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Biomedical subjects

K Nooter

Publications and source records attributed to K Nooter.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Disposition of Cremophor EL in humans limits the potential for modulation of the multidrug resistance phenotype in vivo.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the distribution and elimination kinetics of the paclitaxel vehicle Cremophor EL (CrEL), a polyoxyethylated castor oil that can modulate P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in vitro. The pharmacokinetics of CrEL were studied using noncompartmental models in 23 patients with histological proof of malignant solid tumors, receiving paclitaxel as a 3-h i.v. infusion at dose levels ranging from 100-225 mg/m2 (corresponding to CrEL doses of 8.33-18.8 ml/m2). Serial plasma samples were obtained before and up to 72 h after drug administration, and were analyzed for the presence of CrEL by a novel colorimetric dye-binding microassay. The area under the plasma concentration versus time curves and the peak plasma levels of CrEL increased from 253+/-36.8 (mean+/-SD) to 680+/- 180 microl.h/ml, and from 3.40+/-0.10 to 6.58+/-0.52 microl/ml, respectively, consistent with linear pharmacokinetics. Disappearance of CrEL from the central plasma compartment was characterized by a terminal elimination half-life of 84.1+/-20.4 h, resulting in extended persistence of substantial levels even at 1 week after paclitaxel treatment. The observed volume of distribution was extremely low and averaged 3.70+/-0.49 liters/m2, implying that the tumor delivery of CrEL is insignificant. Our results indicate that CrEL is a relatively slow clearance compound and that its distribution is limited to the central plasma compartment. Hence, CrEL is not likely to play a role in reversing P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance to paclitaxel in vivo.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1998

Irinotecan (CPT-11) metabolism and disposition in cancer patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the metabolic fate and disposition of the antitumor camptothecine derivative irinotecan (CPT-11). Ten patients with histological proof of malignant solid tumor received 200 mg/m2 CPT-11 as a 90-min i.v. infusion, followed by a 1.5-h i.v. infusion of cisplatin (60 or 80 mg/m2). Plasma, urine, and feces were collected for 56 h and analyzed by a specific reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the parent drug and all four metabolites positively identified to date: SN-38; its beta-glucuronide conjugate, SN-38 beta-glucoronide (SN-38G); 7-ethyl-10-[4-N-(5-aminopentanoic acid)-1-piperidino]-carbonyloxycamptothecine (APC); and 7-ethyl-10-[4-N-(1-piperidino)-1-amino]-carbonyloxycamptothecine (NPC). A three-exponential decline was observed in plasma for all compounds, with a clear predominance of the parent drug [25.6+/-5.71 microM x h (CPT-11) versus 15.8+/-3.51 microM x h (total metabolites)]. Total urinary excretion was 28.1+/-10.6% of the dose, with unchanged CPT-11 and SN-38G as the main excretion products. Whereas renal clearance of SN-38 was only a minor route of drug elimination, fecal concentrations of this compound were unexpectedly high (on average, 2.45% of the dose), suggestive of intestinal hydrolysis of SN-38G by bacterial beta-glucuronidase. CPT-11 and the other metabolites could also be identified from fecal extracts, with a very minor contribution overall of the cytochrome P-450-mediated compounds 7-ethyl-10-[4-N-(1-piperidino)-1-amino]-carbonyloxycamptothecine and 7-ethyl-10-[4-N-(5-aminopentanoic acid)-1-piperidino]-carbonyloxycamptothecine. Surprisingly, fecal excretion accounted for only 24.4+/-13.3% of the dose, leading to a total excretion of approximately 52%. These data indicate that half of the dose in urine and feces may constitute some further unknown nonextractable or nonfluorescent metabolites. The findings from this study should be of importance as a guide to further therapeutic evaluation of this drug.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of an inducible anti-sense c-myc gene transfer in a drug-resistant human small-cell-lung-carcinoma cell line.

Small-cell-lung-cancer (SCLC) is characterized by rapid development of resistance to cytotoxic agents, such as cisplatin (cDDP) and anthracyclines. c-myc over-expression is one of the reported genetic alterations in this tumor. Amplification of the c-myc gene in this and other cancers is often correlated with poor prognosis. We studied the existence of a correlation between resistance and activation of the c-myc oncogene in a cDDP-resistant SCLC sub-line, GLC4cDDP, containing a c-myc gene amplification. This cell line was stably transfected with either an anti-sense c-myc (AS) or control (C) expression vector resulting in the sub-clones GLC4cDDP/AS and GLC4cDDP/C respectively. PCR and RT-PCR analysis illustrated the integration and activation of the dexamethasone(dex)-inducible MMTV-LTR promoter linked to the complete AS-c-myc fragment in GLC4cDDP/AS cells, but not in GLC4cDDP/C cells. Dex-induced AS-c-myc RNA resulted in 50% growth inhibition during the first 48 hr, which declined to 25% at 72 hr. In addition, AS-c-myc RNA expression reduced the cloning efficacy by 36% and induced 2-fold more apoptosis within 24 hr in GLC4cDDP/AS cells. Dex treatment did not affect the proliferation, clonogenicity and induction of apoptosis in the control cell lines. Furthermore, AS-c-myc RNA expression caused a 1.4-fold increased cDDP sensitivity but no change in doxorubicin or vincristine sensitivity in GLC4cDDP/AS cells. Our results indicate that AS-c-myc RNA expression causes inhibition of cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, reduces clonogenicity and interferes with cDDP sensitivity but not with doxorubicin or vincristine sensitivity.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗
PubMed1997

Lack of correlation between cisplatin-induced apoptosis, p53 status and expression of Bcl-2 family proteins in testicular germ cell tumour cell lines.

We investigated the role of p53 and of the Bcl-2 family proteins in the apoptotic response of a panel of testicular tumour cell lines (NT2, NCCIT, S2 and 2102 EP). The p53 gene status and the capacity of the p53 protein to transactivate the p21/WAF/CIP gene were determined, and we examined the correlation between p53 status and the susceptibility to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. In contrast to wild-type p53-containing NT2 and 2102 EP cells, NCCIT (mutant p53) and S2 (no p53 protein) cells were shown to be p53-transactivation defective. However, NCCIT and S2 cells with non-functional p53 were readily triggered into apoptosis by cisplatin, whereas p53-transactivation competent 2102 EP cells failed to undergo cisplatin-induced apoptosis. The defective apoptotic pathway in 2102 EP cells was reflected by a 4-fold decreased sensitivity to cisplatin in the MTT assay. We further demonstrated that the p53-independent differential cisplatin sensitivity among the testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT) cell lines was not due to differences in cellular cisplatin accumulation or DNA platination. The pattern of endogenous expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-x and Bak, which was not modulated by cisplatin treatment, demonstrated that these Bcl-2 family proteins are not involved in drug-induced apoptosis in the TGCT cell lines. Our results suggest a lack of correlation between cisplatin-induced apoptosis, p53 status and expression of Bcl-2 family proteins in our panel of TGCT cell lines. We conclude that the cisplatin-induced apoptotic pathway in TGCT cell lines might be p53-independent and is probably not associated with differences in the Bcl-2/Bax rheostat.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1997

Determination of irinotecan (CPT-11) and its active metabolite SN-38 in human plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic assays have been developed to determine the levels of the lactone and lactone plus carboxylate (total) forms of the antitumor agent irinotecan (CPT-11) and its active metabolite SN-38, in human plasma. The related compound camptothecin was used as the internal standard. The selective sample pretreatment for the lactone forms involved a single solvent extraction with acetonitrile-n-butyl chloride (1:4, v/v), whereas the sample clean-up for the total forms was a simple protein precipitation with aqueous perchloric acid-methanol (1:1, v/v), which results in the conversion of the carboxylate to the lactone forms. Chromatography was carried out on a Hypersil ODS column, with detection performed fluorimetrically. The methods have been validated, and stability tests under various conditions have been performed. The lower limits of quantitation are 0.5 and 2.0 ng/ml for the lactone and total forms, respectively. The assays have been used in a single pharmacokinetic experiment in a patient to investigate the applicability of the method in vivo.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed1997

Determination of the lactone and lactone plus carboxylate forms of 9-aminocamptothecin in human plasma by sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Two sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic fluorescence methods, with simple sample handling at the site of the patient, are described for the determination of the lactone and lactone plus carboxylate forms of 9-aminocamptothecin (9AC). For 9AC lactone, the sample preparation was a liquid-liquid extraction with acetonitrile-n-butyl chloride (1:4, v/v), whereas the sample preparation for 9AC total (lactone plus carboxylate) was a simple deproteinization with 5% perchloric acid-methanol (1:1, v/v), which results in the conversion of the carboxylate into the lactone form. The lower limits of quantitation were 50 pg/ml and 100 pg/ml for 9AC lactone and 9AC total, respectively. The within-run precisions at four tested concentrations were < or = 6.3% for 9AC lactone and < or = 5.3% for 9AC total. The between-run precisions were < or = 8.9% and < or = 5.6%, respectively. The assays were developed to enable pharmacological analysis of 9AC in a bioavailability and oral phase I study in patients with solid tumors.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1997

Sensitive determination of docetaxel in human plasma by liquid-liquid extraction and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed and validated for the quantitative determination of docetaxel (I) in human plasma. The concentrations in plasma, for validation procedures spiked with known amounts of I, are read from calibration curves in the range of 10-20,000 ng/ml. The sample preparation involved a liquid-liquid extraction of 1000 microl of sample with a mixture of acetonitrile-n-butylchloride (1:4, v/v). The related compound paclitaxel (II) was used as internal standard. Chromatographic separations were performed an Inertsil ODS-80A column, with UV detection performed at 230 nm. The overall extraction recoveries were 84.3 and 90.0% for I and II, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation was 10 ng/ml, and the accuracy, within-run and between-run precisions at three tested concentrations fell within the generally accepted criteria for bioanalytical assays.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Bax upregulation is an early event in cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human testicular germ-cell tumor cell line NT2, as quantitated by flow cytometry.

Expression of the apoptosis-associated proteins Bcl-2 and Bax was quantitated by flow cytometry (FCM) in chemosensitive testicular germ-cell tumor NT2 cells, and the results were compared with those obtained by Western blotting. NT2 cells were incubated with cisplatin (3.1 microM for 2 h at 37 degrees C), and 24, 48, and 72 h later were analyzed for induction of apoptosis, and for modulation of the expression of cell death suppressing protein Bcl-2, as well as cell death promoting protein Bax. Apoptosis was quantitated by binding of annexin V conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) to the cell membrane. Cisplatin-treatment induced apoptosis in NT2 cells. The apoptotic cell population increased in time, and at t = 72 h after drug incubation, about 90% of cells that were present in the cell culture were apoptotic. Subsequently, we determined the expression of the Bcl-2 and Bax proteins by FCM and Western blotting before and after drug treatment. NT2 cells had low constitutive expression levels of Bcl-2 and elevated constitutive expression levels of Bax protein, as determined by both methods. At t = 24 h and 48 h after drug treatment, no changes were observed in the expression of the Bcl-2 protein, as quantitated by FCM and Western blotting. Also, the expression of the Bax protein had not changed, based on Western blotting. However, FCM revealed that in a specific subpopulation of drug-treated NT2 cells, Bax expression was increased. On the basis of forward and perpendicular light-scatter this subpopulation, which consisted of large, early apoptotic, swollen cells with increased internal complexity, was sorted, and showed abundant Bax protein by FCM and Western blotting. Our results demonstrate that the chemosensitivity of NT2 cells is probably due to a low intrinsic threshold for drug-induced apoptosis that is accompanied by overexpression of the death-promoting Bax protein during the early stages of the apoptotic process. We conclude that FCM is superior to Western blotting for the detection of heterogeneous expression of Bax in a given cell population.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1997

No evidence of known types of human papillomavirus in squamous cell cancer of the oesophagus in a low-risk area. Rotterdam Oesophageal Tumour Study Group.

Controversial results regarding the presence and role of human papillomavirus in the development of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma have been published. We used multiple broad-spectrum polymerase chain reactions to identify HPV DNA in oesophageal carcinomas from a low-incidence area. Paraffin embedded- and snap-frozen specimens from oesophageal cancer tissues of 63 patients were examined with a PCR technique with several primer pairs, capable of detecting most known HPV types. In none of the oesophagus cancer tissues could HPV DNA be detected. The role of HPV in this type of carcinoma in a low incidence area remains unclear.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Differential modulation of cisplatin accumulation in leukocytes and tumor cell lines by the paclitaxel vehicle Cremophor EL.

BACKGROUND: Several clinical studies have shown that polychemotherapy with the taxanes paclitaxel or docetaxel preceded or followed by cisplatin is associated with important schedule-dependent differences in toxicities, such as leukocytopenia. In general, the pharmacokinetics of both drugs during the combined treatment are unaltered, suggesting that a pharmacodynamic interaction might have occurred. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to gain insight into this pharmacologic interaction, we performed in vitro drug accumulation studies using peripheral blood leukocytes and a panel of tumor and non-malignant cell lines with paclitaxel and docetaxel, as well as with their respective formulation vehicles Cremophor EL and Tween 80. RESULTS: Our results show a significant reduction in the intracellular cisplatin concentration in leukocytes of up to 42% in the presence of Cremophor EL and Tween 80 as compared to the control. This pharmacodynamic interaction of these surfactants with cisplatin seems to be specific for haematopoietic cells, and does not occur in solid tumor cells. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that the pharmaceutical vehicles Cremophor EL and Tween 80 might contribute to the reduced cisplatin-associated myelotoxicity observed in the clinical combination chemotherapy studies with paclitaxel and docetaxel.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1997

The prognostic significance of expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) in primary breast cancer.

In the present study, we determined the frequency and intensity of MRP protein expression by monoclonal antibody immunohistochemistry in a series of 259 resected invasive primary breast carcinomas, and we evaluated MRP immunoreactivity in relation to patient and tumour characteristics, relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The immunostaining was graded on a semiquantitative scale that ranged from (-) to ( ). Overall, 34% of the tumours were positive for anti-MRP antibody: 19% showed weak cytoplasmic staining (+), 14% had clear cytoplasmic staining (++) and only 1% of the tumours had a strong cytoplasmic as well as membranous staining ( ). MRP expression was not related to patient's age, menopausal status, tumour size, differentiation grade, oestrogen and progesterone receptor level or lymph node involvement. In an exploratory univariate analysis of all patients, only primary tumour size and number of lymph nodes involved were significantly associated with shortened RFS (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively) and OS (P = 0.02 and P < 0.001 respectively). In Cox univariate analysis for RFS in subgroups of patients stratified by menopausal status, tumour size, nodal status, adjuvant systemic therapy and oestrogen and progesterone receptor status, MRP expression was associated with increased risk for failure in patients with small tumours (T1), in node-negative patients and in node-positive patients who received adjuvant systemic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF); the relative hazard rate (RHR) for relapse was increased in the presence of MRP, with RHR values with 95% confidence limits (CL) of 2.8 (1.2-6.9), 2.1 (1.0-4.2) and 2.8 (0.8-9.9) respectively. In analysis for OS, expression of MRP was also associated with increased risk for failure in patients with small tumours (T1) [RHR (95% CL) 2.3 (0.9-6.0)] and in node-positive patients who received adjuvant systemic chemotherapy with CMF [RHR (95% CL) 3.7 (0.8-17.1)] but not in node-negative patients [RHR (95% CL) 1.1 (0.4-2.6)]. In conclusion, our results show that MRP is frequently overexpressed in primary breast cancer and suggest that MRP expression might be of prognostic significance in the subgroups of patients with the more favourable prognosis, i.e. patients with small tumours and node-negative patients, as well as in the setting of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy. In primary breast cancer, MRP might be related to altered cell biological behaviour, including a more aggressive phenotype, and resistance to adjuvant systemic chemotherapy.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1996

Peripheral neuropathy in mice transgenic for a human MDR3 P-glycoprotein mini-gene.

We have generated mice transgenic for a human MDR3 mini-gene, under control of a hamster vimentin promoter. Expression of the MDR3 transgene was found in mesenchymal tissues, peripheral nerves, and the eye lens. These MDR3 transgenic mice have a slowed motor nerve conduction and dysmyelination of their peripheral nerves. An extensive dysmyelination in some transgenic strains results in a severe peripheral neuropathy with paresis of the hind legs. How expression of the MDR3 transgene causes these abnormalities is unknown. The MDR3 gene encodes a large glycosylated plasma membrane protein with multiple transmembrane spanning domains, which are involved in the translocation of the phospholipid phosphatidylcholine through the hepatocyte canalicular membrane. The ability of the MDR3 P-glycoprotein to alter phsopholipid distribution in the plasma membrane of Schwann cells may cause the damage. It is also possible, however, that the presence of a large glycoprotein in the cell membrane may be sufficient to severely disturb myelination of peripheral nerves.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1996

Frequency analysis of multidrug resistance-1 gene transfer into human primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells using the cobblestone area-forming cell assay and detection of vector-mediated P-glycoprotein expression by rhodamine-123.

Transfer of the multidrug resistance-1 (MDR1) gene into hematopoietic progenitor cells may reduce myelotoxicity of MDR1-related cytotoxic agents and therefore allow dose intensification. Mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) can be obtained in ample quantity and are a suitable target cell population. CD34-selected PBPC samples (n = 6) were transduced with cell-free supernatant (SNT) of a cell line producing recombinant retrovirus containing the human MDR1 gene. Limiting-dilution long-term cultures were employed that allow continuous monitoring of stroma-adherent cobblestone areas (CA) and comparison of their frequency in a 5-log range over time. MDR1 provirus integration in CA-containing wells followed single-hit kinetics. According to Poisson statistics, proviral DNA was contained in 22% of unselected cobblestone area-forming cells (CAFC) at week 6, which represent primitive hematopoietic precursors. In comparison, 1.0 +/- 0.44% (mean +/- SEM) of week-6 CAFC were expressing P-glycoprotein at sufficient levels to convey vincristine resistance, suggesting low expression of the retroviral vector or splicing of the vector-drived mRNA in hematopoietic progenitor cells. Next we analyzed lineage-committed progenitors. The proviral DNA was detectable in 20-66% of colony-forming units granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) while corresponding percentages (25-52%) of CD34+ PBPC were in the S/G2M phase of the cell cycle at the end of the transduction period. The proportion of vincristine-resistant CFU-GM was similar to the CAFC data and no significant differences were found between various MDR1-SNT transduction schedules whereas MDR1 co-cultivation, which served as a positive control, yielded significantly higher proportions of resistant colonies (5.3 +/- 1.4%, IL-3, 96 hr, p < or = 0.05). Assessment of rhodamine-123 (Rh-123) efflux in the myelo-monocytic progeny of MDR1-transduced cells mirrored the colony assay results in the SNT and co-cultivation groups. Less culture effort was required in the Rh-123 assay and functional characterization of the transferred P-glycoprotein was possible using cyclosporin A. Further development toward an effective MDR1 gene therapy should be facilitated by the CAFC assay, which allows estimation of the retroviral gene transfer frequency into primitive hematopoietic cells, and by the Rh-123 assay, which permits tractable side-by-side assessments of numerous MDR1 transduction protocols or different MDR1-SNT lots.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1996

Quantification of apoptotic cells with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled annexin V in chinese hamster ovary cell cultures treated with cisplatin.

Plasma membrane binding of annexin V was used to detect and quantitate apoptotic cells induced by cytotoxic drug treatment in epithelial cell cultures. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were incubated for 2 h with the ID90 concentration of Cisplatin (20 microM), and 24, 48, 72, and 96 h later the unfixed cells were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated annexin V. The fluorescence signal was quantitated by flow cytometry (FCM). During the early phase of the apoptotic response, the annexin V-binding frequency histograms showed two separate cell populations, a dimly and a brightly fluorescent one. At t = 96 h after drug incubation, when the process of apoptosis was completed, only the brightly fluorescent population was present. A dose-effect relationship could be established between the Cisplatin concentration used in the 2 h incubation and the binding of annexin V on the cell membrane, as estimated by FITC fluorescence. The dimly and brightly fluorescent populations were sorted on the basis of annexin V binding, and assayed for 1) DNA breaks by in situ nick translation assay and DNA content by DNA-propidium iodine fluorescence in a bivariate analysis, 2) membrane integrity by dye exclusion, and 3) morphological characteristics of apoptosis. The dimly fluorescent cell population appeared to represent apoptotic cells in the early phase of the death process, as demonstrated by intact cell membranes, normal DNA content, few DNA breaks, and chromatin condensation. The brightly fluorescent cells predominantly had sub-G1 DNA content, nuclear fragmentation, leaky cell membranes, and probably represent late apoptotic cells. These results demonstrate that cytotoxic drug-induced apoptosis can be quantitated by annexin V binding and that by using this assay early and late apoptotic cells can be identified.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Molecular mechanisms of multidrug resistance in cancer chemotherapy.

The occurrence of multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main obstacles in the successful chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. MDR cell lines are resistant to the so-called naturally occurring anti-cancer drugs, such as anthracyclines, Vinca alkaloids and epipodophyllotoxins, but are not cross-resistant to alkylating agents, antimetabolites and cisplatin. So far, three separate forms of MDR have been characterized in more detail: classical MDR, non-Pgp MDR and atypical MDR. Although all three MDR phenotypes have much in common with respect to cross-resistance patterns, the underlying mechanisms certainly differ. Atypical MDR is associated with quantitative and qualitative alterations in topoisomerase II alpha, a nuclear enzyme that actively participates in the lethal action of cytotoxic drugs. Atypical MDR cells do not overexpress P-glycoprotein, and are unaltered in their ability to accumulate drugs. In this review we will focus on classical and non-Pgp MDR. The molecular mechanism of classical and non-Pgp MDR is transcriptional activation of membrane-bound transport proteins. These transport proteins belong to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of transport systems. The classical MDR phenotype is characterized by a reduced ability to accumulate drugs, due to activity of an energy-dependent uni-directional, membrane-bound, drug-efflux pump with broad substrate specificity. The classical MDR drug pump is composed of a transmembrane glycoprotein (P-glyco-protein-Pgp) with a molecular weight of 170 kD, and is, in man, encoded by the so-called multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene. Typically, non-Pgp MDR has no P-gly-coprotein expression, yet has about the same cross-resistance pattern as classical MDR. This non-Pgp MDR phenotype is caused by overexpression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) gene, which encodes a 190 kD membrane-bound glycoprotein (MRP). MRP probably works by direct extrusion of cytotoxic drugs from the cell and/or by mediating sequestration of the drugs into intracellular compartments, both leading to a reduction in effective intracellular drug concentrations. For the classical MDR phenotype, evidence is accumulating that it plays a role indeed, in clinical drug resistance, especially in some hematological malignancies (acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and solid tumors (soft tissue sarcomas and neuroblastoma). The association of MRP with clinical drug resistance has not been elaborated, yet, and studies on MRP expression in human cancer have just begun. We found that overexpression of MRP, as determined by RNase protection assay as well as by immunohistochemistry, occurs in several human cancers, among which are cancer of the lung, esophagus, breast and ovary, and leukemias. Further studies are indicated to establish whether elevated MRP expression at diagnosis is an unfavorable prognostic factor for clinical outcome of chemotherapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Apoptosis of human seminoma cells upon disruption of their microenvironment.

One of the main obstacles encountered when trying to culture human seminoma (SE) cells in vitro is massive degeneration of the tumour cells. We investigated whether dissociation of tumour tissue, to obtain single-cell suspensions for in vitro culture, results in the onset of apoptosis. Using morphological analysis and in situ end labelling, less than 4% of apoptotic tumour cells were detected in intact tissue from 11 out of 14 SEs. In these 11 tumours, apoptosis-specific DNA ladders, indicative of internucleosomal double-strand DNA cleavage, were not detected on electrophoresis gels. In contrast, three SEs with over 12% of apoptotic tumour cells in the intact tissue and all analysed (pure) SE cell suspensions, obtained after mechanical dissociation of intact tumour tissue, showed DNA ladders. Flow cytometric analysis of end labelled SE suspensions showed DNA breaks in up to 85% of the tumour cells. As indicated by cell morphology and DNA degradation, SE cells appear to rapidly enter the apoptotic pathway upon mechanical disruption of their microenvironment. No expression of p53 and of the apoptosis-inhibitor bcl-2 was detectable in intact SE tissue or cell suspensions. Our data suggest that abrogation of apoptosis might be crucial to succeed in culturing human SE cells in vitro.

Apoptosis↗