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Biomedical subjects

A Knuth

Publications and source records attributed to A Knuth.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Cytoskeletal heterogeneity of an epithelioid sarcoma with expression of vimentin, cytokeratins, and neurofilaments.

We studied an unusual sarcoma with morphologic features diagnostic of epithelioid sarcoma by conventional light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. The primary tumor, which was located in the deep soft tissues of the buttock of a 32-year-old woman, and its metastases to lymph nodes, liver, and lung were available for investigation. The histomorphological and ultrastructural appearance of the primary tumor and its metastatic deposits were typical of epithelioid sarcoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed a strong and uniform reactivity for vimentin in both the primary tumor and its metastases. In contrast, a marked cytoskeletal heterogeneity became evident for cytokeratins and neurofilaments, which were observed exclusively in lymph node metastasis. To our knowledge, the observation of neurofilaments in epithelioid sarcoma has not previously been reported.

Adult↗

Presence on a human melanoma of multiple antigens recognized by autologous CTL.

We derived from blood lymphocytes of a melanoma patient a large number of cytolytic T-cell clones directed against a cell line of the autologous tumor. Three distinct groups of antigens were recognized by these CTL on the autologous melanoma cells: group A consisted of stable antigens present on all sublines, whereas antigens B and C appeared unstable and were expressed by distinct sublines. In vitro immunoselections with various anti-A CTL clones were applied to the melanoma cells and variants resistant to 3 different CTL clones were obtained. These variants remained sensitive to other anti-A CTL clones, indicating that group A comprises at least 4 different antigens (D, E, F and A'). From a total of 76 CTL clones obtained from lymphocytes collected from the patient at various times, we found that 45 were anti-B, 17 were anti-C, 2 were anti-D, 9 were anti-E, 2 were anti-F and I was anti-A'. It is therefore likely that the 6 antigens identified by these CTL clones represent all or nearly all the transplantation antigens recognized by autologous CTL on this human melanoma.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Lysis of human melanoma cells by autologous cytolytic T cell clones. Identification of human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen A2 as a restriction element for three different antigens.

From the peripheral blood of the melanoma patient (AV), we derived cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones that lysed the autologous tumor line SK-MEL-29, but not autologous EBV-B cells, K562, and other tumor targets. By immunoselection experiments it was shown that the CTL clones recognized at least three different antigens on the autologous tumor cells. We demonstrate here that these melanoma antigens are presented to the CTL in association with HLA-A2. First, HLA-A2-reactive pregnancy sera as well as an mAb against HLA-A2 inhibited the CTL lysis. Second, immunoselected melanoma subclones that were resistant to lysis by CTL clones against the three antigens described were found to lack expression of HLA-A2. By sensitizing the patient's lymphocytes against an HLA-A2- melanoma clone, we established a new series of CTL clones recognizing autologous AV melanoma cells. However, efficient lysis was only seen when target cells were pretreated with IFN-gamma. The lytic activity of these CTL was selectively inhibited by an mAb against a common HLA-B determinant. These results indicate that in addition to HLA-A2, other class I antigens are involved in the recognition of AV melanoma cells by autologous CTL.

Adult↗

Cytolytic T-cell clones against an autologous human melanoma: specificity study and definition of three antigens by immunoselection.

Cytolytic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clones against an autologous melanoma (SK-MEL-29) were generated by mixed lymphocyte tumor culture and subsequent cloning of responder lymphocytes at limiting dilutions. These CTL clones lysed autologous melanoma but not autologous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells and none of the allogeneic tumor targets included in the specificity analysis. The lysis of autologous melanoma targets could be inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against monomorphic HLA class I determinants. For proliferation of CTLs, the stimulation with the relevant target antigen on autologous tumor cells was essential. Immunoselection experiments carried out with two CTL clones revealed the existence of melanoma subclones that were resistant to lysis by the CTL clones used for immunoselection but were still lysed by other autologous CTL clones. This analysis allowed us to identify three stable simultaneously expressed antigens on the melanoma cells defined by autologous CTLs.

Adult↗

[Chemotherapy of colorectal cancer].

Several randomized trials have shown superior response rates for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined with folinic acid as compared to 5-FU alone. Both treatment regimens are well tolerated and generally can be applied in an outpatient setting. To date no other tested drug combination as methyl-CCNU (M), vincristine (O) and 5-FU (MOF), cisplatin and 5-FU (DDP/5-FU) or methotrexate and 5-FU (MTX/5-FU) showed any clear advantage over 5-FU alone. Regional infusion therapy for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer has not been proven superior as yet to systemic therapy with respect to overall survival. Regional chemotherapy is still considered an experimental approach and should only be performed within controlled trials. New results of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with the MOF-schedule for colorectal cancer with Dukes stage B and C demonstrated an improvement in disease-free survival and overall survival for patients, who had undergone resection with curative intent. Trials are under way to examine, whether 5-FU combined with folinic acid is superior to the more toxic MOF-regimen in postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy of colorectal cancer. Eligible patients should only be treated within prospective randomized trials.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Tissue distribution of the T cell activation antigen Ta1. Serological, immunohistochemical and biochemical investigations.

The recently described Ta1 antigen is expressed by activated T cells in vitro and in vivo, as observed in patients with certain immune-mediated diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. In this paper we report on the tissue distribution of the Ta1 antigen. Serological testing of human tumour cell lines and immunohistochemical analysis of human tissue sections revealed a reactivity of the anti-Ta1 antibody with normal and malignant tissues of the upper gastro-intestinal tract, the biliary tract, exocrine pancreas and kidney. SDS-PAGE analysis of immunoprecipitates from 125I-labelled cells, employing the anti-Ta1 antibody, yielded a 113-115 kD band from three serologically Ta1 positive tumour cell lines, from a serologically Ta1 negative human EBV-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell line, from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and, as previously described, a 105 kD band from PHA activated T cells (Fox et al., 1984). After endoglycosidase F treatment similar bands of 85 kD were precipitated from activated T cells and from tumour cell lines. It is therefore likely that very similar glycoproteins, which differ only modestly in the size of carbohydrate chains, bear the Ta1 epitope on Ta1 positive tissues.

Antibodies↗

A common epithelial cell surface antigen (EPM-1) on gastrointestinal tumors and in human sera.

A common epithelial cell surface marker (EPM-1) was defined by two monoclonal antibodies (Pa-25 and Pa-42), raised against a pancreatic tumor cell line (Capan-1). Both monoclonal antibodies were tested on 49 cultured human cell lines and 244 tissue samples and reacted with all 76 tissue samples of 20 different normal epithelial cell types and with 57 of 63 epithelial tumor tissue samples of nonendocrine origin. Included were eight exocrine pancreatic carcinomas. There the percentage of EPM-1 positive tumor cells correlated with tumor grading. EPM-1 was detectable on the cell surface of cultured human cell lines of the pancreas, liver, colon, and mamma. Some epithelial tumor cell lines did not express EPM-1 on the cell surface, but in the cytoplasm. 100 nonepithelial and epithelial endocrine tissue samples as well as 25 nonepithelial cultured tumor and normal cells were unreactive with monoclonal antibodies Pa-25 and Pa-42. These included cells of neuronal, endocrine, and mesenchymal origin. EPM-1 activity was purified from pancreas tumor cells Capan-1 and from human sera by high-performance liquid chromatography and its molecular weight amounts to about Mr 400,000. EPM-1 was detectable in bronchial, intestinal, and pancreatic secretions and saliva and serum by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. EPM-1 values were high in the sera of normal individuals, but low or not detectable in most sera (21 of 31) of patients with gastrointestinal tumors. EPM-1 represents a novel differentiation marker for epithelial cell types, which should have a central role in the biology of normal and tumorous epithelial cells.

Animals↗

Secretory epithelial cell marker on gastrointestinal tumors and in human secretions defined by a monoclonal antibody.

A new marker for human secretory epithelial cell types (Exo-1) has been defined by a mouse monoclonal antibody (Pa-G14). The antibody was raised against a human exocrine pancreatic tumor cell line (Capan-1) and tested against 46 cultured human cell types and 228 freshly frozen human tissue sections. It reacted specifically with 28 normal and 55 secretory neoplastic epithelial tissues tested. Eleven different secretory epithelial cell types expressed this antigen, as well as human fetal tissues of the gut and bronchi. One hundred and twenty samples of normal tissues, cells, and tumors of nonexocrine origin were Exo-1 negative. In normal secretory tissues staining was most pronounced at the apical poles and as shown by immunoelectron microscopy in the case of the duodenum, at the microvilli. In cultured Exo-1 positive tumor cells the antigen was not demonstrable on the cell surface but in the cytoplasm after acetone/methanol fixation only. The antigen was identified biochemically as a polar neutral glycolipid and detected in human salivary, bronchial, pancreatic, and intestinal secretions by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, but was not found in sera of healthy controls or patients with gastrointestinal and other tumors. Antigen Exo-1 represents a novel common antigen for normal and tumorous glandular epithelial cells.

Animals↗

Production of stable cytolytic T-cell clones directed against autologous human melanoma.

We have attempted to optimize the production of stable human cytolytic T lymphocyte clones directed against autologous melanoma cell lines. MLTC were restimulated every week with irradiated melanoma cells in medium containing human serum and IL-2. After 21 to 35 days, in 5 out of 6 patients, these cultures expressed a preferential cytolytic activity against the autologous melanoma cells, as compared to autologous EBV-B cells or NK target K562. Limiting dilution of MLTC responder cells was performed at times varying from days 7 to 28, in medium containing IL-2 and allogeneic EBV-B cells as feeders. Approximately 1% of these responder cells gave rise to CTL clones that lysed the autologous melanoma cells, but did not lyse K562 or autologous B cells. It was possible to maintain in culture for several months a large number of CTL clones that retained this specificity with high activity, and multiplied more than 5-fold every week. Some of these CTL clones were dependent on the presence of the autologous melanoma cells for their growth. With one melanoma, the use of autologous CTL clones made it possible to identify 3 different antigens on the tumor cells.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Signet ring stomach cancer: morphological characterization and antigenic profile of a newly established cell line (Mz-Sto-1).

A human gastric signet ring cancer cell line (Mz-Sto-1) was established in tissue culture from the ascites fluid of a 54-year-old patient. The tumor cells growing in tissue culture exhibit the morphological characteristics of signet ring cells in phase contrast and transmission electron microscopy. Mz-Sto-1 cells grow as monolayer with a population doubling time of 28-36 hr during exponential growth phase and show a chromosome number between 72 and 74. In the cellular DNA of Mz-Sto-1 cells no amplification of 19 oncogenes studied is observed, c-myc included. Mz-Sto-1 cells secrete 150-250 ng CEA per 10(7) cell in 3 days, but no AFP. In addition Mz-Sto-1 cells and 2 already established gastric cancer cell lines MKN-28 and MKN-45 express HLA- and blood group related antigens (A, Lewis). HLA-DR antigens, which are regularly detected on normal stomach epithelium, are not found on any of the 3 cultured gastric cell lines. Mz-Sto-1 cells represent the first human gastric cancer cell characterized ultrastructurally as signet ring cells. This line will be a valuable tool to study the biology and genetics of gastric carcinoma, to test cytostatic drugs and to define new antigenic markers for stomach cancer.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

[Liver CT with portal vein administration of a contrast medium].

Contrast administration through the superior mesenteric or splenic arteries provided additional information in 22 out of 31 patients, when compared with intravenous contrast bolus for CT of the liver. In 11 patients, the demonstration of a tumour lead to a change in treatment. False positive findings occurred in four of the 31 patients. In 2 patients intrahepatic lesions were overlooked, but were found during angiography carried out at the same examination. The diagnosis of intrahepatic space-occupying lesions is discussed as well as the CT appearances of portal-venous liver perfusion.

Adult↗

Spontaneous and antibody-dependent cellular immune reactions to ethanol-altered hepatoma cells.

Spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity (SCMC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and proliferative lymphocyte stimulation in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) were investigated. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from eight patients with advanced ALD and nine normal controls were tested against hepatoma cells (PLC/PRF/5) as targets. Target cells were grown in either normal culture medium or medium supplemented with 1 and 5% ethanol, respectively, for 24 to 48 h. Ethanol-exposed hepatoma cells exhibited profound and characteristic morphological alterations. Ethanol preincubation, however, proved to be without effect on immune reactions. Provided that hepatoma cells are an appropriate model, we assume that the proposed immune reactions in ALD are based on metabolic interactions operative only in vivo but do not parallel morphological alterations of liver cells directly induced by ethanol.

Adult↗

[Regional chemotherapy of liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma using implanted gas pressure pumps. Results of a prospective phase II study].

22 patients with liver metastases of colorectal carcinomas were given floxuridine infusions into the hepatic artery using a totally implantable pump system (Infusaid, model 400). The course of the disease was compared to that of 22 untreated controls matched for age, sex, extent of metastatic disease and performance status. No therapy-related mortality was observed in the treatment group, morbidity was 37%. Response rate was 77% based on CEA decrease by more than 33% after 6 months, and 64% related to a more than 50% reduction in metastasis size. Median survival time was 10 months in the control group as compared to 26 months in the therapy group; the one-year survival rate was 37.5% and 88%, respectively.

Adult↗

Use of irradiated mouse fibroblasts to improve the cloning and adaptation to culture of human melanoma cells.

By using irradiated BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts as feeder cells, we obtained a marked increase in the cloning efficiency of the 9 human melanoma cell lines that were tested. Four of these melanoma lines had a cloning efficiency that was lower than 0.0007 in the absence of feeder cells. In the presence of irradiated 3T3 cells, their cloning efficiency ranged from 0.017 to 0.26. For most melanoma cell lines the growth rate of cultures that were seeded at a low cell density was also increased by the use of 3T3 feeder cells. In high-density cultures, no effect was observed with most cell lines. The 3T3 effect was reversible. The pattern of surface antigens expressed by melanoma cells grown in the presence of 3T3 was similar to that observed without 3T3. The effect of feeder cells on the adaptation to culture of 5 primary melanomas was also tested. A definite improvement in cell yield was obtained with 4 of these melanomas.

Animals↗