Myelodysplastic syndromes in the elderly.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Mansouri.
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Clinical success in the treatment of tumors with chemotherapy has significantly improved over the past several years. However, treatment failures due to drug resistance of cancer cells has remained a major problem. The classical form of multiple drug resistance is perhaps also the most common type of drug resistance, and represents the overexpression of a transmembrane glycoprotein pump (P-170) that mediates the efflux of a spectrum of structurally and functionally unrelated drugs. Here, we discuss recent evidence that support the concept that the total phenomenon of multiple drug resistance (MDR) involves several other mechanisms in addition to that underlying "classical" MDR. These include the action of other energy-dependent membrane efflux pumps, elevated levels of GSH for drug conjugation and detoxification to facilitate export, enhanced DNA repair facility, gene amplification and oncogene activation. The combination of mechanisms used by any particular cell line is variable and suggests that many of these mechanisms are independent. Successful reversal of drug resistance appears to require the identification of relevant operative resistance mechanisms. An example is the competitive inhibition of P-170 with verapamil, quinine and tamoxifen. A broadly successful strategy for killing drug-resistant cancer cells, however, could be based on either selective energy depletion of cancer cells or the permeabilization of tumor cells with an effective bypass of efflux pumps, since many mechanisms of drug resistance entail the energy-dependent export of toxins. The latter approach may be achieved via membrane lipid modifications or the introduction of membrane pores by biological or physical (electroporation) means.
RIF-1 mouse tumors express high levels of beta-glucuronidase activity relative to most normal tissues. The high activity can be exploited for targeting specific drugs preferentially to tumor tissues. In this study we examined the kinetics of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-OHQ) accumulation in tumor and in several normal tissues resulting from the in vivo deconjugation of 8-hydroxyquinolyl-glucuronide (8-OHQ-GlcA). Tumors were acidified with D-glucose and NaHCO3 prior to the administration of 8-OHQ-GlcA; subsequently the deconjugated aglycone, 8-OHQ, accumulated preferentially in tumors and reached peak levels between 30 and 60 min after the 8-OHQ-GlcA injection. Mild hyperthermia of 30 min at 43 degrees C to the tumors further increased their peak 8-OHQ levels by a factor of 2-3. Some normal tissues, mostly kidney, liver, and colon, also accumulated 8-OHQ, but the aglycone appeared early in the normal tissues (near 30 min post-injection) and was significantly reduced by 60 min when 8-OHQ remained high in the tumor. Administration of 8-OHQ-GlcA alone, without prior tumor acidification, failed to produce measurable accumulations of 8-OHQ in tumors and in normal tissues. Tissue clearance of 8-OHQ is mediated primarily by the enzymatic reconjugation of 8-OHQ via UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT). UDPGT activity was high in liver, kidney, and bowel, but low in the RIF tumor, spleen, muscle, and brain. Hyperthermia had only a modest effects on UDPGT activity: a heat dose of 30 min at 45 degrees C reduced activity less than 60%. Thus, preferential accumulation and prolonged retention of 8-OHQ in RIF tumors may be caused by a combination of factors: a) high tumor beta-glucuronidase activity, b) selective tumor acidification during hyperglycemia, c) low tumor UDPGT activity, and d) other factors, such as tumor blood flow.
The development of tumor drug resistance is the major obstacle to successful systemic chemotherapy. Therefore, devising methods for reversing drug resistance is a high priority and could lead to significant improvements in cancer treatment. The mechanisms of tumor drug resistance are manifold and are not well understood. The phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR) represents the development of resistance to most drugs, regardless of their chemical structure. Several types of MDR are known, for example, the overexpression of a cell membrane glycoprotein (P-170), increased activity of glutathione S-transferase, elevated levels of glutathione (GSH), and alterations in topoisomerase action. A partial reversal of tumor drug resistance has been achieved by the use of competitive inhibitors for the function of glycoprotein P-170, or by the inhibition of GSH synthesis; however, this strategy has not been substantially successful for improving the response of human tumors to clinical therapy. We have recently used electroporation, in conjunction with the cytotoxic drug, cisplatin (cDDP), in an attempt to circumvent drug resistance in cDDP-resistant mouse tumor cells (RIF/Ptr1). Electroporation is the application of a high-voltage electric shock which is known to create transient pores in plasma membranes of cultured cells. Electroporation plus cDDP treatment increased intracellular cDDP concentration and reversed cellular resistance to cDDP-induced cell killing.
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The Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) has conducted a phase II study to explore the efficacy and toxicity of initial, concurrent use of radiation therapy with cisplatin, etoposide (VP-16), and vincristine in limited-stage small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Two courses of cisplatin, VP-16, and vincristine chemotherapy were given with concurrent radiotherapy (XRT) to the primary tumor to a total dose of 4,500 cGy. Elective brain XRT was given to all patients concurrent with a third course of cisplatin/VP-16 therapy. Consolidation chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, methotrexate, and VP-16 alternating with Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) and cyclophosphamide, was given for 12 weeks following the initial induction chemotherapy/XRT program. Patients with a complete response had all therapy discontinued. Among 154 eligible patients treated, the complete response rate was 56%, with a partial response rate of 27%. The median survival is 17.5 months with an estimated 30% survival rate at 4 years from initiation of treatment. Combined modality toxicities were acceptable with the predominant toxicity being moderate to severe leukopenia and mild radiation esophagitis. The results of this treatment program appear superior to any previously reported by our group and compare favorably to those in the literature at large.
Tumors that formerly were uniformly fatal can now be cured by cancer chemotherapy. However, successful anticancer therapy is faced by many obstacles, such as excessive normal tissue toxicity and drug resistance. Tumor drug resistance may be either intrinsic or acquired. The multidrug resistance (MDR) is a unique phenomenon and is characterized by tumor resistance to various structurally unrelated drugs. Known mechanisms for MDR include overexpression of a membrane P-glycoprotein 170 and elevated cellular levels of reducing agents, such as glutathione (GSH). Currently available strategies for overcoming drug resistance include competitive inhibitors of the P-glycoprotein 170, inhibitors of GSH synthesis, and adjuvant therapy with hyperthermia. Development of drug resistance is analogous to a physiological detoxification mechanism and may continue to limit the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy in the near future.
The development of tumor cell drug resistance is a major obstacle which often leads to failure of cancer chemotherapy. Therefore, reversing the cell drug resistance would have important implications in cancer treatment. We have developed a cisplatin-resistant mouse tumor cell line from the radiation induced fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) parental line; this line is named RIF/ptr1 versus the parental line RIF/pts1. It is shown that the formation of cisplatin-DNA interstrand cross-links is the same for both cell lines although the intracellular cisplatin concentrations of resistant line is significantly lower. The cytosolic activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and DT-diaphorase were the same in two cell lines. However, the concentration of glutathione was significantly higher in the resistant line. The resistant line was shown to be more sensitive to the cytotoxicity of heat (43 degrees C) but the combination of heat and drug had the same tumoricidal effect for both cell lines. The addition of verapamil also had a similar effect on both cell lines. We conclude that the major difference between these two lines was the glutathione-related detoxification of platinum. Regardless of drug resistance, the combination of drug and heat can effectively kill both cell lines. Elevated glutathione in RIF/ptr1 cells may be associated both with enhanced heat sensitivity and drug resistance such that combined treatments with drug and heat were equally effective in killing cells of either line.
Pure methemoglobin was prepared from fresh red cells and was used as substrate for methemoglobin reduction reaction. Two sources of methemoglobin reductase were used: (a) red cell hemolysate which was prepared by freezing and thawing of unwashed red cells; (b) purified methemoglobin reductase from bank blood. Methemoglobin reduction rate was measured in a mixture of pure methemoglobin (substrate) and hemolysate (enzyme). In other experiments the rate of methemoglobin reduction was measured in the above mixture with the addition of various other compounds such as NADH, cytochrome b5, and pure methemoglobin reductase. Only the addition of pure enzyme accelerated the rate of methemoglobin reduction. In other experiments, the rate of methemoglobin reduction was measured when the reduction reaction was carried out in the presence of various amounts of deoxyhemoglobin, globin, or albumin. It was shown that all proteins tested here decreased the reduction rate. It is concluded that (a) in the red cell, under normal conditions, only the activity of the methemoglobin reductase controls the speed of methemoglobin reduction, and (b) the inhibition of methemoglobin reduction by reduced hemoglobin is mostly nonspecific suggesting a noncompetitive reaction.
Using cDNA probes for the human uvomorulin (UVO) and rat chymotrypsinogen B (CTRB) genes, we have analyzed two overlapping interstitial deletions on human chromosome 16q by Southern blot analysis. One deletion, with breakpoints at 16q22.1 and 16q22.3, results in loss of the UVO locus. The second deletion, whose breakpoints are at 16q22.1 and 16q23.2, leads to loss of the CTRB locus. Therefore, UVO resides between both proximal deletion breakpoints within band 16q22.1, whereas CTRB is located between both distal breakpoints at 16q22.3 and 16q23.2.
We have described a patient with long-standing chronic granulocytic leukemia. Although most patients with this disorder eventually have a picture of acute leukemia (blast crisis), this patient had massive thrombocytosis (platelet count greater than 5.000 x 10(9)/L) without major symptoms, but he died after transfusion of 1 unit of packed red blood cells. At autopsy, he had almost total pulmonary microvascular blockage with platelets.
We have isolated an approximately 2.0-kb human cDNA clone containing coding sequences for the human cell adhesion molecule, uvomorulin. Comparison of human and mouse cDNA revealed extensive homology of 82% for the nucleotide and 83% for the deduced amino acid sequence. This and other structural features common to both cDNAs demonstrate that uvomorulin is evolutionarily highly conserved in mammals and underline its functional importance in histogenesis. Moreover, with the use of human x mouse somatic-cell hybrids, the human uvomorulin gene was localized on chromosome 16, in the region 16p11-16qter.
Three different monoclonal rat antibodies, Acr1, Acr2, and Acr3, have been established against boar proacrosin. They are shown by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and immunoblot assays to react with boar proacrosin and several different acrosin molecules derived therefrom during activation. The epitopes detected by the three antibodies are different from each other, one being highly sensitive to reduction and periodate treatment. The antibodies crossreact with various proacrosin and acrosin molecules derived from human sperm extract; they also show indirect immunofluorescent staining of the acrosomal region of ejaculated sperm from normal men but fail to react with round-headed spermatozoa.
The nucleotide sequence of a 441-base cDNA encoding the bovine protamine has been determined. This insert, isolated from a bovine spermatid-specific cDNA library, encodes a polypeptide of 50 amino acids of which 26 are arginine, 7 are cysteine, and 2 are tyrosine. The insert contains the complete 3'-noncoding region of 150 bases and most of the 5'-noncoding region. The predicted amino-acid sequence of bovine protamine is about 96% homologous to ram protamine, 76% to boar protamine, 64% to mouse protamine 1 and 52% to human protamine 1 and contains the central, highly basic domain of four arginine clusters found in the trout protamines. Our results show that bovine protamine is 50 amino-acid residues in length and not 47 residues as previously published (Coelingh, J.P. et al. (1972) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 285, 1-14).
Methemoglobin formation was studied at near physiological hemoglobin concentration. The reaction proceeds at a faster rate when the concentration of hemoglobin is high (15-18 mM in heme) than when it is low (2 mM). Constant shaking of hemoglobin preparations during the incubation decreases the differences seen in the rates of autoxidation between concentrated and dilute samples. When red cell hemolysate is used instead of pure hemoglobin, similar results are obtained. A comparison of rates of methemoglobin formation in hemoglobin solutions under low air pressure (1/2 atm) with those under normal air pressure (1 atm) shows no differences between concentrated and dilute samples. There is also no significant difference between the rates of autoxidation of dilute and concentrated solutions when the reactions are carried out under one atmosphere of oxygen (100 percent O2). The study of one patient with hereditary spherocytosis demonstrated higher hemoglobin autoxidation rate in spherocytes, which have higher hemoglobin concentration, than in normal biconcave red cells. These results suggest that: a) the rate of hemoglobin autoxidation at red cell hemoglobin concentration is significantly faster than rates obtained by studying dilute solutions; b) although the accelerated oxidation might be related to multiple factors, one seems to be less accessibility of oxygen when the hemoglobin solution is highly concentrated.
Oxygen transport, the major function of hemoglobin, is dependent upon reduced heme iron. In the red cell, the heme iron is maintained in the reduced form by the methemoglobin reduction system. When the balance between oxidation and reduction of heme iron is perturbed due to the presence of excessive oxidants, decreased reducing capacity or the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, methemoglobinemia ensues. In most cases methemoglobinemia is transitory and of no major clinical consequence. Occasionally, however, it can be life threatening and must be rapidly diagnosed and treated. When methemoglobinemia is of hereditary nature, either due to deficiency of red cell NADH-methemoglobin reductase or due to the presence of M hemoglobin, it is a lifelong problem. Since most of these patients do not have major disabling symptoms, the treatment is aimed at correction of cyanosis.
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