Characterization of autologous tumor-specific T-helper 2 cells in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from a patient with metastatic melanoma

Human autologous tumor-specific T-helper 2 (Th2) cells were investigated in melanoma tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Both a CD4⁺ T-cell line and its 5 potential T-cell clones established from TILs of a patient with metastatic melanoma produced significant levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in response to autologous, but not any of 12 allogeneic, melanoma cell lines. They also produced IL-3 and IL-8 but not IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α or TNF-β in response to autologous tumor cells. Furthermore, they showed autologous melanoma-specific cytotoxicity only in an 18-hr ⁵¹Cr-release assay. Specific IL-4, IL-6 or IL-10 production by the CD4⁺ M73 T-cell line and its clone was inhibited by anti-class 11 DR (but not anti-class 1) MAb, whereas their specific cytotoxicity was inhibited by anti-class 1 (but not anti-class 11) MAb. Anti-CD3 and -CD4 MAb (but not anti-CD8) abrogated both IL-4, IL6 and IL-10 production and cytotoxicity, while anti-IL-4 antibody did not inhibit cytotoxicity. CD4⁺ potential T-cell clones, but not CD8⁺ clones, that were established from freshly isolated TILs without in vitro sensitization by autologous tumor cells also produced IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 but not IFN-γ or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α in an autologous tumor-specific fashion. These Th2 cells were neither reactive to EBV-B cells nor suppressive against CD8⁺ T-cell clones. PMA and PHA stimulated these potential T-cell clones, regardless of their specific lymphokine production, to produce IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, GM-CSF, TNFα and IFN-γ. Our results demonstrate the presence of autologous tumor-specific Th2 cells at the melanoma sites.     

Drug-induced modulation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression in neoplastic cells from a patient with rectal cancer

Treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN), alone or in combination, was found to increase carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression in several carcinoma cell lines. In this study we examined the in vitro effect of these agents on CEA expression of tumor cells, obtained from a patient operated for rectal cancer. The results showed that exposure of cancer cells to 5-FU or to IFN resulted in increased CEA levels in terms of percentage of CEA-positive cells and mean fluorescence values, as indicated by FACS analysis. However, drug combination did not induce CEA expression higher than that provided by single agents alone. Treatment with 5-FU or with IFN produced a reduction of the total number of viable cells. Moreover, Western blot analysis revealed that exposure of cancer cells to each drug was followed by a substantial increase of the total cellular CEA content. On the contrary, 5-FU in combination with IFN did not increase the expression of the antigen more than that obtained by single agents. Noteworthy, exposure of CEA-negative cells from adjacent normal rectal tissue to both agents alone or in combination, did not result in CEA induction. In conclusion, the present results suggest new approaches aimed at (a) increasing the sensitivity of diagnostic procedures based on detection of CEA-positive tumor cells; (b) facilitating the recognition of CEA-positive cancer cells by immune responses induced by anti-CEA peptide vaccines.     

The c-abl, bcr and C lambda genes are amplified in a cell line but not in the uncultured cells from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia

Structural alterations of the oncogenes in human tumors are reported to result from a variety of mechanisms: point mutations, chromosomal translocations and gene amplifications. In over 90% of the cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), the c-abl oncogene is translocated from chromosome 9 to chromosome 22, and forms in part the Philadelphia (Ph¹) chromosome.

We have molecularly analysed a double Ph¹-positive (Ph¹⁺) cell line, KBM-5 that was established from a patient with CML in the blast-transformed phase (CML-BP). We report that the c-abl, bcr, and Cλ genes are amplified approximately eight-fold in the cell line but not in the fresh uncultured cells from which KBM-5 was derived.     

Interaction of various cytokines with interleukin 2 in the generation of killer cells from human bone marrow: application in purging of leukemia

We have shown that incubation of bone marrow (BM) with interleukin 2 (IL-2) generates activated bone marrow cells (ABM) with potent tumoricidal activity in vitro and in vivo. The present study was carried out to define the interaction of other cytokines with IL-2 in generation of ABM. Our data show that interleukin 1 (IL-1), interferon (IFN)- both gamma and alpha, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) significantly increased the cytolytic potential of ABM. Interleukin 3, interleukin 4, transforming growth factor-beta and adherent cells were reduced, while granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor had no influence on the generation of cytolytic activity. IL-1 was enhanced while TNF-alpha depressed the BM progenitor cell activity in vitro. The IL-2-induced purging ability of BM contaminated with leukemic cells was increased by IL-1, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. This study shows that biomodulation of BM with combination of cytokines in vitro can be useful in purging a large leukemic burden.     

Polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase are associated with a high risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a smoking population from southern China

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a central role in converting folate to a compound which serves as a methyl donor for DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification known to be dysregulated in carcinogenesis. This case–control study assessed the contribution of MTHFR polymorphisms to the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). MTHFR genotypes C677T and A1298C in 529 NPC patients and 577 frequency‐matched controls were determined by PCR‐based restriction fragment length polymorphism. We found a 1.57‐fold increased risk of NPC in subjects with the MTHFR 1298AC genotype compared to subjects with the MTHFR 1298AA genotype. In addition, an elevated NPC risk was also found in subjects with both the MTHFR 677CT and 1298AC genotypes [odds ratio (OR) = 2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.37–3.39] compared to subjects with the 677CC/1298AA genotypes. Furthermore, we observed an additive interaction between MTHFR polymorphisms and smoking status on the increased risk of NPC. The OR was 6.72 (95% CI = 1.85–24.48) among heavy smokers (pack‐years ≥15) carrying 677TT compared with nonsmokers carrying the 677CC genotype. The OR was 7.23 (95% CI = 4.22–12.38) or 12.75 (95% CI = 2.74–59.3) among subjects carrying the 1298AC or 1298CC genotype in heavy smokers (pack‐years ≥15) compared with 1298AA in nonsmokers. Our results provide the first molecular epidemiological evidence that MTHFR polymorphisms associate with the risk of NPC and this association is especially noteworthy in heavy smokers. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Point mutations of ornithine decarboxylase gene are an infrequent event in colorectal cancer but a missense mutation was found in a replication error positive patient with hMSH2 germline mutation

BACKGROUND: Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC; EC 4.1.1.17) is the first rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines. ODC protein has a characteristic amino acid sequence, the PEST sequence, which is related to the enzyme's rapid degradation. ODC cDNA prepared from human hepatoma tissues has been reported to show nonsense or missense mutations. METHODS: We examined somatic mutations of ODC cDNA by RT-PCR-SSCP analysis and mRNA expressions by RT-PCR in 50 colorectal cancer tissues to investigate the involvement of ODC gene alterations in colorectal cancers. RESULTS: Increased expression of the ODC gene was observed in 36 cases (86%) out of the 42 examined by RT-PCR. In one case, a missense mutation was found in the cancer tissue but not in normal mucosa. The missense mutation from Asp to Asn at codon 424, in the PEST region, possibly stabilizes the ODC protein. In colorectal cancer, replication error and a germline mutation in hMSH2 gene were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The missense mutation at codon 424 is speculated to be a cause of stabilization and a passenger mutation owing to the mutator phenotype. Since only one of 50 colorectal cancers exhibited a missense mutation of the ODC gene, mutations in ODC gene are not frequent in colorectal cancer. The increased expression of the ODC gene was noted in 86% of colorectal cancer tissues by RT-PCR, however, it was not due to point mutations in ODC coding exons.      

Prognostic value of novel biomarkers in astrocytic brain tumors: nuclear receptor co-regulators AIB1, TIF2, and PELP1 are associated with high tumor grade and worse patient prognosis

Estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) and their co-regulatory proteins are key components of complex signaling networks that specifically regulate the growth and development of various tissues and tumors. Still, their protein expression profiles and possible role in the pathogenesis of astrocytic tumors remain largely unknown. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the differential protein expression of ΕRα, ERβ, and their co-activators, AIB1, TIF2, and PELP1 in astrocytic tumors of World Health Organization (WHO) grade II–IV, using immunohistochemistry. Potential correlations with clinicopathological parameters and patient prognosis were also explored. ERα protein expression was undetectable while ERβ levels were significantly decreased with progression of tumor grade (P < 0.001). High expression of ERβ was an independent favorable prognostic factor on multivariate analysis (P = 0.003). Expression of AIB1, TIF2, and PELP1 was not correlated with ERβ expression and followed an opposite trend, with increasing levels in high-grade relative to low-grade tumors (P < 0.001). Univariate survival analysis revealed that high AIB1, TIF2, and PELP1 expression was associated with worse prognosis (P = 0.049, P = 0.033, and P = 0.020, respectively). ERβ and ER co-activators AIB1, TIF2, and PELP1 appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of astrocytic tumors and might have prognostic significance. The mechanisms underlying their involvement in astrocytic tumorigenesis, as well as their utility for prognostic and therapeutic purposes merit further investigation.     

Expression of platelet-derived growth factor-independent phenotypes in BALB/c 3T3 cell variant with high susceptibility to chemically or physically induced neoplastic cell transformation: dissociation from activation of protein kinase C.

A31-I-13, a clonal cell variant of nontransformed BALB/c 3T3 that is highly susceptible to chemically or physically induced malignant cell transformation but is not sensitive to cell killing or susceptible to induced somatic cell mutation compared with another less transformation-susceptible A31-I-1 cell variant, was previously found to be constitutively competent [platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-independent] to synthesize DNA (M. Tatsuka et al., J. Cell. Physiol., 139: 18-23, 1989). The present study has demonstrated that density-arrested, quiescent A31-I-13 cells autonomously exhibit disruption of actin filamentous bundles and perturbations of dynamic morphology. PDGF induced these cytoskeletal modulations in quiescent A31-I-1 cells, which require PDGF for the induction of DNA synthesis. Furthermore, the cytoskeletal modulations of quiescent A31-I-13 cells were not accompanied by an increased production of plasminogen activators, activation of protein kinase C, or phosphorylation of a Triton X-100-soluble protein (molecular weight, 90,000) known as 80K, a major substrate for protein kinase C. However, these modulations were accompanied by the tyrosine phosphorylation of Triton X-100-insoluble (cytoskeletal) proteins with molecular weights of 24,000, 32,000-33,000, and 36,000. These Triton X-100-insoluble proteins, as well as the 80K protein, were phosphorylated by the exposure of quiescent A31-I-1 cells to PDGF. Thus the pathway for producing the transformation-susceptible phenotype in A31-I-13 appears to coincide with the PDGF signaling pathway but does not involve the protein kinase C pathway.     

Low intake of calcium, folate, nicotinic acid, vitamin E, retinol, beta-carotene and high intake of pantothenic acid, biotin and riboflavin are significantly associated with increased genome instability--results from a dietary intake and micronucleus index survey in South Australia

The aim of this study was to determine the association between dietary intake, determined using a food frequency questionnaire, and genome damage in lymphocytes measured using the micronucleus (MN) assay. The study, performed on 190 healthy individuals (mean age 47.8 years, 46% males), also examined whether a supplementation with beta-carotene, vitamins C and E along with zinc (ACEZn), in a randomized trial for 6 months, improves genome stability. Multivariate analysis of baseline data showed that (1) the highest tertile of intake of vitamin E, retinol, folic acid, nicotinic acid (preformed) and calcium is associated with significant reductions in MN frequency, i.e. -28, -31, -33, -46 and -49%, respectively (P < 0.005) relative to the lowest tertile of intake and (2) the highest tertile of intake of riboflavin, pantothenic acid and biotin was associated with significant increases in MN frequency, i.e. +36% (P = 0.054), +51% (P = 0.021), and +65% (P = 0.001), respectively, relative to the lowest tertile of intake. Mid-tertile beta-carotene intake was associated with an 18% reduction in MN frequency (P = 0.038); however, the highest tertile of intake (>6400 microg/day) resulted in an 18% increment in MN frequency. Supplementation with ACEZn significantly reduced the MN index by 13% (P = 0.038). The study also showed interactive additive effects such as the protective effect of increased calcium intake (-46%) and the exacerbating effect of riboflavin (+42%) on increased genome damage caused by low folate intake. The results from this study illustrate the strong impact of a wide variety of micronutrients and their interactions on genome health, depending on the level of intake.