Characterization of stereomicroscopically identified preneoplastic lesions during dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic carcinogenesis

Preneoplastic mucosal changes were studied at six different time-points during dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in the rat. After 40 weeks of treatment, seven of 10 animals were bearing a total of 11 colorectal adenocarcinomas. The crypt cell production rate in the normal mucosa of DMH-treated animals was greatly increased in the left colon and rectum and further rose with the duration of the experiment. Focal disturbances of the mucosal architecture could be detected as early as 4 weeks after the initiation of DMH-treatment using a stereomicroscope. Their incidence was greatest in the left colon and rectum and increased strongly with the duration of carcinogen exposure. Characterization of these mucosal alterations, by means of conventional histology, morphometry after microdissection, cell kinetics, mucin histochemistry and quantitative enzyme histochemistry performed with serial sections, revealed mild epithelial dysplasia, a considerable elongation and dilatation of the crypts and a marked increase of the crypt cell production, including a shift of the main proliferative compartment from the basal to the medial crypt segment as well as the occurrence of mitotic figures in the luminal epithelium. In affected crypts, the goblet cells completely lacked sulphomucins and exclusively contained sialomucins. The activities of the enzymes diaminopeptidase IV (brush-border), succinate dehydrogenase (mitochondria) and acid beta-galactosidase (lysosomes) were markedly reduced. We conclude that these early mucosal alterations are indeed preneoplastic lesions and indicate the existence of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence in this animal model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A phase I/II trial of recombinant human interleukin-6 in patients with aplastic anaemia

Summary. In a phase I/II study, 11 patients with marrow failure (10 with acquired aplastic anaemia and one with pancytopenic Fanconi anaemia) were treated with recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL-6) to assess the safety and tolerability of rhIL-6 and its effects on peripheral blood counts, bleeding complications and transfusion requirements. All patients with acquired aplastic anaemia were refractory to immunosuppressive treatment or had relapsed after immunosuppressive therapy and were not bone marrow transplantation candidates. Recombinant hIL-6 was to be given as a once-daily subcutaneous injection for 28 d at doses ranging from 0-5 to 5-0βg/kg. After an observation period of 2 weeks, five patients received a second treatment course of 28 d.
Only one patient had a sustained increase in platelet count from 18 000 to 72 000/ fA. Bleeding occurred in four patients and caused premature discontinuation of rhIL-6 therapy in three patients. A deterioration of pre-existing anaemia was observed in nine patients. No significant changes of leucocyte counts were observed during the first cycle. During the second cycle the peripheral blood monocyte counts decreased significantly. No significant changes in bone marrow cellularity were observed. Recombinant hIL-6 induced a dose-dependent increase in acute-phase reactants in all patients. Other adverse events included fever, headache, arthralgia, tachycardia and hypertension. In conclusion, rhIL-6 given alone at low doses does not increase platelet counts in the majority of patients with aplastic anaemia and can precipitate a sudden worsening of pre-existing anaemia and thrombocytopenia. This study was discontinued prematurely on account of the toxicity of rhIL-6 seen in patients with aplastic anaemia.     

Brief Report: The Early Loss of Radioactivity in Cr51 Survival Curves: Destruction of Cells or Loss of the Label?

Using human erythrocytes labeled simultaneously with DFP³² and Cr⁵¹,studies of specific red cell activities within the first 24 hours after infusion oflabeled cells were carried out. The results obtained suggest that the early lossof Cr⁵¹ specific red cell activity which has been observed in radiochromiumsurvival curves is due to rapid elution of a portion of the label.

Submitted on February 19, 1965 Accepted on August 6, 1965