a reduction in bioenergetic status compared to untreated controls. The Pi to beta-nucleoside triphosphate and the phosphomonoester to beta-nucleoside triphosphate ratios increased, while the phosphocreatine to Pi and phosphodiester to phosphomonoester ratios decreased. Tumor blood flow, estimated by 86RbCl uptake, decreased within 30 min after IL-1 alpha treatment. Minimum perfusion was detected at 4 h, with recovery between 6 and 12 h after IL-1 alpha treatment. Histological sections of the RIF-1 tumors revealed intravascular congestion by 2 h, extravascular hemorrhage by 4 h, and necrosis by 12 h after treatment with IL-1 alpha. The time course of bioenergetic changes in RIF-1 tumors determined by 31P-NMR spectroscopy was found to parallel the reduction and subsequent recovery of tumor blood flow.

Cell fusion in tumor development and progression: occurrence of cell fusion in primary methylcholanthrene-induced tumorigenesis

Definitive evidence for the occurrence of cell fusion in tumorigenesis was sought in methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas. This was approached by using allophenic mice generated from strains differing for electrophoretic variants of the ubiquitous, dimeric enzyme glucose phosphate isomerase, with fusion assessed by heterodimer formation. Eight-three carefully trimmed primary tumor samples (from 23 individual tumors in allophenic mice) were analyzed, as were 1,140 clones derived from them. In all primary tumor samples, zymograms exhibited one GPI homopolymeric band. Expression of a hybrid band (indicative of a fusion event) was not observed in these samples. However, 9 (0.8%) of the tumor clones demonstrated a distinct and reproducible hybrid band which was uniformly lost upon recloning. Our data suggest that cell fusion, although uncommon, occurs in the clonogenic cell fraction during primary MCA tumorigenesis and is followed rapidly by chromosome segregation.

Multiple molecular forms of human lactoferrin. Identification of a class of lactoferrins that possess ribonuclease activity and lack iron-binding capacity

Lactoferrin (Lf), the major iron-binding component of milk, also a major constituent of the specific granules of neutrophils involved in antimicrobial activity and a glycoprotein thought to play a role in regulatory functions in the hematopoietic system as well as other physiologic activities, is shown to occur in three isoforms. One, Lf-alpha, binds iron; the other two, Lf-beta and Lf-gamma, express potent RNase activity, but do not bind iron. The three isoforms are very similar or identical in Mr, pI, partial proteolytic peptide patterns, NH2-terminal amino acid sequence, and reactivity with mAbs and polyclonal antisera against the RNase and Lf, respectively. The finding of structurally similar but enzymatically distinct forms of Lf may be related to the diverse functions of the molecule.

Effects of inhibitors and activators of protein kinase C on late erythroid progenitor (CFU-e) colony formation in vitro

Protein kinase C (PKC) plays a central role in external signal transduction for many cell types. To examine the involvement of PKC in the control of erythropoiesis, we tested the effects of PKC inhibitors on in vitro colony formation by late erythroid progenitors (CFU-e) from normal and Friend virus-infected mice. Inhibitors of PKC and other kinases (H-7 and H-8) inhibited CFU-e at concentrations which inhibit PKC. HA1004, an inhibitor of the cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases and a weak inhibitor of PKC, had little effect on CFU-e. In the absence of erythropoietin, a combination of phorbol ester and Ca++ ionophore significantly increased normal CFU-e. These results suggest PKC plays a role in the transduction of regulatory signals for the growth of CFU-e.

In vivo hematopoietic effects of recombinant interleukin-1 alpha in mice: stimulation of granulocytic, monocytic, megakaryocytic, and early erythroid progenitors, suppression of late-stage erythropoiesis, and reversal of erythroid suppression with erythropoietin

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) is a macrophage-derived, multifunctional cytokine that broadly potentiates myelopoiesis and induces the synthesis of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSF) in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate the possibility for use of IL-1 alpha in ameliorating in vivo bone marrow suppression induced by drugs or radiation, we examined the in vivo effects of the cytokine on erythropoietic and other hematopoietic progenitor cells. Normal mice were treated with a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of recombinant human IL-1 alpha at varying doses and were assayed at various times post-treatment. By six hours postinjection, a significant suppression of mature erythroid progenitors (CFU-E) was observed in animals treated with IL-1 alpha (0.5 micrograms/mouse), with maximum suppression of CFU-E and peripheral blood reticulocyte counts occurring at 24 hours. Decreases in peripheral blood hematocrit did not occur after a single IL-1 alpha injection but were observed after multiple injections of the cytokine. The suppressive effects of IL-1 alpha on late-stage erythropoiesis were abrogated by simultaneous administration of erythropoietin (EPO). At 48 hours post-treatment, a marked stimulation was observed in the numbers of spleen and marrow immature erythroid (BFU-E), macrophage (CFU-M), granulocyte (CFU-G), granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM), and megakaryocyte (CFU-meg) progenitor cells. These results demonstrate the potential use of IL-1 alpha as a generalized stimulator of hematopoiesis and show that the cytokine-induced suppression of late-stage erythropoiesis can be prevented by EPO.

Lymphokine-activated killer cell plus recombinant interleukin-2 therapy of erythroleukemia in mice

The antileukemic effects of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells plus recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) therapy were assessed in mice with Friend virus (FV)-induced erythroleukemia. LAK cells were generated by incubating normal spleen cells for 72 hr in the presence of rIL-2 (1000 units/ml). At the time of injection, the LAK cells were cytotoxic in vitro against FV-infected fibroblasts and NK-sensitive and -resistant tumor targets but not normal controls. To determine in vivo activity, fully leukemic mice (spleen weight greater than 0.75 g) were injected with either PBS or LAK cells (10(8) cells/mouse IV at 14 and 17 days post virus) and rIL-2 (10,000 units/mouse IP every 8 hr on days 14 through 18 post virus). More than 70% of the progressively leukemic mice experienced permanent leukemia regressions (disease-free for greater than 100 days) following LAK cell plus rIL-2 therapy. Regressions were characterized by return of spleen and liver weights to normal and elimination of virus-infected erythroid (CFU-E) and macrophage (CFU-C) progenitor cells from spleen and marrow. Leukemic animals treated with either LAK cells alone or IL-2 alone experienced only transient leukemia regressions. These results demonstrate that LAK cell plus rIL-2 treatment can induce permanent regressions in progressively leukemic mice and provide a responsive and manipulable model system to elucidate the mechanisms involved in this form of immunotherapy.

In vivo hematopoietic effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in normal and erythroleukemic mice: characterization and therapeutic applications

The effects of recombinant, macrophage-derived, murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on hematopoiesis in vivo has been examined in normal mice and in Friend virus (FV)-induced erythroleukemic mice. Intravenous (IV) administration of a single dose of recombinant murine TNF-alpha (10(5) U per mouse) significantly suppressed normal and leukemic late-stage erythropoiesis as measured by numbers of mature erythroid colony forming cells (CFU-E) in the bone marrow and spleen and by peripheral blood reticulocyte counts. In normal animals, the immature erythroid (BFU-E), macrophage (CFU-M), and granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) compartments were significantly stimulated by TNF-alpha in both the bone marrow and the spleen. In the bone marrow of leukemic mice, the BFU-E, CFU-GM, and CFU-M progenitor cell compartments were also stimulated by treatment with the monokine. In the spleens of leukemic mice (the primary site of FV leukemia cell accumulation), relative numbers of BFU-E and CFU-GM were increased by TNF-alpha, while those of CFU-M were suppressed. TNF-alpha caused a rapid decrease in the markedly elevated spleen weights of progressively leukemic mice, and in multiple doses it caused complete clinical disease regression in a significant percentage of leukemic animals. The combination of TNF-alpha with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) increased the incidence of leukemia regression, compared with TNF-alpha alone. These results show that TNF-alpha exerts a suppressive influence on late-stage erythropoiesis in vivo and suggest that this effect might be exploited in the treatment of acute erythroleukemia, erythroid hyperplasias, and related diseases.

Antitumor effects of recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha in RIF-1 and Panc02 solid tumors

The antitumor effects of recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1) were determined in RIF-1 and Panc02 murine solid tumors. Acute tumor hemorrhage was observed in both models as early as 3 h after a single 25 micrograms/kg IL-1 treatment and was quantitated by the intratumor accumulation of 59Fe-labeled erythrocytes (RBC). The IL-1-mediated hemorrhagic response was maximal 6-12 h after treatment and greater in Panc02 tumors than in RIF-1 tumors. Hemorrhagic responses to RIF-1 tumors growing in athymic nude mice were similar to those seen for RIF-1 tumors in C3H/HeJ mice. This acute vascular injury was accompanied by progressive edema in tumors but not in skin or muscle. In RIF-1 tumors, the extracell water volume at 12 h after IL-1 (395 microI/g) was nearly twice that in untreated controls (215 microI/g). IL-1 also produced marked reductions in tumor blood flow as early as 1 h after treatment. Maximal blood flow restriction was seen at 6 h after IL-1. Although restricted blood flow was observed in tumors for up to 48 h, IL-1 effects on muscle, liver, and skin blood flow were transient with recovery by 12 h after treatment. IL-1 (up to 0.4 ng/ml for 72 h) was not toxic to RIF-1 tissue culture cells in vitro, but 0.2 ng/ml IL-1, for 20 h, reduced the clonogenicity of RIF-1 cells in primary explant cultures by approximately 50%. In vivo, the clonogenic cellularity of RIF-1 tumors was reduced by 70%, 24 h after a single 25 micrograms/kg treatment. Increased clonogenic cell proliferation was observed at 24 h, and rapid repopulation of the clonogenic cell population was seen by 48 h. Although IL-1 transiently slowed the growth of RIF-1 tumors, no significant regrowth delay was observed. In Panc02 tumors, cell proliferation was also inhibited after IL-1. Recovery, however, was delayed and occurred more slowly than in RIF-1 tumors. Significant growth inhibition and regrowth delay (5 days) was observed in Panc02 tumors after a single IL-1 treatment. The results of these studies show that IL-1 has significant effects on the pathophysiology of both RIF-1 and Panc02 tumors in vivo. Further, our results indicate that these effects may be mediated through the activation of a non T-cell, adherent cell population residing in the tumor at the time of IL-1 treatment.

Metalloporphyrin enhancement of magnetic resonance imaging of human tumor xenografts in nude mice

Paramagnetic metalloporphyrins were examined for their in vivo bio-distribution and their ability to enhance nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of human tumor xenografts in nude mice. The metalloporphyrins tested were: manganese tetrasodium-meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphine (MnTPPS); manganese meso-tetra-4-pyridylporphine; and gadolinium meso-tetra-4-pyridylporphine. All exhibited high molar relaxivities in aqueous solution. In vivo, at a dose of 2 mg/mouse, MnTPPS depressed the longitudinal relaxation time, T1, significantly in the kidney and less in lung and blood. Manganese meso-tetra-4-pyridylporphine depressed T1 in the kidney, lung and liver, while gadolinium meso-tetra-4-pyridylporphine caused large T1 depressions in the blood, liver, brain and tumor, probably due to dissociation of the metalloporphyrin and binding of Gd to plasma or tissue proteins. At a dose of 10 mg/mouse, MnTPPS caused marked T1 depressions of all tissues tested within 5 min of inoculation, but 48-72 h later, T1 values of normal tissues had returned to near normal, while those of the tumors remained significantly depressed. MnTPPS was able to significantly enhance the intensity of nuclear magnetic resonance images of MX-1 and ZR-75 human breast tumors and CX-1 and LS174T human colon tumor xenografts in nude mice. The results demonstrate that paramagnetic metalloporphyrins, because of their high relaxivities and retention in tumors, have the potential for use as tumor-selective contrast agents for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

A rapid and efficient method for testing immunohistochemical reactivity of monoclonal antibodies against multiple tissue samples simultaneously

A flexible, efficient and rapid method was developed whereby a small volume of monoclonal antibody could be used to immunohistochemically stain many different tissues, simultaneously, on one standard glass slide. This method is based on the preparation of 'cores' of paraffin-embedded tissue from standard histology blocks. The paraffin cores are straightened, inserted into a casing cut from an ordinary drinking straw, mounted in a paraffin block and sectioned. Over 120 individual tissue samples can be organized on a slide and stained for screening or characterization with 0.25 ml of diluted primary antibody. Advantages of this paraffin core method include: great economies in time, reagents, tissue specimens and antibodies; ease of producing multiple, regular, stable, easily handled tissue core samples; direct identification of intratissue regions of interest for inclusion; efficient use of rare tissue samples; versatility for rapid construction of multiple tissue slides containing any combination of relevant tissues from a 'library' of tissue cores; and, no need for deparaffinization and reembedding of tissues.

High-level conjugation of chelating agents onto immunoglobulins: use of an intermediary poly(L-lysine)-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid carrier

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), a strong chelating agent, was covalently linked to murine monoclonal anti-HLA IgG1 antibody (H-1) with the use of poly(L-lysine) (Mr 14,000) as a multivalent, intermediary carrier, via thiol-disulfide exchange reaction. The conjugates contained up to 42.5 mol DTPA per mol antibody, and retained over 90% of their antibody activity in vitro. The conjugates incorporated gadolinium (Gd) through an exchange reaction with Gd-EDTA, used to prevent colloid formation and nonspecific binding of the free metal. The IgG-poly(L-lysine)-DTPA-Gd had a greater effect per mol on proton relaxation rates than DTPA-Gd itself. Use of poly(L-lysine) as an intermediary carrier for attachment of chelating agents to IgG thus offers great potential for achieving high-specific-activity conjugates, particularly for use as biologically specific contrast agents in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.