Chemotherapy in intracerebrally transplanted tumors induced with transplacental administration of ethylnitrosourea in rats

Summary Four tumors of the spinal cord were induced with ethylnitrosourea in rats by transplacental administration and transplanted into the brains of animals of the same strain. One of these intracerebrally grafted tumor lines (G-XIII) was followed up over the first 10 passages and treated with CCNU and other alkylating drugs. The results were compared with findings in an earlier established line (G-XII) in passage 12 and 59, which in the first instance was sensitive to CCNU. The CCNU application prolonged survival in treated animals in various treatment schedules in the first 10 intracerebrally grafted generations of the tumor up to 59%. Induction times of tumors became increasingly shorter. The susceptibility of early passages was similar in both lines. Its loss in late passages went together with diffuse growth of the tumor and reticulin fiber production. In addition, glial fibrillary acid protein expression and formation of intermediate filaments in perivascular tumor cells was lost.     

The chemotherapy of posterior Fossa tumors in childhood

Conventional therapy for brain tumors, consisting of neurosurgical intervention and radiotherapy, has not resulted in the successes achievable in other childhood malignancies. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy, well defined in many childhood cancers, has not yet contributed significantly to the treatment of children with brain tumors. Chemotherapy of recurrent tumors has produced regressions but no cures. The most active agents identified to date in the treatment of recurrent posterior fossa tumors include cisplatinum, cyclophosphamide and methotrexate. Future efforts will need to focus on the rational selection of drugs for study in limited agent histology-stratified phase II trials, with advancement of active agents into large randomized phase III adjuvant therapy trials.     

Primary breast lymphoma.

Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is a rare tumor of the breast. Three cases of PBL are being described. All three cases achieved remission following biopsy, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. The literature is extensively reviewed with emphasis on true incidence of PBL and survival rates.     

彩色多普勒血流显像对肺良、恶性肿瘤鉴别诊断的应用

本文应用彩色多普勒血流显像技术对４０例肺肿瘤患者进行研究。全部病例均经手术及病理证实。结果表明：肺恶性肿瘤的内部及周边血流丰富，搏动指数（ＰＩ）和阻力指数（ＲＩ）低于肺良性肿瘤。因此，通过观察肺肿瘤的血流丰富程度及ＰＩ（界值＜１），ＲＩ（界值＜０．５）．可做为辨别肺恶性肿瘤的参考条件。     

Peritoneal Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors with Divergent Differentiation: A Review

Peritoneal desmoplastic small round cell tumors with divergent differentiation are recently described highly aggressive neoplasms with characteristic clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features. This review covers 38 cases that have been reported in the literature. The average age of patients is 18.4 years, and males are affected twice as frequently as females. Tumors generally present as multiple peritoneal nodules without obvious organ involvement. Histology shows islands of small cells set in dense desmoplastic stroma. Immunohistochemical stains are usually positive for cytokeratins, epithelial membrane antigen, desmin, and vimentin. Many cases also stain for neuron-specific enolase but rarely for other neuroepithelial markers. Ultrastructural appearances range from undifferentiated small cells to larger epithelial elements. Paranuclear aggregates of intermediate filaments are characteristic. Dense-core granules and other neuroendocrine features have been described in a minority of cases. Some tumors respond to chemotherapy, but most patients die within months to a few years. The histogenesis of these tumors is uncertain.     

Chlorocarbamate-mustard-linked 1,1,2-triphenylbut-1-enes with a selective antitumor activity on mammary tumors containing estrogen receptors

Summary A 1,1,2-triphenylbut-1-ene with a 4-OH group at one C-1 phenyl ring and a chlorocarbamate mustard moiety at the second C-1 ring (compound 3) was synthesized in order to obtain a cytotoxic estrogen with a specific antitumor effect on estrogen-receptor-containing tumors. This compound was tested in comparison to the carrier (compound 1) and a compound (2) having a carbamate mustard group on both C-1 phenyl rings. The estrogen receptor affinity of compound 3 was only about one-quarter lower than that of compound 1, but much higher than that of compound 2. Compounds 2 and 3 showed only partially irreversible binding to the receptor owing to their relatively low alkylating properties. The growth inhibition of the receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cell line by compound 3, but not by compound 1 or 2, was more pronounced than the inhibition of the receptor-negative line MDA. In vivo the hormone-dependent, transplantable mammary tumor MXT M3.2 of the mouse was much better inhibited by compound 3 than its hormone-resistent line MXT OVEX. Compounds 1–3 had no antiestrogenic properties in the mouse, but estrogenic activity was in the order 1>3>2. From these results and because the antitumor activity of compound 3 was superior to that of compounds 1 and 2 in the hormone-dependent tumor models, a selective, receptor-mediated cytotoxic effect of compound 3 on estrogen-receptor-positive tumors in obvious.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 234 and the Matthias Lackas StiftungDedicated to Prof. Dr. M. F. El Etreby on the occasion of his 50th birthday     

γ-Enolase and glial fibrillary acidic protein in nervous system tumors

Summary A large series of central and peripheral nervous system tumors was studied for the presence of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and -enolase (neuron-specific enolase, NSE), using specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Occurrence in and specificity of GFAP to glial and mixed tumors was confirmed and depended on the malignancy grade and features such as meningeal invasion. Using a well-characterized mAb, -enolase was demonstrated in neuronal, as well as in a whole range of non-neuronal tumors. This lack of specificity of -enolase prohibits its use as an exclusive neuronal marker. Nevertheless quantization or comparison with other types of enolases could still prove to be useful in well-defined situations. The advantages inherent to mAbs and a highly sensitive detection system turn GFAP stainings into a specific and readily reproducible technique.Supported in part by FGWO (grant no. 3.0019.86) and by the Geconcerteerde Actie (grant no. 84/89-68, Brain specific proteins)