Differential antiproliferative activities of alpha- and gamma-interferon and tumor necrosis factor alone or in combinations against two prostate cancer xenografts transplanted in nude mice

We have investigated the antiproliferative effects of recombinant human alpha- and gamma-Interferon (IFN) and recombinant human Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF) against the hormone-independently growing PC3 and DU145 prostatic tumor lines. Subcutaneous, peritumoral administration of the drugs was started 24 hours after subcutaneous implantation of 1–2 mm³ tumor pieces. IFN was given three times per week and TNF five times per week. IFN-alpha (dose-range 0.5–5 ng/gram bodyweight) had significant growth-inhibiting effects against the PC3 tumor, but showed no significant antitumor effects against the DU145 tumor. IFN-gamma monotherapy (dose-range 8–80 ng/gram bodyweight) was less effective than IFN-alpha. 500 ng/gram TNF produced growth inhibition of both tumors, whereas the lower dose (50 ng/g) was only effective against the PC3 tumor. IFN-alpha and -gamma combination treatment had significant antiproliferative effects against the PC3 tumor, but not against the DU145 tumor. Combinations of IFN-alpha and TNF were very effective against both xenografts; some combinations resulted in complete growth inhibition. IFN-gamma and TNF combinations also showed significant antitumor effects against both tumor lines. We therefore conclude that cytokine combination treatment may provide a new approach in the treatment of hormone-escaped prostatic tumors.     

In vivo antiproliferative effects of gamma-interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha in a rat renal cell carcinoma model system

We have investigated the antiproliferative activities of recombinant rat-gamma-interferon and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha in a rat renal cell carcinoma model system. The tumor was transplanted subcutaneously, the drugs were administered peritumorally. Gamma-interferon treatment starting two days after tumor implantation resulted in a dose-dependent growth inhibiting effect. Tumor necrosis factor alpha was only effective at the highest concentration. Different combinations of the drugs have additive or synergistic antiproliferative effects. The combination of both highest doses completely inhibited tumor growth without any obvious toxic effects on the rats. Rechallenge of the cured rats with a tumor piece in the contralateral flank did not result in a tumor specific immune response. Shortening of the treatment period to two weeks resulted in an increased lag-period, but finally all tumors started to grow. Furthermore, the anti-tumor effect was dependent on tumor volume at start of therapy. Monotherapy could not inhibit tumor growth of an established tumor. The combination with both highest doses, however, inhibited tumor growth even when treatment was started at a tumor volume of two to five cm3. Treatment with gamma-interferon and tumor necrosis factor is most effective at low tumor burden. These studies suggest that clinical application of these drugs is most effective in an adjuvant setting.     

Enhanced inhibition of anticancer drugs by human recombinant gamma-interferon for human renal cell carcinoma in vitro

We studied the inhibitory effect of seven anticancer drugs and alpha-, recombinant beta-, and recombinant gamma-interferons on the in vitro growth of two established human renal cell carcinomas and 16 renal cell carcinomas obtained from patients using monolayer culture and the double-layer soft agar system. Recombinant gamma-interferon was the most effective of three types of interferon. Combined treatment with recombinant gamma-interferon and some anticancer drugs inhibited the cell growth in both cell lines more than treatment with each drug alone. Treatment with recombinant gamma-interferon and cisplatinum or 5-fluorouracil following a 24-hour incubation with the interferon was more effective than when interferon and the drug were given simultaneously. Treatment using doxorubicin, cisplatinum, or vinblastine with recombinant gamma-interferon synergistically inhibited colony formation in 11 of the 16 renal cell carcinomas that showed clonal growth. Our results suggest that treatment with anticancer drugs in combination with recombinant gamma-interferon is effective for renal cell carcinoma.     

Biodistribution and radioimmunoscintigraphy studies of renal cell carcinoma using tumor-preferential monoclonal antibodies and F(ab')2 fragments

The in vivo localization of renal cell carcinoma-preferential monoclonal antibodies A6H, D5D, and C5H was evaluated and the biodistribution of F(ab')2 antibody fragments of A6H and the intact Mab were compared in over 100 nude mice. A6H localized well to most renal cell carcinoma xenografts studied; the median tumor to blood ratios ranged from 6.4 to 11.5 for various xenografts. C5H also localized well to most renal cell carcinoma xenografts tested. However, D5D did not localize well to renal cell carcinoma xenografts in vivo despite its highly restrictive in vitro reactivity. The F(ab')2 fragments of A6H produced higher tumor to blood ratios, which probably resulted from fast clearance of the fragments from the circulation. Preliminary results showed that indium-111 labeling may further improve imaging.     

In vitro chemosensitivity tests on human tumor xenografts by clonogenic assay: the combined use of mitomycin C with alpha-interferon or gamma-interferon

Using the human tumor clonogenic assay technique, the effects of Mitomycin C plus either alpha-interferon or gamma-interferon were studied against five human tumor xenografts serially transplanted into nude mice (three gastric and two colon cancers). When the survival fraction found with the drug combination was smaller than the multiplication of survival fractions with either drug alone, the combined effect was defined as synergism. Similarly, antagonistic effect was defined when the survival fraction of drug combination was larger than the larger one observed in either interferon or Mitomycin C alone. Four out of five human tumor xenografts (three gastric and one colon cancers) showed synergistic effects in combination of alpha-interferon with Mitomycin C. Though two gastric cancer xenografts exhibited synergistic effects in combination of gamma-interferon with Mitomycin C, antagonistic effects, which was not found in combination of alpha-interferon with Mitomycin C, were observed in one gastric cancer and one colon cancer xenografts.     

In vitro antiproliferative effect of cancer chemotherapeutic agents and their combination with interferon in renal cell carcinoma

We studied an antiproliferative effect of cancer chemotherapeutic agents, interferon (IFN) and, in particular, their combination effect on renal cell carcinoma. Either of colony formation assay (CFA) or [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay ([3H]-TdR assay) was employed as an in vitro chemosensitivity testing system. When compared, these two systems produced similar results with a good correlation (r = 0.97, p less than 0.01), in the antiproliferative effect of 30 drugs for 4 primary renal cell carcinomas and 5 xenotransplantable renal cell carcinomas. In vitro chemosensitivity test (CFA or [3H]-TdR assay) screened successfully only 5 "sensitive" drugs (7.9%) out of a total 63 cancer chemotherapeutic agents for 24 human renal cell carcinoma. This confirmed the findings reported by others. In the study of the antiproliferative effect of a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, human lymphoblastoid interferon (HLBI) and their combination on human renal cel carcinoma cell line (SMK-R2). Each of VBL, MTX or HLBI tended to suppress [3H]-TdR uptake in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of VBL (0.05 microgram/ml) and HLBI (10(2) or 10(3) IU/ml) produced a subadditive effect, and that of MTX (0.1 microgram/ml) and HLBI 10(2) IU/ml produced a synergistic effect on the human renal cell carcinoma cell line, the effect which is evaluated by Valeriote and Lin's criteria of combination. In particular, the synergistic effect by MTX and HLBI under the clinically achievable drug concentration seems important, when its clinical application is considered.     

Experimental studies on the combined effects of alpha and gamma interferons against human tumor xenografts transplanted into nude mice

The antitumor activities, resulting from the combined treatment of leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha), with recombinant human immune interferon (IFN-gamma), against human tumor xenografts in nude mice, were studied. Nine human tumor xenografts, (7 from gastric carcinoma, 1 from gallbladder carcinoma and 1 from breast carcinoma), were serially transplanted into nude mice for the purpose of this experiment. Each human tumor xenograft was inoculated subcutaneously into BALB/c nu/nu nude mice and treatment was started after the estimated tumor had reached 100-300 mg. IFN was administered intramuscularly at a schedule of qd X 14. Treatment with either IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma alone, did not produce any antitumor effect against the various human tumor xenografts, however the combination of IFN-alpha with IFN-gamma resulted in achieving significant antitumor effects against the various human tumors. Inhibition of tumor growth was observed in 7 of the 9 tumors (77.8 per cent), and regression of the tumor was noted in 5 of the 9 tumors (55.6 per cent).     

In vitro chemosensitivity tests on human tumor xenografts by clonogenic assay: the combined use of mitomycin C with α-interferon or γ-interferon

Using the human tumor clonogenic assay technique, the effects of Mitomycin C plus either α-interferon or γ-interferon were studied against five human tumor xenografts serially transplanted into nude mice (three gastric and two colon cancers). When the survival fraction found with the drug combination was smaller than the multiplication of survival fractions with either drug alone, the combined effect was defined as synergism. Similarly, antagonistic effect was defined when the survival fraction of drug combination was larger than the larger one observed in either interferon or Mitomycin C alone. Four out of five human tumor xenografts (three gastric and one colon cancers) showed synergistic effects in combination of α-interferon with Mitomycin C. Though two gastric cancer xenografts exhibited synergistic effects in combination of γ-interferon with Mitomycin C, antagonistic effects, which was not found in combination of α-interferon with Mitomycin C, were observed in one gastric cancer and one colon cancer xenografts.     

Antitumor effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor against human tumor xenografts transplanted into nude mice

Antitumor activities of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rH-TNF) against human tumor xenografts in nude mice were studied. Thirteen human tumor xenografts serially transplanted into nude mice were used for experiments; five gastric, two breast, two gallbladder, one colon and one esophageal carcinoma, one liposarcoma and one squamous carcinoma of the neck. They were inoculated into the subcutaneous tissue of BALB/c nu/nu nude mice and the treatment was started when the estimated tumor weight reached 100–300 mg. rH-TNF was administered intratumorally at schedule of qd×5 or q3d×5. rH-TNF showed a marked antitumor activity against various human tumors. The hemorrhagic necrosis was observed in all types of the human tumor xenografts (100 per cent), and the complete regression of the tumor was noted in 4 of 11 tumors (36.4 per cent). On the contray, intraperitoneal rH-TNF exhibited little antitumor effect. The additive effect in the combination of TNF and Mitomycin C was observed against two Mitomycin C resistant gastric tumors.     

Antitumor effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor against human tumor xenografts transplanted into nude mice

Antitumor activities of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rH-TNF) against human tumor xenografts in nude mice were studied. Thirteen human tumor xenografts serially transplanted into nude mice were used for experiments; five gastric, two breast, two gallbladder, one colon and one esophageal carcinoma, one liposarcoma and one squamous carcinoma of the neck. They were inoculated into the subcutaneous tissue of BALB/c nu/nu nude mice and the treatment was started when the estimated tumor weight reached 100-300 mg. rH-TNF was administered intratumorally at schedule of qd X 5 or q3d X 5. rH-TNF showed a marked antitumor activity against various human tumors. The hemorrhagic necrosis was observed in all types of the human tumor xenografts (100 per cent), and the complete regression of the tumor was noted in 4 of 11 tumors (36.4 per cent). On the contrary, intraperitoneal rH-TNF exhibited little antitumor effect. The additive effect in the combination of TNF and Mitomycin C was observed against two Mitomycin C resistant gastric tumors.     

Experimental studies on the combined effects of alpha and gamma interferons against human tumor xenografts transplanted into nude mice

The antitumor activities, resulting from the combined treatment of leukocyte interferon (IFN-α), with recombinant human immune interferon (IFN-γ), against human tumor xenografts in nude mice, were studied. Nine human tumor xenografts, (7 from gastric carcinoma, 1 from gallbladder carcinoma and 1 from breast carcinoma), were serially transplanted into nude mice for the purpose of this experiment. Each human tumor xenograft was inoculated subcutaneously into BALB/c nu/nu nude mice and treatment was started after the estimated tumor had reached 100–300 mg. IFN was administered intramuscularly at a schedule of qd×14. Treatment with either IFN-α or IFN-γ alone, did not produce any antitumor effect against the various human tumor xenografts, however the combination of IFN-α with IFN-γ resulted in achieving significant antitumor effects against the various human tumors. Inhibition of tumor growth was observed in 7 of the 9 tumors (77.8 per cent), and regression of the tumor was noted in 5 of the 9 tumors (55.6 per cent).     

表皮生长因子受体抑制剂AG1478对乳腺癌裸鼠移植瘤的生长影响

目的 观察表皮生长因子受体抑制剂AG1478和内分泌治疗联合应用对乳腺癌荷瘤裸鼠移植瘤生长的影响.方法 应用MCF-7乳腺癌细胞建立裸鼠动物模型,当肿瘤体积在100～200 mm3时,按肿瘤体积大小将裸鼠随机分成溶剂对照组、AG1478组、三苯氧胺(TAM)组、AG1478+TAM组,分别给予空白溶剂、AG1478腹腔注射、TAM灌胃、AG1478腹腔注射和TAM灌胃.同时给药6周,动态观察移植瘤生长,用药结束后2d处死裸鼠,取肿瘤称重、计算肿瘤体积(V=长径×短径2×π/6)、抑瘤率([(V对照组-V实验组)/V对照组]×100%).结果 各组裸鼠体重和肿瘤体积在治疗前具有均衡性.用药期间,溶剂对照组肿瘤生长最快,AGl478组次之,TAM组肿瘤生长较缓慢,而AGl478+TAM组肿瘤有缩小趋势.用药结束后,各组的抑瘤率分别为AG1478组30.4%,TAM组62%,AG1478+TAM组84.8%,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 AG1478对乳腺癌裸鼠移植瘤具有抑制作用,也可以加强三苯氧胺的抑瘤效果,两者有明显协同作用.     

Enhancement of death receptor 4 mediated apoptosis and cytotoxicity in renal cell carcinoma cells by subtoxic concentrations of doxorubicin

PURPOSE: TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) triggers apoptosis in various tumor cells by engaging death receptors 4 and 5. We investigated the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on death receptor 4 mediated apoptosis in human renal cell carcinoma cells using HGS-ETR1, which is a human monoclonal agonistic antibody specific for death receptor 4. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytotoxicity was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Synergy was assessed by isobolographic analysis. RESULTS: Treatment of the ACHN human renal cell carcinoma cell line with HGS-ETR1 combined with 5-fluorouracil, vinblastine or gemcitabine did not overcome resistance to these agents. However, treatment with HGS-ETR1 combined with doxorubicin had a synergistic cytotoxic effect. Synergy was also achieved in another human renal cell carcinoma cell line, Caki-1, and in 5 freshly derived renal cell carcinoma cell cultures. A synergistic effect was also observed with HGS-ETR1 combined with the doxorubicin derivatives epirubicin, pirarubicin or amrubicin. The synergy achieved in cytotoxicity with HGS-ETR1 and doxorubicin was also achieved in apoptosis. Sequential treatment with doxorubicin followed by HGS-ETR1 induced significantly more cytotoxicity than reverse treatment or simultaneous treatment (p<0.05). Doxorubicin remarkably increased the cell surface expression of death receptor 4 in renal cell carcinoma cells. The combination of doxorubicin and HGS-ETR1 significantly activated the caspase cascade, including caspase-8, 9, 6 and 3, which are the downstream molecules of death receptors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that doxorubicin sensitizes renal cell carcinoma cells to death receptor 4 mediated apoptosis through the induction of death receptor 4 and the activation of caspases, suggesting that combination therapy of doxorubicin and HGS-ETR1 might be effective as renal cell carcinoma therapy.     

Soft agar colony formation assay for in vitro chemotherapy sensitivity testing of human renal cell carcinoma: Mayo Clinic experience

Two hundred six different samples of human renal carcinoma were tested for in vitro chemotherapy sensitivity using a soft agar colony formation assay similar to that originally described by Salmon and colleagues. Eighty of 159 (50 per cent) evaluable tumor tests showed colony formation in vitro and gave clinical drug sensitivity information. Two-thirds of tumors were resistant to all drugs tested, despite a median number of drugs tested per tumor of 14.5. Five tumors (6 per cent) were remarkably sensitive to numerous anticancer drugs in vitro. The most active drugs found in vitro were teniposide, actinomycin D, bleomycin, hydroxyurea, mitoguanazone dihydrochloride, mitomycin C and L-alanosine. Fourteen other drugs tested showed low in vitro cytotoxicity.     

The role of isolated limb perfusion for melanoma confined to the extremities

Isolated limb perfusion with Melphalan is the best treatment option to control symptomatic multiple small in-transit metastases. When lesions are bulky, Isolated Limb Perfusion (ILP) with Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) + Melphalan is superior as in soft tissue sarcoma. TNF changes the pathophysiology, greatly enhances the uptake of Melphalan and destructs selectively the vasculature of large tumors. To date, ILP is not indicated in an adjuvant setting.     

Effects of high-energy shock waves combined with biological response modifiers or Adriamycin on a human kidney cancer xenograft

Summary We have studied the effect of high-energy shock waves (HESW) alone or in combination with biological response modifiers (BRMs) or Adriamycin on the growth of the NU-1 human kidney cancer xenograft. When HESW are administered repeatedly (four sessions of 800 shock waves on days 0, 2, 4 and 6) a prolonged delay in tumor growth was found compared with that following a single administration. This effect was temporary, and several days after stopping the HESW administration the tumor regained its original growth potential (same doubling time). Tumor growth was suppressed for a longer period by the combination of 4 sessions of HESW and a single administration of Adriamycin, 5 mg/kg. Combination of HESW treatment with interferon alpha (5.0 ng/g body weight, three times/week) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (500 ng/g body weight, 5 days/week) s.c. around the tumor resulted in a complete cessation of tumor growth. While Adriamycin had an additive effect on HESW treatment, the combination with BRMs was highly synergistic.     

Antiproliferative effect of interferon-alpha on human renal cell carcinoma in clonogenic assay--single and combination effect with cancer chemotherapeutic agent

With human tumor clonogenic assay, the direct antiproliferative activity of recombinant human leukocyte interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) was investigated on human renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), which consisted of a human RCC cell line (ACHN), two human RCC xenografts and fifteen primary RCCs. The combination effect of IFN-alpha with a cancer chemotherapeutic agent was studied, as well, with the assay system. IFN-alpha showed a dose-dependent antiproliferative activity against the human RCCs. The clonal growth of ACHN cell line was inhibited by less than 50% at the concentration of 1,000 IU/ml. Two xenografts had a different sensitivity to IFN-alpha, in which the percent colony formation was less than 20% in RCC-3 at the concentration of 100-100,000 IU/ml, while in RCC-4 more than 50% even at the high concentration of 10,000 IU/ml. In 15 primary tumors obtained at surgery, two types of response to IFN-alpha were demonstrated. One was the response in which the colony formation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner as an increment of IFN-alpha concentration, and the other in which the colony formation was not sufficiently inhibited even at the high concentration of IFN-alpha. The dose-dependent inhibition of colony formation was demonstrated in 10 out of 15 specimens (66.7%). When the colony formation suppressed to less than 50% of control was considered to be sensitive to IFN-alpha, 6.7% of these 15 primary tumors were sensitive to IFN-alpha at 100 IU/ml, 20.0% at 1,000 IU/ml and 20.0% at 10,000 IU/ml. Combination effects of IFN-alpha and with each of four different cancer chemotherapeutic agents (vinblastine, adriamycin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) were investigated on the ACHN cell line. Every combination type produced a subadditive or synergistic combination effect. In particular, the combination of IFN-alpha with vinblastine of more than 0.1 microgram/ml concentration yielded a combination effect of statistical significance (p less than 0.001). Even against premary tumors, the combination of IFN-alpha with vinblastine showed a synergistic effect in one out of every three tumors. These results suggested that the combination of IFN-alpha with a cancer chemotherapeutic agent would enhance the clinical effect of IFN-alpha alone in only a certain situation.     

N—ras,c—myc反义寡核苷酸与p53,p16基因联合抑制人肝癌细胞 …

目的 研究反义癌基因与抑癌基因联合抑制肝癌细胞生长的效果。方法 利用基因重组方法构建携带ｐ１６基因,ｐ５３基因的融合表达载体,利用基因合成仪体外合成Ｎ－ｒａｓ,ｃ－ｍｙｃ反义寡核苷酸,并将Ｎ－ｒａｓ,ｃ－ｍｙｃ反应寡核苷酸与ｐｃＤＮＡ１６－５３融合表达载体转染到人肝癌细胞系ＳＭＭＣ７７２１细胞中,观察肝癌细胞生长情况及软琼脂集落形成能力。结果 联合治疗组肝癌细胞增殖速度最慢,软琼脂集落形成个数量少     

Dynamics of human renal tumor colony growth in vitro

Summary Two-layer soft agar cultures from 26 patients with renal cell carcinoma, 21 renal primary lesions and 5 metastatic lesions, were evaluated for tumor colony formation using both dynamic growth curves and static single time point colony counting. Dynamic growth curves markedly increased the number of evaluable tumor cultures. There was no relationship between colony formation and TNM stage of the tumor or renal vein invasion. However, there was a significantly (p <0.02) higher rate of colony formation from younger (<50y.) patients than from older patients. Only 2 of 5 tumors tested showed response to one or more cytostatic agents in vitro, both tumors showing response to Adriamycin and one to Cis-platin. Dynamic evaluation of tumor colony formation in soft agar may increase the clinical applicability of the human tumor cloning system both by increasing the number of evaluable cultures and by providing more information about the processes involved in tumor colony formatin in vitro.This study was supported by a grant from the Queen Wilhelmina Fund, The Netherlands Cancer Foundation, NUKC 81-14     

Synergistic antitumor effect of ionomycin and cisplatin against renal cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Objectives. To characterize the synergistic antitumor effects of the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, and of cisplatin against human renal cell carcinoma cell line, ACHN, both in vitro and in vivo.Methods. The in vitro growth rate of ACHN after exposure to these compounds was measured, using the MTT assay. The apoptotic features in ACHN were evaluated by DNA ladder analysis and flow cytometric analysis. Bcl-2 and Bax expression levels in ACHN after treatment were examined by Western blot. The synergistic antitumor effects of ionomycin and cisplatin against the growth of established ACHN tumors in athymic nude mice were then tested.Results. The in vitro growth rate of ACHN was suppressed more by ionomycin and cisplatin in combination than by either alone. DNA ladder and fragmentation were more obvious when the cells were incubated with ionomycin and cisplatin together than with either reagent alone. Ionomycin treatment increased the expression level of Bax protein, whereas Bcl-2 expression was not influenced. Although an intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin or an intratumoral injection of ionomycin against subcutaneous ACHN tumors somewhat reduced tumorigenicity in nude mice, the effect was significantly enhanced by a combination of these drugs.Conclusions. The synergistic antitumor effects suggest that ionomycin-based therapy could be a novel therapeutic strategy with which to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma.