Risk of cancer revealed by follow-up of families with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer: Reply to Dr. Eluf-Neto

Congenitally athymic nude (nu/nu) mice have been used extensively as hosts to study the metastatic properties of xenografted human tumors. It has not been fully explored to what extent the metastatic behavior of human tumor xenografts reflects the intrinsic properties of the tumor cells and to what extent it is influenced artificially by the host. The purpose of the work reported here was to evaluate the potential usefullness of athymic mice for qualitative and quantitative assessment of the intrinsic metastatic properties of human tumor cells. Four human melanoma cell lines (A-07, D-12, R-18, U-25) were included in the study. Quantitative intradermal and intracranial transplantation assays were used to determine the tumorigenicity and immunogenicity of the cell lines. The metastatic behavior of the cell lines was studied by inoculating cells intra-arterially or intravenously (artificial metastases) or intra-dermally (spontaneous metastases). The influence of the host on the incidence of metastases was assessed by inoculating cells intravenously in immunologically modified athymic mice. Both the intradermal and intracranial tumorigenicity differed substantially between the cell lines. The host immune reactivity against heterotransplantation was significantly lower for D-12 than for A-07, R-18 and U-25 cells. The incidence of metastases was influenced significantly by the host immune reactivity. The cell lines showed organ-specific metastatic patterns in athymic mice. The organs of preference were lungs for A-07 and D-12 cells, lymph nodes for R-18 cells, and brain for U-25 cells. The organ-specific metastatic pattern in athymic mice reflected the pattern of distant metastases in the donor patients. In addition, all cell lines gave rise to metastases in abdominal organ sites, but without organ specificity. The incidence of abdominal metastases was influenced significantly by the tumorigenicity of the cell lines. In conclusion, athymic mice appear to be excellent hosts for assessment of the organ specificity in the metastatic behavior of human tumors. The metastasis frequency of human tumors in athymic mice, however, might be a misleading quantitative measure of the intrinsic metastatic propensity of the tumor cells, owing to the cell-line-dependent host immune reactivity. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Prostaglandin F(2alpha) stimulates motility and invasion in colorectal tumor cells

Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and subsequent prostaglandin production is an important event in several human malignancies, including colorectal cancer. COX-2 mediated prostanoid synthesis has been shown to play a key role in tumor progression with prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) being shown to promote tumor growth, invasion and angiogenesis. The role of the other prostaglandins produced by COX-2 in tumors remains poorly understood. We have shown that colorectal tumor cells produce prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) and provide evidence that PGF(2alpha) may play an important role in colorectal tumorigenesis. Our data show that PGF(2alpha) is secreted by both colorectal adenoma and carcinoma-derived cell lines at levels in excess of those detected for PGE(2). These cell lines were also found to express the PGF(2alpha) receptor (FP) indicating potential autocrine effects of PGF(2alpha). This finding is further supported by an in vivo immunohistochemical study of FP expression in resected colon tissue. These data show epithelial expression of FP in normal colorectal mucosa and also in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. We compared the relative abilities of PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2) to induce cell motility in vitro in colorectal tumor cell lines and show the first evidence of prostaglandin-induced cell motility in colorectal adenoma cell lines. PGF(2alpha) induced cell motility with equivalent potency to PGE(2) in all the cell lines tested and was also shown to increase the invasion of carcinoma-derived cells into reconstituted basement membrane. These data show that PGF(2alpha) may play an important role in the malignant progression of colorectal tumors.     

Development of a metastatic model for human endometrial carcinoma using orthotopic implantation in nude-mice

We have developed an orthotopic model for human endometrial carcinoma in nude mice. The human serous papillary endometrial carcinoma cell line SPEC-2 was injected into the subcutis (ectopic site) or uterine wall (orthotopic site) of athymic mice. Tumors grew in both locations locally. However, only uterine wall tumors produced metastases in regional and distant lymph nodes and to the lungs and liver. Cell lines were established in culture from these uterine tumors and from lung and liver metastases, and then these cells were injected into the uteri of additional mice. The metastatic potential of the lines subsequently established from tumors growing in vivo was not significantly higher than the already highly metastatic parental culture cells. All SPEC-2 cell lines expressed high levels of both 72-kDa and 92-kDa collagenase type IV activity. mRNA for transforming growth factor-alpha, basic fibroblast growth factor, and epidermal growth factor-receptor was constant among the cell lines. These data support the concept that the orthotopic implantation of human endometrial carcinoma cells into the uteri of nude mice provides a valuable model for studying the biology of human endometrial adenocarcinoma.     

Expression of Type IV Collagen-degrading Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases in Newly Established Human Oral Malignant Tumor Lines

We have established 11 human oral tumor lines maintained asin subcutaneous xenografts in BALB/c athymic nude mice, andexamined their metastatic and invasive characteristics, andexpression of Type IV collagen-degrading metalloproteinasesand their intrinsic inhibitors (TIMPs). These tumor lines haveapproximately maintained the histological appearance of theparental tumors. Generally, human tumors maintained subcutaneouslyin nude mice metastasize only very rarely. However, one mesenchymaltumor line, a malignant melanoma designated MTN, was found tometastasize spontaneously to the lung and a lysate of the MTNcells had a high level of type IV collagenolytic activity. Amongepithelial tumor lines, SKH, derived from squamous cell carcinoma,showed high expression of TIMP-1 in Northern blotting and hadlow type IV collagenolytic activity. SN, derived from squamouscell carcinoma, also showed low type IV collagenolytic activity.These two squamous cell carcinoma lines showed a non-invasivegrowth pattern when they were implanted orthotopically intothe tongues of athymic nude mice. By contrast, tumor lines whichshowed higher type IV collagenolytic activity had a tendencyto grow invasively in mouse tongue. These findings suggest thatour 11 newly established tumor lines may provide useful systemsfor studies of tumor biology and therapy.     

Significance of COX-2 expression in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is well established to play an important role in the tumorigenesis of a variety of human cancers; however, the function of COX-2 in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains less clear. Here, we determined, first, the pattern of COX-2 expression in normal esophageal mucosa, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive SCC. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that, while COX-2 was weakly expressed, if at all, in normal squamous epithelium, strong COX-2 expression was detected as early as the stage of dysplasia and frequently in 20 of 26 (77%) CIS and 86 of 111 (77%) invasive SCC. Upregulation of COX-2 in ESCC was found to be significantly associated with tumor progression (R = 0.493, P < 0.01). Further, treatment of human ESCC cell lines (KYSE450 and KYSE510) with NS-398, a COX-2 specific chemical inhibitor, suppressed the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and induced cell growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest at the G1-S checkpoint, and the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1. Finally, knockdown expression of COX-2 in KYSE450 cells by a specific COX-2 siRNA dramatically inhibited PGE2 production, cell growth and, more importantly, colony formation and tumorigenesis in nude mice. Together, this study suggested that COX-2 may be involved in an early stage of squamous cell carcinogenesis of the esophagus and has a non-redundant role in the regulation of cellular proliferation and tumorigenesis of esophageal epithelial cells.     

Biology, cytogenetics, and sensitivity to immunological effector cells of new head and neck squamous cell carcinoma lines

Twenty-one head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines were established from 89 fresh tumor specimens in order to study the biology of HNSCC lines, establish tumors in nude mice, and evaluate the sensitivity to immunological effector cells of these tumors in vitro and in vivo in nude mice. The lines were established from explants using differential trypsinization and culture for 2 to 20 mo. The explants were derived from 11 different sites. Three pairs of lines were derived from both the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes in the same patients. All cultures grew as either compact or diffuse adherent monolayers, and they had a median doubling time of 86 h (range, 33 to 531 h). DNA fingerprinting confirmed that the HNSCC lines were individual isolates. Thirteen of 14 lines tested induced tumors in athymic mice. The histology of each line growing in nude mice was similar to that of the original tumor tissue. Immunocytochemistry showed keratin production in all lines tested. Aneuploidy (36 to 87 chromosomes) was present in all 16 lines studied; the median chromosome number for lines derived from primary tumors was 70, whereas for lines originating from metastatic or recurrent tumors, it was 54. Karyotypic analysis showed deletion of the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p-) in 12 of 16 cell lines and trisomy 6 in 12 of 16 lines. In addition, translocations between chromosomes 9 and 11 or 9 and 12 were each present in five of 16 lines tested. The HNSCC lines were resistant to lysis by natural killer cells, but were efficiently lysed by lymphokine-activated killer cells in 4-h 51Cr release assays. These new lines have allowed us to establish a model of local adoptive immunotherapy of HNSCC in tumor-bearing nude mice, and they provide a resource for future studies of the biology of HNSCC.     

Anti-tumor Effect and Its Mechanisms of Ursolic Acid on Human Esophageal Carcinoma Cell Eca-109 in Vivo

Objective:To investigate the anti-tumor effect and possible mechanisms of ursolic acid on human esophageal carcinoma in vivo.Methods:A transplanted tumor model by injecting Eca-109 cells into subcutaneous tissue of BALB/c nude mice was established.40 nude mice bearing tumors were randomly divided into 4 groups and 0.2 ml saline or 0.2 ml ursolic acid(25-100 mg·kg-1.d-1)was injected into abdominal cavity respectively once everyday and lasted for fourteen days.The changes of tumor volume were measured continuously and tumor inhibition rate was calculated.The morphological changes of apoptosis were observed by electron microscope.The expressions of COX-2,bcl-2 and Bax protein in transplanted tumors were detected by immunohistochemistry.At last the PGE2 level of transplanted tumors was detected by radioimmunoassay.Results:Treatment of nude mice with 25,50,or 100 mg·kg-1.d-1 of ursolic acid significantly inhibited the growth of the human esophageal carcinoma tumor in nude mice and induced Eca-109 cells apoptosis as demonstrated by electron microscopy analyses.The expressions of COX-2 and bcl-2 in the transplanted tumors were decreased in ursolic acid groups,while the Bax increased.The PGE2 level of transplanted tumors was decreased in ursolic acid groups with a dose-related manner.Conclusion:Ursolic acid has anti-tumor effects against human esophageal carcinoma cells in vivo,which are likely mediated via induction of tumor cell apoptosis and inhibition of COX-2 and PGE2.     

Tumor invasiveness and liver metastasis of colon cancer cells correlated with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and inhibited by a COX-2-selective inhibitor, etodolac

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been reported to reduce the risk and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC). Although the exact mechanisms remain unclear, the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) by NSAIDs appears to abort, if not prevent, CRC carcinogenesis or metastatic tumor progression. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between COX-2 expression and CRC tumor cell invasiveness. The differences in immunoblot-detectable COX-2 protein contents in primary CRCs, metastatic hepatic lesions and corresponding normal mucosa from the same individual were evaluated in 17 patients. Three different colon cancer cell lines, SW620, Lovo, HT-29 and a metastatic variant of HT-29, HT-29/Inv3, were employed to evaluate COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE2) production in relation to their invasive abilities in vitro. The effects of a COX-2-selective inhibitor, etodolac, on cell proliferation and invasive activity were also determined. The results showed that 15 of 17 (88%) metastatic CRC cells from the liver and 14 of 17 (82%) primary CRC tissue exhibited much higher levels of COX-2 than corresponding adjacent normal mucosa from the same patient. Among those patients with relatively high COX-2 expression in the primary tumors, almost all exhibited even higher levels of COX-2 in their hepatic metastases. Among the 4 colon cancer cell lines, HT-29/Inv3 manifested the highest COX-2 expression, PGE2 production and in vitro invasive activity. The selective COX-2 inhibitor, etodolac, could especially exert cytotoxicity and markedly suppress the invasive property and PGE(2) production, although not the COX-2 protein level, in HT-29/Inv3 cells. Our results imply that COX-2 expression may be associated with the invasive and metastatic properties of CRC tumor cells.     

Effect of prostaglandin E2-producing nonmetastatic Lewis lung carcinoma cells on the migration of prostaglandin E2-responsive metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma cells

The role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in directly stimulating metastatic spread by Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells was examined with the use of an in vitro migration model for tumor dissemination. The extent to which cloned metastatic and nonmetastatic LLC cells migrated out of glass capillary tubes in vitro reflected their capacity to form pulmonary metastases in vivo. The addition of PGE2 to metastatic LLC cells further stimulated their migration. Other cyclooxygenase products, besides PGE2, did not stimulate the migration of metastatic LLC cells. Nonmetastatic LLC cells did not migrate out of capillary tubes, even in the presence of exogenous PGE2. The amount of PGE2 secreted by cloned LLC cells was quantitated by a radioimmunoassay. Nonmetastatic LLC cells secreted more PGE2 than did the metastatic LLC cells. When the nonmetastatic LLC cells were either mixed with or placed adjacent to cloned metastatic LLC cells, the migration by the metastatic LLC cells was stimulated. The migration-stimulatory capacity of the nonmetastatic LLC cells was minimized in the presence of indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor. Studies were conducted to relate these in vitro results to tumor metastasis in vivo. Injection of a mixture of metastatic and nonmetastatic LLC cells into mice s.c. resulted in a greater number of lung metastases than did injection of metastatic cells alone. This increase in metastasis formation was prevented by indomethacin. Formation of pulmonary metastases was also augmented when irradiated nonmetastatic LLC cells were injected into metastatic LLC-bearing mice. The results of our studies suggest that nonmetastatic LLC cells, by producing PGE2, can augment in vitro migration and in vivo dissemination of metastatic LLC cells. Thus, the response of tumor cells to PGE2, rather than simply their production of PGE2, appears to be important in regulating tumor dissemination.     

Growth-factor-independence and invasive properties of colorectal carcinoma cells.

During serial passage of the colorectal carcinoma cell line SW1116 in athymic nude mice, we selected 2 variants that metastasized to the lungs and liver. The metastatic capacity of these in vivo variant cell lines was associated with their ability to (1) grow under growth-factor-deprived conditions, (2) invade and transgress a reconstructed basement membrane with high effectiveness, and (3) produce higher activities of the substrate-degrading enzymes collagenase and plasminogen activator as compared to parental cells. To assess the relative contribution of growth-factor-independence and high levels of invasiveness/motility to the metastatic phenotype, variants of 6 colorectal carcinomas were selected in vitro by adaptation to a growth-factor-free culture medium followed by selection of highly invasive cells in chemoinvasion assays. Four out of 6 cell lines selected for growth-factor-independence showed significantly higher levels of invasiveness through reconstructed membranes, suggesting co-segregation of growth-factor-independence and high levels of invasiveness in vitro. Using an in vitro chemoinvasion assay, 2 poorly and 1 highly invasive cell line were further selected for invasiveness. After 6 selection passages, all cell lines were highly invasive and showed high motility rates. However, when injected s.c. into athymic nude mice to test their metastatic capacity in vivo, double-selected variant cell lines did not form spontaneous metastases. Our results indicate that growth-factor-independence and high levels of invasiveness, although associated with the metastatic phenotype, are not sufficient for experimental metastasis formation of colorectal carcinoma cells in vivo.     

Increased cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) expression and activity in a murine model of metastatic breast cancer

Elevated prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production is a common feature of human malignancies. This activity has often been attributed to increased metabolic activity of the cyclooxygenase enzymes, although a direct comparison of these 2 parameters i.e., prostaglandin production and cox protein expression, is rarely performed in the same malignant tissue. Using a murine model of metastatic breast cancer, we show that PGE(2) levels are positively correlated with increased tumorigenic and metastatic potential. Because prostaglandin synthesis is a product of 2 isoforms of the cyclooxygenase enzyme, we examined the expression and activity of both isoforms. All tumor cell lines examined, regardless of phenotype, express both cox-1 and cox-2 proteins in vitro. In contrast to the uniform cox-2 expression in vitro, only tumors resulting from the transplantation of metastatic cell lines express cox-2 in vivo. Cox-1 is detected in both metastatic and nonmetastatic tumors. Thus, this is the first evidence that, in the tumor milieu, cox-2 expression can be regulated differently in metastatic vs. nonmetastatic lesions. Examination of PGE(2) synthesis in vitro reveals that nearly complete inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis occurs in the presence of either indomethacin, which inhibits both isoforms, or NS398, which is selective for the cox-2 isoform. Thus, even though cell lines express both isoforms, the majority of the prostaglandin synthesis stems from the activity of the inducible, cox-2 isoform. Likewise, cell growth is inhibited by both indomethacin and NS398 in a dose-dependent manner, albeit at higher drug concentrations than required to ablate PGE(2) synthesis. Despite the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, the cox-2 enzyme levels (protein and mRNA) were increased by either indomethacin or NS398.     

高表达MUC1的人食管癌裸鼠移植瘤模型的建立

背景与目的:Mucin-1(MUC1)粘蛋白是一种肿瘤相关抗原,是肿瘤免疫治疗良好的分子靶点之一.本研究建立高表达MUCl的人食管癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型,为研究以MUC1为靶点的食管癌的生物治疗提供体内模型.方法:以体外培养的高表达MUC1的人食管癌细胞株EC-109接种于4～5周龄的BALB/c裸小鼠皮下,观察移植瘤生长情况,对移植瘤进行病理组织学检查,采用免疫组化方法检测移植瘤细胞增殖细胞核抗原(proliferating cell nuclear antigens,PCNA),采用流式细胞仪检测移植瘤细胞的细胞周期及MUC1的表达.结果:裸鼠皮下移植瘤成瘤率为86.0%,移植瘤具有与人恶性肿瘤相似的组织学和生物学特点,其平均PCNA标记指数为(63.5 3.6)%、S期细胞百分比(S-phase fraction,SPF)平均值为(37.6±3.7)%、MUC1的平均表达率为97.5%.结论:高表达MUC1的人食管癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型具有恶性肿瘤的生物学特性,可用于研究人食管癌的生物学特点,同时为以MUC1为靶点的食管癌的免疫治疗研究提供了良好的体内模型.     

Carcinoembryonic antigen: enhancement of liver colonisation through retention of human colorectal carcinoma cells.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an oncofetal antigen whose function in the progression of colorectal carcinoma remains unclear although recent studies suggest it participates in homotypic cellular adhesion. We have previously shown that 40 micrograms of CEA injected intravenously into athymic nude mice enhances experimental metastasis in liver and lung by two human colorectal carcinoma cell lines that are injected intrasplenically 30 min later. The metastatic potential of another three moderately to highly metastatic colorectal carcinoma cell lines and of one weakly metastatic line has now been analysed in this model. CEA pretreatment only enhanced colony formation by cell lines that were weakly metastatic in untreated nude mice; it did not affect experimental metastasis by highly metastatic lines. CEA pretreatment enhanced the retention of 125I Idudr-labelled weakly metastatic tumour cells within the liver and lungs 4 h after intrasplenic injection but not the retention of highly metastatic tumour cells or inert latex beads. A significant correlation existed between the formation of experimental metastases and the early retention of tumour cells within the liver after intrasplenic injection. Aggregation did not appear to be important for retention in liver because CEA did not aggregate colorectal carcinoma cells in vitro. Also CEA did not alter natural host effector cell function in a cytolysis assay in vitro. We suggest that CEA facilitates liver colonisation by three of eight human colorectal carcinomas in athymic nude mice by increasing the hepatic retention of tumour cells. The potential mechanisms by which CEA may increase the retention of tumour cells in the liver are discussed.     

Alpha-tocopheryl succinate, in contrast to alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate, inhibits prostaglandin E2 production in human lung epithelial cells

The production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a key proinflammatory mediator, is regulated by the availability of its substrate, arachidonic acid (AA), and the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). Increased PGE2 production and COX-2 expression have been observed frequently in specimens from lung cancer patients. Agents that decrease PGE2 production may prevent the initiation and progression of lung cancer. We, therefore, tested the effects of alpha-tocopherol (alphaTOL) analogs on PGE2 production in human lung epithelial cells. Alpha-tocopheryl succinate (alphaTOS), but not alphaTOL or alpha-tocopheryl acetate (alphaTOA), inhibited the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated PGE2 production in three human lung epithelial cell lines (BEAS-2B, H460 and A549 cells). The effect of these compounds on PGE2 production was not correlated with their antioxidant activities, since alphaTOS alone did not inhibit PMA-induced generation of reactive oxygen species. alphaTOS had no effect on PMA-induced AA release or COX-2 expression, although post-incubation with alphaTOS inhibited COX activity and prostaglandin (PGE2 and PGF(2alpha)) production in PMA-stimulated cells. alphaTOS also blocked the COX activity in A549 cells with endogenous high levels of COX enzymes in the absence of PMA stimulation. In addition, the ability of alphaTOS to inhibit COX was affected by AA concentration, suggesting that alphaTOS may compete with AA for interaction with COX proteins. These results suggest that alphaTOS inhibits COX activity, thereby inhibiting PGE2 production in human lung epithelial cells, despite the lack of antioxidant activity. Administration of alphaTOS may block inflammatory responses mediated by PGE2, thereby inhibiting the initiation and progression of lung cancer.     

Enhanced tumor growth of both primary and established human and murine tumor cells in athymic mice after coinjection with Matrigel.

Previously we found that the reconstituted basement membrane matrix Matrigel, when premixed with human small-cell lung carcinoma cells and injected subcutaneously into athymic mice, permitted tumor growth, whereas cells injected in the absence of Matrigel did not form tumors. In the present study, we examined additional cell types and determined some of the underlying mechanisms involved in the promotion of tumor formation by Matrigel. The tumor cell lines that we studied included transformed mouse Englebreth-Holm-Swarm tumor cells (T-EHS), human submandibular carcinoma A253 cells, mouse melanoma B16F10 cells, human epidermoid carcinoma KB cells, and human primary renal cell carcinoma cells. When coinjected subcutaneously with Matrigel, these cell lines formed rapidly proliferating tumors. Primary biopsy specimens of human colon carcinoma, when dispersed and coinjected with Matrigel, also formed tumors. Only A253, KB, and B16F10 cells formed small tumors in the absence of Martrigel, but a fivefold to tenfold increase in tumor size was observed in the presence of Matrigel. These data demonstrate a useful method for improving the growth of human tumors in athymic mice.     

Profiles of prostaglandin biosynthesis in normal lung and tumor tissue from lung cancer patients

prostaglandin (PG) biosynthetic profiles from endogenous arachidonic acid were determined by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in matched fresh normal lung (NL) and lung cancer (LC) tissue fragments obtained from 42 individual LC patients at the time of diagnostic thoracotomy. The histological diagnoses represented were squamous cell carcinoma (N = 20), adenocarcinoma (N = 7), small cell carcinoma (N = 4), mixed cell carcinoma (N = 2), bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma (N = 2), large cell undifferentiated carcinoma (N = 3), bronchial carcinoid (N = 1), and metastatic tumors (N = 3). When PG biosynthesis was determined in NL tissue separately, low mean levels of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha (less than 2 pmol/mg protein/15 min), intermediate levels of PGD2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (6KPGF1 alpha) (2-7 pmol/mg protein/15 min), and high levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) (greater than 7 pmol/mg protein/15 min) were observed. There was no particular correlation with cigarette smoking history and PG biosynthesis in NL. When PG production in LC tissue was evaluated separately, high levels of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 6KPGF1 alpha as well as TXB2 and low levels of PGD2 were noted. In addition, LC tissue from cigarette smokers demonstrated elevated levels of PGE2, 6KPGF1 alpha, and TXB2 when compared to current nonsmokers with LC (P less than 0.05 in all instances). Simultaneous comparison of PG production in matched LC and NL tissue from individual patients indicated increased biosynthesis of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha and low levels of PGD2 in LC compared to NL tissue (P less than 0.05 in all instances; paired, two-tailed, Student's t test). Individual comparison of PG biosynthesis according to LC histological cell type revealed that PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were consistently elevated in all four common primary LC histological cell types, the only exception being large cell undifferentiated carcinoma. Interestingly, this latter LC histological cell type presented a unique profile with lower levels of PGE2 and PGD2 in LC than in NL tissue (P less than 0.05 in both instances). In addition, the biosynthesis of all 5 PGs studied was consistently higher in primary than metastatic adenocarcinomas of the lung (P less than 0.05 in all instances). No differences were observed in NL and LC tissue for the major LC histological cell types when PGD2, TXB2, or 6KPGF1 alpha biosyntheses were compared. These findings indicate that the profiles of PG biosynthesis in LC and NL tissue from individual patients may differ substantially. These differences may reflect, in part, contributions to the PG biosynthetic profile unique to malignant cells.     

Relationship of tumor prostaglandin levels to early recurrence in women with primary breast cancer: clinical update

We have determined the levels of prostaglandin E (PGE) and PGF in 94 and 111 primary breast carcinoma specimens, respectively. Tumor specimens were obtained at the time of surgery for primary breast cancer from women without detectable metastatic disease (other than local lymph nodes). Prostaglandins were solvent extracted from tissue homogenates, separated into class by silicic acid chromatography and PG levels determined by radioimmunoassay. These findings were compared to clinically established prognostic indicators. All samples analyzed contained measurable amounts of both PG with a high correlation between levels of PGE and PGF. No association was seen between PG levels and either degree of lymph node involvement, or estrogen receptor. With increasing tumor grade (less differentiation, more pleomorphic nuclei, numerous mitotic figures) higher levels of both PGs were seen, but this association was not statistically significant. These women have been observed for an average of 30 months postsurgery. During that period 20% of tumors have recurred. No significant association were seen between either prostaglandin and the development of recurrent disease or death due to breast cancer. In contrast to published findings, we saw lower than average levels of both E and F in tumors metastasizing to the bone.