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Biomedical subjects

G Los

Publications and source records attributed to G Los.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Selective intra-arterial infusion of high-dose cisplatin in patients with advanced head and neck cancer results in high tumor platinum concentrations and cisplatin-DNA adduct formation.

A group of 23 patients with advanced head and neck cancer were treated with highly selective intra-arterial (IA) cisplatin 150 mg/m2 delivered rapidly through microcatheters. The systemic effects of cisplatin were neutralized by concurrent administration of sodium thiosulfate. Two-to-threefold higher tumor platinum contents were detected in tumor biopsies after selective IA cisplatin administration compared to historical controls (treated with 100 mg/m2 IA). Cisplatin-induced DNA modification in human tumor biopsies was quantitated using the antiserum NKI-A59. High levels of cisplatin DNA adducts were detected which correlated linearly with the tumor platinum content (r2 = 0.62). The addition of radiotherapy to this high dose intensity cisplatin treatment resulted in a 92% complete response (CR) rate (12 of 13 patients achieved a CR). Since no difference in tumor platinum content was detected between patients receiving or not receiving radiotherapy (13 and 10 patients, respectively), but the response rate was substantially different (12 CR and 1 partial response with radiotherapy versus 6 partial and 4 non-responders without radiotherapy), these data suggest that the high platinum levels achieved by selective IA infusion were sufficient to produce enough interaction with radiotherapy to cause a 92% CR rate. Whether this interaction is additive or synergistic is as yet unclear.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Synergistic interaction between cisplatin and tamoxifen delays the emergence of cisplatin resistance in head and neck cancer cell lines.

The interaction between cisplatin (cDDP) and tamoxifen (TAM) was evaluated in the human head and neck squamous-carcinoma cell lines UM-SCC-10B and UM-SCC-5. Synergy between cDDP and TAM was demonstrated in the UM-SCC-10B cell line. Concordant with the synergistic effect between cDDP and TAM, the rate of development of resistance to cDDP was delayed when selections were performed in the presence of TAM. However, in the UM-SCC-5 cell line, TAM was neither synergistic nor did it delay the development of cDDP resistance. The difference with respect to the synergistic interaction of cDDP with TAM and the effect on the development of cDDP resistance in the UM-SCC-10B and UM-SCC-5 cell lines was not related to any significant difference in the accumulation of the cDDP analog [3H]-cis-dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II) (DEP), drug sensitivity [concentrations inhibiting colony formation by 50% (IC50 values) were 6.5 and 7.2 microM for cDDP and 3.5 and 3.2 microM for TAM, respectively], the number of estrogen and progesterone receptors (negative in both cell lines), the number of antiestrogen binding sites (404 +/- 85 and 353 +/- 24 fmol/mg protein, respectively), or the affinity of TAM for these binding sites (1.7 and 1.5 nM, respectively). Importantly, however, we demonstrated that TAM can delay the emergence of resistance to cDDP in head and neck carcinomas and that this effect is linked to the nature of the interaction between cDDP and TAM.

Binding Sites↗

Enhancement of drug sensitivity of human malignancies by epidermal growth factor.

We have previously shown that epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhances the in vitro and in vivo sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma 2008 cells to cisplatin. EGF was found to enhance selectively the in vivo toxicity of cisplatin to 2008 cell xenografts without altering the toxicity of cisplatin to non-malignant target tissues such as the kidney or bone marrow. We now show that recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) enhances the cisplatin sensitivity of cell lines representative of many other types of malignancies in addition to ovarian carcinoma, including cancers of the head and neck, cervix, colon, pancreas and prostate, as well as non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung. In addition, rhEGF was found to sensitise cells to other platinum-containing drugs and several other classes of chemotherapeutic agents. rhEGF sensitised 2008 cells not only to cisplatin, but also to carboplatin and tetraplatin, as well as taxol, melphalan and 5-fluorouracil. We conclude that modulation of drug sensitivity by rhEGF is observed in cell lines representative of many human malignancies and for multiple classes of chemotherapeutic agents, indicating that it alters one or more components of the cellular damage response that are both common between cell lines and classes of drugs and fundamental to survival.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Characterization of resistance mechanisms to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) in three sublines of the CC531 colon adenocarcinoma cell line in vitro.

Cisplatin resistance was developed in sublines of the CC531 rat colon adenocarcinoma cell line by continued low level drug exposure. Two relatively stable lines were obtained (RL2 and RL4) which were 6- and 20-fold more resistant to cisplatin. In addition, a subline more sensitive than the parent line by a factor of 2 (RLS) was obtained by subculture from a treated tumor. Mechanisms of resistance to cisplatin were investigated in these four lines, with the aim of determining the relative contributions of different resistance mechanisms at various resistance levels. Drug accumulation linearly decreased with increasing drug resistance. A 20-fold resistance was associated with only a 5-fold decrease in accumulation, suggesting that other resistance mechanisms may be involved in the total degree of resistance. Intracellular glutathione, measured fluorometrically, also increased with increasing resistance, varying by a factor of 4 between the most and least resistant lines. Reduction of glutathione levels by buthionine sulfoximine to parent line levels increased sensitivity but the cells remained considerably more resistant than parent cells. Resistant lines cultured in the absence of drug became progressively more sensitive, without accompanying changes in total glutathione levels. DNA-drug adducts, the presumed toxic lesion, were measured immunocytochemically. Initial levels decreased with increasing platinum resistance, although not proportional to resistance (factor of 5 decrease for 20-fold resistance). Drug dose ratios for equal initial adducts were similar to dose ratios for equal drug accumulation, implying that intracellular concentrations solely determine DNA adduction and that differences in glutathione level had little influence on the proportion of drug which eventually formed adducts. After 48 h, a better correlation between remaining adducts and resistance was found (factor 12 less adducts for 20-fold resistance). This implies that repair of adducts was important in determining survival. These data indicate that decreased drug accumulation played a proportionally greater role in the moderately resistant cell line and that adduct repair played a progressively greater role in the highly resistant cell line.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Signaling and drug sensitivity.

Even though alterations in receptor and nonreceptor kinases are involved in the development of human cancer, many cancer cell lines still retain their responsiveness to growth factors. We have investigated the hypothesis that cellular signaling events regulate the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. In 2008 human ovarian carcinoma cells, activation of a number of different transduction pathways resulted in a 2 to 4-fold increase in the sensitivity to cisplatin. These signaling events include pathways activated by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) receptor, bombesin receptor, protein kinase A (PKA), and protein kinase C (PKC). Enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents is presumed to be mediated by phosphorylation of critical target protein(s). beta-tubulin has been identified as one such target for the protein kinase signaling cascade. For other signal transduction pathways the key substrates that regulate drug sensitivity have not yet been identified. Recent work has shown that DNA damaging agents activate signaling cascades one of which involves the Src, Ras, and Raf proteins as intermediates and results in induction of a number of genes, including c-fos, c-jun, and the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible (gadd) genes. This signaling cascade has been shown to involve activation of protein kinase C and to have a protective function. With the growing understanding of how signaling events relate to damage response and drug sensitivity, new and potentially useful strategies for modulating drug sensitivity are evolving.

Animals↗

A targeted supradose cisplatin chemoradiation protocol for advanced head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Hypothesizing that cisplatin (DDP) drug resistance is dose dependent and the radiosensitizing effect of DDP is clinically beneficial, we conducted a chemoradiation protocol using extremely high doses of DDP delivered intra-arterially (IA) to locally advanced head and neck tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with untreated stage IV disease received 4 weekly infusions of 150 mg/m2, simultaneous systemic DDP neutralization with intravenous (IV) bolus sodium thiosulfate, and concomitant radiotherapy (180 to 200 cGy/day x 35 fractions). RESULTS: The complete response rate of the 24 evaluable patients as determined with repeat biopsies was 23/24 (96%). Of the 29 patients evaluable for toxicity, central nervous system complications related to the infusion technique occurred with 2/110 infusions, both of which were reversible. The rate of grade III to IV chemotoxicity was 13%. The median length of follow-up was 22 months. There have been 6 recurrences: 1 local; 3 regional; and 2 at distant sites. The projected overall and disease-free 3-year survival was 88% and 53%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the combination of rapid selective delivery of supradose DDP/IV thiosulfate neutralization and concomitant radiotherapy can be safely and effectively applied to patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Preliminary survival analysis indicates that this approach may improve the prognosis for patients with an otherwise devastating disease.

Adult↗

Response of peritoneal solid tumours after intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia treatment with cisplatin or carboplatin.

The combination of heat and chemotherapy was studied in an intraperitoneal tumour model. Rats bearing peritoneal CC531 tumours (2-6 mm) were treated i.p. with cDDP or CBDCA [maximal tolerated dose (MTD)] in combination with regional hyperthermia (41.5 degrees C, 1 h) of the peritoneal cavity. The addition of hyperthermia to the i.p. treatment led to a decrease in the MTD of cDDP by 33.3% at 41.5 degrees C. This was due to increased nephrotoxicity. The MTD of CBDCA did not change as a result of hyperthermia treatment. The chemo-hyperthermia treatment resulted in more cDDP or CBDCA DNA adducts in peritoneal tumours after the combined treatment than after chemotherapy alone. The increased tumour platinum concentrations, rising from 1.3 micrograms Pt g-1 tumour at 37 degrees C to 5.4 micrograms Pt g-1 tumour at 41.5 degrees C for cDDP and from 0.2 microgram Pt g-1 tumor to 0.7 microgram Pt g-1 tumour at 41.5 degrees C for CBDCA, contributed considerably to the enhanced numbers of cDDP or CBDCA DNA adducts. As a result of the latter, i.p. chemotherapy combined with regional hyperthermia led to an increase in tumour growth delay (TGD) after increasing the temperature to 41.5 degrees C for cDDP and CBDCA (by 40 days for cDDP, 22 days for CBDCA). These data were in agreement with the in vitro findings, i.e. that higher temperatures led to increased cytotoxicity.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Induction of the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene GADD153 by cisplatin in vitro and in vivo.

The inability to assess the extent of tumour damage immediately following treatment is a major clinical obstacle to improving the management of cancer patients. Normally, the effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiation therapy cannot be determined for at least several weeks after treatment. We studied the increase in mRNA of the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene GADD153 in human 2008 ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo to determine whether treatment-induced increases in the level of GADD153 mRNA could be used as a marker of the extent of tumour damage. GADD153 mRNA was increased in a transient, dose-dependent manner by cisplatin (DDP) when the tumour cells were grown both in vitro and as tumour xenografts in nude mice. The magnitude of induction of GADD153 mRNA did not vary significantly between different 2008 xenografts treated with equal doses of DDP, and GADD153 mRNA induction correlated with the degree of in vitro cytotoxicity for two different schedules of drug exposure. DDP increased GADD153 mRNA levels in melanoma and head and neck xenograft models as well. We conclude that the increase in GADD153 mRNA can be used to detect tumour injury at time points as short as 24 h after administration of DDP.

Animals↗

Phase I study of highly selective supradose cisplatin infusions for advanced head and neck cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum dose-intensity of cisplatin (DDP) that could be administered by selective intraarterial (IA) infusion in combination with systemic sodium thiosulfate neutralization to patients with head and neck carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients (23 untreated stage III/IV, 19 recurrent) received highly selective IA DDP, rapidly delivered through microcatheters placed angiographically, to a maximum dose-intensity of 200 mg/m2/wk. Concurrently, the systemic effects of DDP were neutralized by intravenous (IV) bolus sodium thiosulfate. RESULTS: Problems related to the infusion technique occurred in eight of 140 courses, all of which were inconsequential. The rates of reversible grade I/II and grade III/IV toxicity were 14.8% and 1.1%, respectively. Dose-limiting toxicity, which consisted of severe electrolyte loss, occurred at a dose of 200 mg/m2/wk. The maximum-tolerated dose of DDP was 150 mg/m2 administered weekly for four doses. The overall and complete response rates in 38 assessable patients were 19 of 22 (86%) and nine of 22 (41%) for stage III/IV untreated tumors and 10 of 16 (62%) and four of 16 (25%) for patients with recurrent disease, respectively. CONCLUSION: This pharmacologic strategy permits the selective and rapid delivery of extremely high doses of DDP to head and neck carcinomas with minimal procedural complications, low systemic toxicity, and high tumor response rates.

Adult↗

Platinum resistance. Experimental and clinical status.

It has become clear that multiple mechanisms of cellular resistance to platinum compounds exist; however, the knowledge that platinum resistance can not only be explained by processes such as reduced drug accumulation, and increased detoxification, has shifted the attention of researchers to more molecular mechanisms. The introduction of new techniques, such as the PCR technique for example, has opened the possibility to monitor genes involved in antitumor responses and may provide molecular information on the emergency of resistance.

Biological Transport↗

Effects of temperature on the interaction of cisplatin and carboplatin with cellular DNA.

Increased levels of cisplatin (cDDP)- and carboplatin (CBDCA)-DNA adducts were detected in cDDP (10 microM)- and CBDCA (6 mM)-treated CC531 cells when the temperature was raised from 37 degrees to 43 degrees. In the case of cDDP, increased DNA adduct formation was already detectable at 38.5 degrees; additional temperature steps led to further increases in DNA modification. Increased CBDCA-DNA adduct formation was observed only at temperatures higher than 40 degrees. In vitro studies on the interaction of CDDP and CBDCA with isolated salmon sperm DNA, however, demonstrated no significant differences in the DNA binding rate between 37 degrees and 43 degrees for cDDP and a minor effect for CBDCA only at 43 degrees, almost totally excluding a direct temperature effect on DNA platination in this temperature range. Furthermore, neither the stability of the formed platinum-DNA adducts nor the rate of adduct loss in CC531 cells was changed at higher temperatures. The observed difference in cellular adduct formation, however, could be related to increased uptake of cDDP and CBDCA into CC531 cells at higher temperatures. In the case of cDDP, a temperature shift from 37 degrees to 38.5 degrees resulted in a significantly higher intracellular platinum concentration (0.03 +/- 0.01 vs 0.071 +/- 0.021 micrograms platinum/10(6) cells, respectively); for CBDCA, temperatures > or = 41.5 degrees were needed to increase the platinum concentration significantly above 37 degree values (0.3 +/- 0.1 vs 0.6 +/- 0.1 micrograms platinum/10(6) cells, respectively). In addition, the increase in DNA adduct formation of cDDP and CBDCA at elevated temperatures was comparable with the increase in cDDP-DNA adducts after a cDDP concentration escalation at 37 degrees, indicating a concentration-dependent increase in cDDP-DNA adducts. It seems that heat affects primarily the cellular uptake of cDDP and CBDCA and not their covalent binding to DNA.

Animals↗

Platinum resistance: laboratory findings and clinical implications.

Platinum compounds are universally recognized as one of the most important classes of chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer. Emergence of resistance to cisplatin has appeared, however, to be a major prognostic factor of adverse outcome in the otherwise most sensitive of malignancies: testicular and ovarian cancers. After a decade of testing both systemic and regional dose-intensification of cisplatin and its analog carboplatin--which is more amenable to dose escalation with cytokines and bone marrow progenitor cell support--a plateau is apparent even in sensitive tumor types beyond which additional dose escalations do not appreciably increase response. Laboratory work searching for causes of intrinsic and acquired resistance, providing early indication of drug sensitivity, and developing strategies for restoring or overcoming resistance is ongoing and is guiding clinical studies and drug development. Causes of cellular resistance to platinums are complex and include decreased drug accumulation, increased detoxification, increased repair of DNA-platinum adducts, and increased tolerance of DNA lesions. Clinical trials are already ongoing regarding strategies involving protection of specific toxicities, decreasing intracellular glutathione (by buthionine sulfoximine), decreasing DNA repair, and introducing new analogs that are able to overcome certain forms of platinum resistance.

Animals↗

Combination treatment of cis- and carboplatin in cancers restricted to the peritoneal cavity in the rat.

In the present study, cisplatin (cDDP) and carboplatin (CBDCA) were combined in different in vitro and in vivo assays to determine whether combined cDDP and CBDCA treatment would eventually lead to a better antitumor response. Co-incubation of CC531 cells with cDDP and CBDCA led to higher intracellular Pt concentrations (30.5 +/- 3.4 ng Pt/10(6) cells) than did cDDP (16.9 +/- 9.4 ng Pt/10(6) cells) or CBDCA (1.28 +/- 0.72 ng Pt/10(6) cells) incubation alone. In survival assays an additive cell kill was seen after combined treatment with cDDP and CBDCA. DNA binding experiments using isolated salmon-sperm DNA exposed to the drugs separately or in combination were in agreement with the survival studies (for cDDP a binding of 12.42 micrograms Pt/mg DNA; for CBDCA, 0.49 microgram Pt/mg DNA; and for combined CBDCA and cDDP, 12.9 micrograms Pt/mg DNA at 76 h). Toxicity studies in rats treated with cDDP plus CBDCA required a dose reduction for cDDP amounting to 20% of the MTD, whereas the CBDCA dose could be maintained. Pharmacokinetics studies showed higher AUCs and t1/2 beta in plasma as well as the peritoneal cavity after combined treatment with cDDP and CBDCA (both given i.p.) or following cDDP given i.p. and CBDCA given i.v. Pt concentrations in peritoneal tumors corresponded with these observations, with higher Pt concentrations following combined treatment than after single-agent injection. In addition, combined administration of cDDP i.p. and CBDCA i.v. led to higher Pt concentrations in peritoneal tumors than did administration of both drugs i.p. (3.93 +/- 0.9 vs 2.76 +/- 0.2 mg Pt/g tissue). The higher Pt concentrations in the peritoneal tumors after combined treatment was associated with a significantly better antitumor response in comparison with that observed after single-agent treatment (a growth delay of 30.2 +/- 5.6 days for cDDP i.p. plus CBDCA i.v. vs 16.1 +/- 5.4 days for cDDP alone and 10.8 +/- 4.2 days for CBDCA alone).

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pharmacokinetic principles of locoregional chemotherapy.

The rationale for regional chemotherapy is based on the premise that certain tumours are confined to compartments within the body for a large part of their natural history and that the dose-response curves for most cytotoxic drugs are steep. If the drug can be introduced locally, then much higher drug concentrations can be achieved at the site of bulk tumour and the prospects of drug induced cytotoxicity enhanced. The general pharmacokinetic principle guiding regional chemotherapy is that the rate of drug clearance from the local compartment (peritoneal and pleural cavities, vascular territories) is smaller than total body clearance, creating a concentration differential in favour of the local compartment harbouring the majority of the cancer. There is good evidence, under certain situations, that pharmacokinetic advantage can translate to clinical advantage.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Platinum antitumour agents: a review of (bio)analysis.

This paper summarizes analytical techniques in order to get a clear picture of the ins and outs of the (bio)analysis of platinum-containing compounds. The antitumour agent cisplatin has become an indispensable drug for the cure of a variety of cancer diseases. Since its introduction in the early seventies, about 2,000 related platinum complexes were designed to devoid the dose-limiting nephrotoxicity. Some of them were introduced for clinical trial, such as carboplatin and iproplatin. To investigate the mechanism of action and pharmaco-kinetic behaviour, several interesting assays for total and specific platinum determination in biological matrices have been developed, each with its own possibilities and limitations.

Animals↗

Li+ increases accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate in cholinergically stimulated brain cortex slices in guinea pig, mouse and rat. The increases require inositol supplementation in mouse and rat but not in guinea pig.

Li+, beginning at a concentration as low as 1 mM, produced a time- and dose-dependent increase in accumulation of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 and [3H]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 in acetylcholine (ACh)-stimulated guinea-pig brain cortex slices prelabelled with [3H]inositol and containing 1 mM-inositol in the final incubation period. Similar results were obtained by mass measurement of samples incubated with 10 mM-Li+ by using a receptor-binding assay, although the percentage stimulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation by Li+ was somewhat less by this assay. The increase in accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 by Li+ was absolutely dependent on the presence of ACh. In the absence of added inositol, 1-5 mM-Li+ produced smaller increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3, but the Li(+)-dependent increase in Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was not as affected by inositol omission. In previous studies with cholinergically stimulated rat and mouse brain cortex slices, Li+ inhibited accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in rat and inhibited Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 accumulation in rat and mouse [Batty & Nahorski (1987) Biochem. J. 247, 797-800; Whitworth & Kendall (1988) J. Neurochem. 51, 258-265]. We found that Li+ inhibited both Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 accumulation in these species, but we could reverse this inhibition by adding 10-30 mM-inositol; we then observed a Li(+)-induced increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. The species differences observed in the absence of supplemented inositol were explained by the fact that a much higher concentration of inositol was required to bring the Li(+)-elevated levels of CDP-diacylglycerol (CDPDG) down to baseline in the rat and mouse. These data suggest that inositol is more rate-limiting for phosphatidylinositol synthesis in the presence of Li+ in rat and mouse, which can account for the previous reports of inhibition of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 accumulation by this ion in these species. Thus, in all species examined. Li+ could be shown to increase accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 in cholinergically stimulated brain cortex slices if the slices were supplemented with sufficient inositol to bring the Li(+)-elevated level of CDPDG down to near baseline, as seen in the absence of Li+. In guinea-pig brain cortex slices, increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 accumulation could then be seen at Li+ concentrations as low as 1 mM, which falls within the therapeutic range of plasma concentrations in the treatment of manic-depressive disorders. These observations may have therapeutic implications.

Animals↗

A rationale for carboplatin treatment and abdominal hyperthermia in cancers restricted to the peritoneal cavity.

The purpose of this study was to optimize the treatment of cancers restricted to the peritoneal cavity by combining i.p. chemotherapy with abdominal hyperthermia. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the uptake of carboplatin into CC531 tumor cells was increased at temperatures higher than 41.5 degrees C at dose levels of 5 and 50% cell kill. Carboplatin-DNA adduct formation and cytotoxicity, however, were already increased at temperatures of about 40 degrees C, indicating that carboplatin-DNA adduct formation and consequently cytotoxicity could be enhanced by mild hyperthermia (temperatures in the range of 39-41.5 degrees C). CC531 tumor bearing rats were treated i.v. and i.p. with carboplatin (6.15 mg/kg) in combination with regional hyperthermia of the abdomen (41.5 degrees C for 1 h). The mean temperature was 41.5 +/- 0.3 degrees C (SD) in the peritoneal cavity and 40.5 +/- 0.3 degrees C in the esophagus. Enhanced platinum concentrations were found in peritoneal tumors (factor 3) and in kidney, liver, spleen, and lung (a factor 2 average), after the combined i.v. or i.p. carboplatin-hyperthermia treatment. Pharmacokinetic data of i.p. CBDCA combined with hyperthermia demonstrated an increased tumor exposure for total and ultrafiltered platinum in plasma. The areas under the concentration x time curve for total platinum at 37 degrees C and 41.5 degrees C were 69 and 210 microM/h, respectively; for ultrafiltered platinum these values were 47 and 173 microM/h. This may have been due to a slower elimination of platinum from the blood at the higher temperature (t1/2 beta for total platinum 99 and 156 min at 37 and 41.5 degrees C, respectively). The direct exposure of the tumor via the peritoneal fluid appeared to diminish, since the area under the curve for total platinum was lower at 41.5 degrees C than at 37 degrees C (576 microM/h versus 1255 microM/h, respectively). Our results indicate that the advantage of adding hyperthermia is caused by an increased drug exposure of the tumor via the circulation. This was supported by the fact that platinum concentrations in peritoneal tumors after carboplatin treatment at elevated temperatures were similar for the i.p. and i.v. routes.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The influence of hyperthermia on the uptake of cisplatin in the rat cervical spinal cord.

The influence of local hyperthermia on the uptake of cisplatin in the rat cervical spinal cord was investigated. After single intraperitoneal or intravenous injection of cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight), the spinal cord region cervical 5-thoracic 2 was heated for 60 min at mean (S.D.) 41.2 (0.4) degrees C or 40 min 42.4 (0.3) degrees C using a 434 MHz microwave heating device. One day after treatment with either hyperthermia alone, cisplatin alone or the combination, none of the animals expressed neurological symptoms. The spinal cord was dissected and platinum levels were measured by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. No difference was found in uptake of platinum in the spinal cord between control- and heat treated animals. In a second series of experiments, the spinal cord was heated for 30-60 min. during a 2 h infusion of cisplatin. One day after treatment at 42.3 degrees C for 60 min, neither motor nor sensory functions were affected and platinum levels did not differ significantly between control and treated animals. Also, platinum levels measured in the spinal cord immediately after cisplatin infusion were not influenced by heat treatment at 42.1 or 43.0 degrees C for 30 min. However, after a heat dose of 60 min 43 degrees C, cisplatin uptake was significantly increased (P less than 0.001) by a factor of 2.8 (1.3). The data demonstrate that mild hyperthermia has no effect on the uptake of cisplatin in the spinal cord, while an injurious heat dose leads to a significant increase in cisplatin uptake. The present findings indicate that, in case of treatment of tumours of the central nervous system with hyperthermia and cisplatin, a treatment which might be toxic for the tumour is well tolerated by the normal nervous tissue.

Animals↗