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Biomedical subjects

C Bush

Publications and source records attributed to C Bush.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

DNA strand break rejoining defect in xrs-6 is complemented by transfection with the human Ku80 gene.

The radiosensitive mutant xrs-6, derived from Chinese hamster ovary cell line CHO-K1, has been demonstrated to be defective in DNA double-strand break repair and also in its proficiency to undergo V(D)J recombination. Recent work has provided both genetic and biochemical evidence that the M(r) 80,000 subunit of the Ku protein is able to complement the radiosensitivity and the V(D)J recombination defect in the xrs-6 mutant. We demonstrate here that complementation of the radiosensitive phenotype in xrs-6 cells by the introduction of Ku80 cDNA is accompanied by the concomitant restoration of DNA double-strand break rejoining proficiency to almost that of the parental CHO-K1 cells, as measured both by neutral single-cell microgel electrophoresis (Comet) technique and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These results provide further biochemical evidence for the involvement of the Ku protein in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks.

Animals

Relationship between chromosome aberrations, micronuclei and cell kill in two human tumour cell lines of widely differing radiosensitivity.

The relationship between chromosome aberration frequency, micronucleus (MN) formation and cell kill was investigated in two human tumour cell lines, RT112, a radioresistant bladder carcinoma cell line, and HX142, a radiosensitive neuroblastoma cell line. As MN are generally accepted to result from acentric chromosome fragments that are lost at nuclear division and all unstable aberrations result in an acentric fragment, a 1:1 correlation between aberrations and MN might be expected. There was a good correlation between cell kill and aberration frequency in the two cell lines, however the relationship between cell kill and MN formation in the lines was very different. RT112 showed 0.22 aberrations and 0.21 MN per Gy whilst HX142 showed 0.61 aberrations and 0.078 MN per Gy. Possible reasons for the discrepancy observed in HX142 are discussed.

Cell Survival

Dose-rate effect for DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation in human tumor cells.

The effect of dose rate on clonogenic cell survival and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) has been examined in a human bladder carcinoma cell line, RT112, treated with ionizing radiation. Cell survival changed markedly over the range of dose rates used (0.01-1.28 Gy/min) with the curves becoming shallower and straighter as the dose rate was lowered. Similarly, the number of DSBs measured by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) immediately after irradiation varied with dose rate. Fewer DSBs were detectable after low-dose-rate irradiation. However, when a 4-h repair period was allowed after irradiation, cells treated at all dose rates exhibited approximately the same amount of damage. The final level of unrejoined DSBs, as detected by PFGE, therefore does not correlate with cell survival at different dose rates.

Cell Survival

Evaluation of cell attachment matrix (CAM) coated plates for primary culture of human tumour biopsies.

Baker et al. [Cancer Res. 46: 1263-1274, 1986] developed an adhesive tumour cell culture system (ATCCS) using a culture surface coated with a cell attachment matrix (CAM). The ability of CAM-coated plates to support the growth of cells from human tumour biopsies has been evaluated. Successful growth was obtained in 9/22 samples (41%), but fibroblasts, rather than tumour cells, grew in the majority. Comparison of CAM with other surfaces showed that CAM was no better for establishing tumour cell growth than the presence of feeder cells or an alternative attachment factor vitronectin.

Animals

Proliferation in human bladder carcinoma measured by Ki-67 antibody labelling: its potential clinical importance.

Ki-67 is a monoclonal antibody which recognises a human nuclear antigen expressed in proliferating cells. The antibody was used to assess proliferation in primary human bladder tumours from 64 patients. Ki-67 index (the number of Ki-67 positive tumour cells divided by the total number of tumour cells %) was derived from 59 tumours. A wide range of Ki-67 indices were recorded, range 3.0-65.8%, mean 20.2%. The Ki-67 index correlated with known prognostic factors: T stage (P = 0.002) and histological grade (P less than 0.001), early stage disease and more differentiated tumours having lower Ki-67 indices. Patients with invasive disease (21 patients) had significantly higher Ki-67 indices than those with non-invasive disease (P = 0.01). Patients with metastatic disease at presentation (four cases) all had a Ki-67 index of greater than or equal to 29%. Ki-67 antibody staining is a simple technique for assessing the proliferation fraction than can be performed on a small amount of tissue taken at routine biopsy without prior injection of thymidine analogues.

Aged

Cell proliferation in human tumour xenografts: measurement using antibody labelling against bromodeoxyuridine and Ki-67.

Cell proliferation was investigated in human tumour xenografts using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) labelling, evaluated either by flow cytometry or in tissue sections, and also using the proliferation marker Ki-67. BrdUrd labelling was found to increase when cryostat tumour sections were digested with an enzymic solution. This yielded a labelling index up to four times higher than that obtained using the flow cytometer. Ki-67 indices were found to be higher than those reported for human tumour biopsies, as may be expected due to the enhanced growth rate of the xenografts. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the results for cervix, breast and bladder tumours, and the results of the three methods were poorly correlated. However, three of the four tumour types showed that the tumour with the lowest Ki-67 index also had the longest potential doubling time. Since the measurement of Ki-67 index was found technically easier to perform, and also adequately reflects relative tumour cell proliferation, it is preferred over the other techniques.

Animals

Growth and chemotherapy of a human germ-cell tumour line (GCT 27).

The human germ-cell tumour cell line GCT 27 growing as subcutaneous xenograft tumours in male nude mice was used in the 4th and 5th passage to study chemotherapeutic drug responses. Recipient mice received 5 Gy whole body irradiation immediately before tumour transplantation. The median take rate was 62% (range 39-73%) and the median volume doubling time 14 days (range 7-28 days). For bleomycin, cisplatin and carboplatin a clear dose response for growth delay was observed. Bleomycin caused substantial weight loss at doses above 75 mg/kg whereas good response to cisplatin was obtained without serious toxic effects. Vinblastine and etoposide exerted no effect when given in non-toxic doses. The response to etoposide was not improved either by fractionated treatment or by combination with verapamil. However, the combination of 20 mg/kg etoposide and 2 mg/kg cisplatin, which when given alone were ineffective, led to a growth delay that was equal to that observed following the administration of higher cisplatin doses. This effect may be explained by the fact that etoposide, as an inhibitor of DNA-topoisomerase II, may interfere with the repair of DNA interstrand cross-links caused by cisplatin.

Animals

In situ detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) nucleic acid in H9 cells using nonradioactive DNA probes and an image cytophotometry system.

Rapid and sensitive nonradioactive methods to detect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells are needed in clinical medicine. We developed an in situ hybridization test using 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF)-labeled HIV DNA as a hybridization probe. Hybridized probe was detected using rabbit anti-AAF antibody, followed by alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit, and the bromochloroindolyl phosphate-nitroblue tetrazolium reaction. An image cytophotometry system was used to quantitate the percentage of HIV-infected cells. These methods were used to determine the percentage of H9 cells infected with HIV. HIV was detected in 0% of cells on day 1 post infection, 7% on day 4, 41% on day 8, and 5% on day 15. These results paralleled those of the reverse transcriptase assay and an antigen capture ELISA assay for HIV antigen. Thus the AAF modified HIV DNA probe detected HIV nucleic acid in infected H9 cells and the image cytophotometry system improved the sensitivity and objectivity of detection.

2-Acetylaminofluorene

Systemic-pulmonary polytetrafluoroethylene shunts in palliative operations for congenital heart disease. Revival of the central shunt.

The concept of central shunting in smaller children with the Waterston shunt was initially well accepted. It has been abandoned because of the difficult estimation of lumen size, preferential flow to the right side, and difficulty in the take-down of the shunt. We have replaced the Waterston shunt with a short segment of polytetrafluoroethylene between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery. From January 1979 to December 1986, 190 shunt operations were performed in 157 patients, with the use of 26 classic Blalock-Taussig shunts (13.7%), six Waterston shunts (3.1%), nine Glenn shunts (4.7%), 80 central aortopulmonary polytetrafluoroethylene shunts (42.2%), and 69 modified Blalock-Taussig shunts (36.3%). Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were used for 149 of the 190 (78.4%) shunts. Overall mortality was 15.2%, with nine early deaths (4.7%) and 20 late deaths (10.5%). Deaths were due to the complex nature of the congenital anomaly or definitive surgical repair. The patients weighed from 1.6 to 48 kg and ages ranged from 1 day to 22 years. We have modified our technique so that (1) graft length is less than 0.5 cm and both ends are beveled, (2) the aortotomy is fashioned with a punch, (3) the center of the polytetrafluoroethylene graft is never clamped, (4) heparin is given during the construction of the shunt, and (5) aspirin (10 mg/kg/day) is administered daily. Patency ranges from 1 to 4 years. We conclude that the polytetrafluoroethylene shunt provides excellent palliation and that the central shunt, in the smaller child and infant, offers the benefits of shunting without distortion of the peripheral pulmonary arteries.

Adolescent

The response of murine stem spermatogonia to radiation combined with 3-aminobenzamide.

The influence of 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) on the radiation response of the stem spermatogonia of the CBA mouse has been investigated. Doses of 3-AB from 66 to 450 mg/kg, administered 1 h before irradiation, significantly enhanced stem-cell killing. Enhancement was observed when 3-AB (450 mg/kg) was given up to 5 h before, but not if administered after, irradiation. When radiation was delivered at a lower dose rate (5 cGy/min compared to 180 cGy/min) significant dose sparing was achieved for radiation alone. Pretreatment with 3-AB resulted in slightly less enhancement at the low dose rate than at the high. Split-dose studies (9 Gy total dose) with radiation alone resulted in a recovery ratio of 1.4-1.5. Administration of 3-AB before the first dose resulted in a similar recovery ratio, but if given immediately after the first dose the ratio was smaller. Pretreatment of mice with the radiosensitizer RSU-1069 indicated that at least some of the stem cells were radiobiologically hypoxic. We suggest therefore that the enhancement of spermatogonial stem-cell killing by 3-AB is not entirely due to inhibition of repair processes but may also involve modification of the oxygen status of the testis.

Animals

Survival of murine clonogenic stem spermatogonia following combined radiation and cytotoxic drug treatments.

The effects of combined radiation and cytotoxic drug treatments on the survival of murine clonogenic stem spermatogonia have been investigated using an in vivo clonogenic assay. Drug doses (BCNU, 15 mg/kg; cyclophosphamide (CY) 150 mg/kg, and procarbazine (PCB) 200 mg/kg) were chosen to kill a high proportion of differentiated spermatogonia, but no stem-cells, and were administered as single doses up to 14 days prior to or after 9 Gy of X rays. BCNU produced a moderate enhancement of damage (DEF, 1.0-1.3) that was relatively time-independent. Both CY and PCB demonstrated considerable enhancement of damage (DEF, 1.6 +/- 0.03, respectively) when administered 1 day prior to radiation, and also 3 days prior to radiation for PCB (DEF = 1.4 +/- 0.05). The enhancement of damage may have been caused by either a change in the shoulder width of the cell-survival curve, or additive cell-killing as indicated by a dose-response study.

Animals

Influence of timing of cytotoxic drug treatment on the response of murine clonogenic spermatogonia to X-irradiation.

The enhancement of radiation-induced stem spermatogonial cell killing by three cytotoxic compounds has been investigated using an in vivo clonogenic assay. Drug doses (carmustine (BCNU), 15 mg/kg; cyclophosphamide (CY), 150 mg/kg; procarbazine (PCB), 200 mg/kg) were chosen to kill a high proportion of differentiated spermatogonia but few stem-cells, as assessed by sperm-head counts (SHC) at 29 and 56 days respectively. Drug doses were administered up to 14 days prior to or after local irradiation with 9 Gy of 230 kVp X-rays. BCNU produced a moderate enhancement of damage that was relatively independent of time. Both CY and PCB produced a considerable enhancement of damage especially when administered 1 to 3 days before irradiation. Enhancement in the case of PCB consisted largely of a vertical displacement of the radiation dose-response curves, but with additional evidence for possible changes in slope.

Animals

Protection from procarbazine-induced damage of spermatogenesis in the rat by androgen.

Protection of spermatogenesis from cytotoxic drug-induced damage has been investigated in the rat. Complete germinal aplasia was observed at 8 and 11 weeks after four doses of procarbazine hydrochloride administered weekly (150 mg/kg, first dose; 100 mg/kg, 3 subsequent doses). Pretreatment of rats for 6 weeks plus continued treatment during procarbazine administration with testosterone enanthate, 240 micrograms/100 g body weight, resulted in a marked protection of spermatogenesis. A mean of 22% of seminiferous tubule cross-sections at both 8 and 11 weeks exhibited spermatogenesis, and developing spermatids were observed in 60% of these repopulating tubules at the later time. These results provide evidence that protection of spermatogenesis during chemotherapy may be achieved by androgen treatment.

Androgens