Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Samuel

Publications and source records attributed to J Samuel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Active immunization of human ovarian cancer patients against a common carcinoma (Thomsen-Friedenreich) determinant using a synthetic carbohydrate antigen.

In a phase I study, ten ovarian cancer patients with extensive metastatic disease despite chemotherapy were immunized three to eight times subcutaneously with the synthetic form of the immunodominant disaccharide (beta Gal1----3 alpha GalNAc) of the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen conjugated to KLH (TF alpha-KLH) plus DETOX adjuvant. Six patients were given a "low" dose of TF alpha-KLH (100 micrograms/injection) and four patients were given a "high" dose (500 micrograms/injection). All patients received a single low-dose cyclophosphamide treatment (200 mg/m2 i.v.) 3 days prior to commencement of the series of immunizations. Immunizations were 2 weeks apart. Little or no toxicity was noted. As expected, all patients (prior to immunization) had naturally occurring IgM antibodies against the synthetic TF alpha hapten. None of the patients had detectable pre-existing IgG or IgA antibodies against synthetic TF alpha hapten. Nine of the ten ovarian cancer patients showed a significant increase in IgM titer above pre-existing levels following immunizations with TF alpha-KLH plus DETOX adjuvant. These same patients also produced IgG anti-TF alpha and eight of these also produced IgA anti-TF alpha, although the IgA responses were weaker. Most of the IgG responses followed the IgM responses by 2-4 weeks. Two patients produced a vigorous IgG response after their first TF alpha-KLH injection, suggesting a recall response. Both direct ELISAs on various solid-phase synthetic carbohydrate antigens and hapten inhibition experiments confirmed the TF alpha hapten specificity of the antibodies. IgM and IgG anti-TF alpha-specific antibodies reacted with natural TF antigen, by ELISA and FACS analysis, although the titers were generally lower than the titers against the immunizing TF alpha hapten. Increased levels of cytotoxic antibodies against TF-expressing tumor cell targets were detected in eight of the ten patients following immunization. One patient who had no detectable cytotoxic antibodies prior to immunization developed increasingly strong cytotoxic antibodies as a function of the number of immunizations. The low antigen dose patients showed as good or better humoral immune responses than the high antigen dose patients. All four high-dose and four of six low-dose patients developed moderate to strong DTH reactions at the vaccination sites. Our results demonstrate that KLH is an acceptable carrier for carbohydrate haptens in humans and that DETOX is an appropriate nontoxic adjuvant for the generation of high-titer specific anti-carbohydrate responses in human cancer patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗

Postoperative neuromuscular function in pediatric day-care patients.

After anesthesia employing nondepolarizing muscle relaxants, 30%-40% of adult patients demonstrate residual paralysis with a train-of-four ratio less than 70%, but it is not known if the same is true for children. This study was designed to investigate neuromuscular transmission in 91 ASA physical status I or II day-care children (aged 0-10 yr) after halothane anesthesia in which pancuronium (n = 34), atracurium (n = 32), or vecuronium (n = 25) was administered. Peripheral nerve stimulation was used clinically to assess neuromuscular blockade during surgery. In the recovery room, the evoked response of the adductor pollicis muscle was measured by train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve. This measurement was made (mean +/- SEM) at 18.0 +/- 1.5, 15.0 +/- 1.3, and 15.0 +/- 1.7 min after pharmacologic antagonism with 0.02 mg/kg atropine and 0.06 mg/kg neostigmine in the pancuronium, atracurium, and vecuronium groups, respectively. There were no differences in the ages of the patients in the three groups at 4.3 +/- 0.4, 4.0 +/- 0.4, and 5.0 +/- 0.5 yr, with 17 children less than 2 yr. Recovery from neuromuscular blockade in all three groups was almost complete. The train-of-four ratio (height of fourth twitch compared with the first) was similar in patients who had received pancuronium (96.7% +/- 0.9%), atracurium (95.5% +/- 0.9%), or vecuronium (96.3% +/- 1.3%). Therefore, postoperative muscle weakness or respiratory impairment is unlikely in pediatric day-care surgical patients more than 2 yr old when these anesthetic techniques are used.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗

Analysis of human tumor associated Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen.

The Thomsen-Friedenrich (TF) antigen is a precursor structure of MN blood group antigens and is also expressed by about 90% of human carcinomas. The immunodominant group of TF antigen [beta-galactosyl(1-3)-alpha-N-acetylglactosamine] is present in cryptic form in normal RBC and is revealed by neuraminidase treatment. A murine monoclonal antibody (Mab 49H.8) developed against neuraminidase treated human RBC was reactive against a variety of human tumors. We have characterized the human tumor associated TF antigen detected by this antibody from a human transitional bladder carcinoma cell line (647V), a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (LS174T), and a pleural effusion fluid of a breast adenocarcinoma patient (PE 89). A heterologous sandwich radioimmunoassay for TF antigen was developed using Mab 49H.8 as the catcher and 125I-peanut agglutinin as the probe. Detergent extracts of 647V and LS174T cells, media conditioned by culturing these cells, and PE 89 were shown to contain the antigen by this assay. The specificity of the antigen capture by Mab 49H.8 in this assay was demonstrated by its selective inhibition by nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside, phenyl-beta-D-galactoside, and a TF hapten. Preliminary studies on TF antigen in serum samples using this assay showed that about 53.7% of the carcinoma samples contained an antigen concentration greater than 200 units/ml whereas for 90.9% of the normal samples the antigen concentration was below 200 units/ml. These studies demonstrated that the TF antigen is shed by the tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. The TF antigen was sensitive to treatment with alkali (0.1 M NaOH for 5 h at 37 degrees C) and periodate (10 mM sodium periodate for 1 h at room temperature), was resistant to acidic pH (50 mM acetate buffer, pH 4.5, for 5 h at 37 degrees C), and could be extracted with perchloric acid (0.6 M for 1 h at 4 degrees C). The antigen was shown to be a high molecular weight glycoprotein (Mr greater than 1,000,000) by gel filtration chromatography. The density of the antigen was estimated to be about 1.35 g/ml by cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation. The antigen could be isolated from conditioned media by a combination of affinity chromatography and gel filtration with an overall purification of about 61,432-fold and a final recovery of 53.2%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Effective drug-antibody targeting using a novel monoclonal antibody against the proliferative compartment of mammalian squamous carcinomas.

mAb 174H.64, which selectively recognizes an epitope expressed on the proliferating cells of mammalian squamous carcinomas, was covalently coupled to daunomycin (DM) by an acid-sensitive linker and tested for its selective cytotoxicity for squamous carcinomas. A murine lung squamous carcinoma model for chemoimmunotherapy using mAb 174H.64-DM conjugates was developed. This model utilizes the KLN-205 cell line, which metastasizes to the lungs following i.v. injection and shows a pattern of growth similar to those of spontaneous squamous carcinomas, characterized by highly proliferative cells at the periphery of the tumor (reactive with 174H.64) with the keratinized differentiated cells toward the center (not reactive with 174H.64). 174H.64-DM conjugates showed marked and specific cytotoxicity against KLN-205 cells both in vitro and following i.v. injection of the immunoconjugate in mice with established lung metastases. The conjugate was nearly as effective as daunomycin alone when incubated in vitro with KLN-205 cells and much more effective than daunomycin alone in vivo or other control immunoconjugates, which were ineffective. Finally, while the free 174H.64 mAb produced a significantly increased time of survival of mice bearing KLN-205 metastases, a much greater survival was found with mice treated with the 174H.64-DM immunoconjugate, some mice apparently demonstrating long-term survival (greater than 100 days). We conclude that mAb 174H.64 may have potential therapeutic benefit against squamous carcinoma.

Animals↗

A novel marker for basal (stem) cells of mammalian stratified squamous epithelia and squamous cell carcinomas.

We have developed a monoclonal antibody (174H.64) which selectively recognizes antigens shared by the basal cells of mammalian stratified squamous epithelium and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Histopathological studies of the frozen tissue sections demonstrated selective binding of this antibody to SCCs of human, bovine, canine, feline, and murine origin. Tumors of other histological types did not show reactivity with the antibody. In well-differentiated SCCs the peripheral layer of the tumor showed preferential binding of the antibody, suggesting that the antigens are associated with the proliferative compartment of the tumor. Studies on normal human tissues showed selective binding of the antibody to the basal layer of stratified squamous epithelia, thymic epithelial cells, and myoepithelial cells around breast ducts, while no antibody binding was observed for the suprabasal layers of stratified epithelia, simple epithelia, or tissues of nonepithelial origin. A similar pattern of antibody binding was also observed for bovine and murine skin with staining of the basal layer. The antigens detected by monoclonal antibody 174H.64 were characterized from cytoskeletal protein extracts of normal human keratinocytes as well as human and bovine SCC tissues by using an immunoblotting technique. The antigens detected in normal human keratinocytes consisted of two major protein bands of approximate molecular weights of 48,000-50,000 and 57,000. In bovine SCC tumor the antigen detected was the Mr 48,000-50,000 band and in the human SCC tumor it was the Mr 57,000 band. A murine lung SCC model was developed with a murine SCC cell line KLN-205. The lung tumor obtained was reactive against the antibody and showed selective staining of the peripheral layer of the tumor containing the stem cell population. The antigens described by monoclonal antibody 174H.64 appear to be molecules associated with the stem cell populations of normal stratified epithelium and squamous cell carcinoma.

Animals↗

Tuning forks: the problem of striking.

Tuning fork tests have accompanied us from the beginning of otology. Various methods of striking have been used during the century and the efforts to attain standardization appear to have been forgotten since audiology became available. The article reviews the history of the standardization and throws a new light on the production of overtones and air, compared to bone, conduction frequency. The article stresses the importance of tuning fork testing in clinical practice.

Hearing Tests↗

The in vitro evaluation of nucleoside analogues as probes for use in the noninvasive diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis.

1-(2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouracil (FIAU) and the 5-iodo (FIRU), 5-bromo (FBrRU), 5-chloro (FClRU) and 5-fluoro (FFRU) analogues of 1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)uracil were examined in four in vitro tests designed to evaluate their potential as radiopharmaceuticals in a non-invasive diagnostic test for herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). The tests involved, (a) cellular uptake studies--which showed that all five nucleosides are selectively trapped in rabbit kidney cells infected with herpes simplex virus, type I, which codes for its own thymidine kinase; (b) incubation studies--which showed that, in human platelets, FIAU, FIRU and FFRU are not degraded by thymidine phosphorylase (an enzyme which catalyzes the glycosidic bond cleavage of physiological nucleosides); (c) a transport study, using mouse erythrocytes--which indicated that all five nucleosides have good affinity for a NBMPR-sensitive nucleoside transporter, with inhibition constants (Ki values in the range of 0.177-0.41; and (d) determination of octanol/water partition coefficients--which (log P = -0.14 to -1.67) indicated that FIAU is the most lipophilic of the five compounds studied, and may therefore cross the blood-brain barrier most readily. We conclude from the results that FIAU is the most promising compound for further evaluation in HSE animal models. The combination of tests described in this study provide a useful screening protocol for evaluation of other nucleoside analogues of potential use in a diagnostic test for HSE.

Animals↗

Effect of acyclovir on the uptake of 131I-labelled 1-(2'fluoro-2'-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouracil in herpes infected cells.

Selective uptake of nucleoside analogues by herpes simplex virus infected cells may serve as the basis for a specific non-invasive diagnostic test for herpes simplex encephalitis. We have examined the effect of acyclovir on the selective uptake of [131I] 1-(2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouracil in herpes simplex virus infected primary rabbit kidney cells. Infected cells treated with acyclovir continued to concentrate [131I] 1-(2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouracil for up to 24 h after the addition of the antiviral agent. These results indicated that therapy with acyclovir for as long as 24 h would not prevent the selective trapping of nucleoside analogues. This has important implications for the use of nucleoside analogues in diagnostic brain scans to detect herpes simplex encephalitis.

Acyclovir↗