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T Tsujiuchi

Publications and source records attributed to T Tsujiuchi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Frequent expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor in human non-small-cell lung cancers.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is an essential factor for progression and metastases in solid tumors. It has been reported that several angiogenic factors play a role in the regulation of angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important molecules in angiogenesis. We investigated expressions of VEGF in a series of lung carcinomas with regard to clinicopathological factors. METHOD: VEGF expression was investigated by use of immunohistochemical studies and Northern blot analysis, using 155 primary and 26 metastatic lung carcinomas for the immunohistochemical studies and 10 primary and two metastatic lung carcinomas for the Northern blot analysis. All lesions were resected at surgery. RESULTS: The frequencies for positive VEGF expression were 64 of 74 (86.5%) adenocarcinomas, 38 of 67 (56.7%) squamous cell carcinomas, four of four (100%) large cell carcinomas, two of three (66.7%) adenosquamous carcinomas and one of five (20%) small-cell carcinomas, the degree of positivity generally being greater in well differentiated tumors. The majority of metastatic foci from adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas at other sites were also positive (76.5 and 66.7%, respectively). VEGF expression did not correlate with clinicopathological factors such as tumor size or pathological stage, but pathological stage I adenocarcinoma cases positive for VEGF demonstrated a shorter disease-free period when followed up for 48 months than those cases expressing VEGF negatively. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that VEGF expression was frequently detected in non-small-cell lung cancers and suggested that VEGF might relate to the disease-free period of the patients with early adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Mechanistic analysis of pancreatic ductal carcinogenesis in hamsters.

In this article, we introduce our rapid-production model for pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas and describe the mechanisms of pancreatic duct carcinogenesis so far elucidated in Syrian golden hamsters. It is evident that a series of histogenetic steps are involved, leading from hyperplasia through atypical hyperplasia to intraductal carcinoma and invasive carcinoma. As DNA alters, K-ras mutation appears to be an early event, whereas p53 mutations generally occur in the tumor-progression phase. The induced cancer cells may show autocrine growth, secreting TGF-alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and are immortalized with a shortened TRF length and increased telomerase activity. The rapid-production model of pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas has not only provided a major stimulus to understanding induction mechanisms but should also serve as a bioassay to facilitate the identification of dietary risk factors and the search for appropriate chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents or both to help control this deadly disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Telomerase activity correlates with growth of transplantable osteosarcomas in rats treated with cis-diammine dichloroplatinum or the angiogenesis inhibitor AGM-1470.

To determine the role of telomerase activity in the growth of tumors in rats undergoing chemotherapy, a comparison of the volumes of telomerase-positive transplantable osteosarcomas was made in rats treated with the antineoplastic agent cis-diammine dichloroplatinum (CDDP) or the angiogenesis inhibitor O-(chloroacetylcarbamoyl)fumagillol (AGM-1470). Male F344 rats, 8 weeks old, received transplants of macroscopic lung metastatic nodules into the subcutaneous back space and treatment was started on day 14 thereafter. CDDP was injected i.v. at doses of 0, 0.625, 1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) and AGM-1470 was administered at total doses of 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg b.w. over 2 weeks by osmotic pumps, also implanted into the subcutaneous back space, but remote from the transplanted tumors. On day 28, all animals were killed for measurement of transplanted tumor size and determination of telomerase activities by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. The results showed telomerase activity to be highly correlated with the treated/non-treated (T/C) tumor size ratio (r = 0.96, P < 0.0001). In a second experiment, CDDP at 2.5 mg/kg b.w. and AGM-1470 at 10 mg/kg b.w., these being the most effective doses, were given as in the first experiment, and animals were serially killed on days 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. Tumors in rats treated with CDDP and AGM-1470 showed 18.2% and 20.5% of the control telomerase activity on days 35 and 21, respectively, when tumor growth was inhibited. However, on day 42, the activities increased to 46.5% and 92.5%, this correlating with re-growth (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001). These results suggest that decline of telomerase activity may be involved in tumor growth retardation induced by chemotherapeutic agents. This possibility clearly warrants further mechanistic studies.

Animals↗

Inhibition of early-phase exogenous and endogenous liver carcinogenesis in transgenic rats harboring a rat glutathione S-transferase placental form gene.

Hepatocarcinogenesis initiated with N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) and that initiated by feeding of a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were compared in transgenic male Wistar rats harboring a rat glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) gene (GST-P-Tg rats) and non-transgenic (N-Tg) rats. Eight-week-old GST-P-Tg and N-Tg rats were administered DEN intraperitoneally at 100 mg/kg body weight, subjected to a selection procedure with 2-acetylaminofluorene and CCl4, and killed at the end of weeks 5 and 12. Other groups were fed the CDAA diet for 12 weeks and killed. Five weeks after the DEN treatment, numbers and sizes of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)- or GST-P-positive lesions and 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHG) levels in the livers were significantly less in GST-P-Tg rats than in N-Tg rats. The lesion numbers were unchanged between the ends of weeks 5 and 12 in GST-P-Tg rats, but decreased in N-Tg rats. The lesion sizes were increased in GST-P-Tg rats, but unchanged in N-Tg rats. While the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling indices (PCNA L.I.) in and surrounding the lesions were decreased, more prominently in GST-P-Tg rats than in N-Tg rats, the 8-OHG levels were also decreased but similarly in both cases. After 12 weeks on the CDAA diet, the lesion incidences, numbers and sizes, 8-OHG levels, PCNA L.I. in and surrounding the lesions, and liver injury were significantly less in GST-P-Tg rats than in N-Tg rats. These results indicate that insertion of a rat GST-P transgene alters the early phase of exogenous and endogenous rat hepatocarcinogenesis, presumably due to enhanced detoxification by GST-P expressed both transiently during the initiation and chronically in the altered hepatocyte populations.

Animals↗

Systemic mast cell disease with splenic infarction: a case report.

An autopsy case of systemic mast cell disease (SMCD) without primary skin lesions in a 57-year-old Japanese male is described. Initially the patient was suspected of having liver cirrhosis or malignant lymphoma because of hepatomegaly and lymph node enlargement on admission. However, a lymph node biopsy and bone marrow aspiration conducted on his third admission indicated a SMCD because of the existence of metachromatic cell aggregates stained with toluidine blue. At autopsy, the diagnosis was confirmed because the proliferating cells were histochemically proven to be mast cells by naphthol AS.D chloroacetate esterase, Giemsa and alcian blue, in addition to toluidine blue staining. The intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were replaced by mast cell aggregates, which caused the splenic infarction and bilateral hydronephrosis, with infiltration of mast cells into the spleen and kidneys also being apparent. Mast cell infiltration was similarly found in the bone marrow, liver, ileum and ascending colon. Immunohistochemically, the mast cells were positive for antibodies of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, CD45 (LCA), CD43 (MT-1), CD45R (MB-1) and the oncoprotein c-kit. Electron microscopic examination using formalin-fixed tissue gave supportive evidence of a mast cell origin for the lesions.

Fatal Outcome↗

[The role of telomerase for pancreatic carcinogenesis in human and hamster].

Telomerase activity and terminal restriction flagment (TRF) length were investigated in human and hamster pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas. In the hamster primary and transplantable pancreatic carcinomas and cell lines, telomerase activity increased 86 to 215.7 times relative to the levels in normal spleen and pancreas, and reduction of TRF length was observed. In 38 human pancreatic ductal carcinomas, 32 (84%) exhibited increased telomerase activities with no apparent relation to the histological type of tumor, tumor size, regional lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. These results suggest that telomerase play an important role for pancreatic duct carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Mutations of K-ras but not p53 genes in biliary duct and pancreatic duct carcinomas induced in hamsters by cholecystoduodenostomy with dissection of the common duct followed by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine.

An experimental model for the induction of extrahepatic biliary duct carcinomas in hamsters given cholecystoduodenostomy with dissection of the extrahepatic duct at the distal end of the common duct (CDDB) followed by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) has been reported [Tajima et al. (1994) Jpn. J. Cancer Res., 85, 780-788]. The CDDB procedure greatly accelerates cell turnover in the biliary epithelium. In the present experiment, mutations of K-ras and p53 genes in the induced lesions were investigated by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (RT-PCR-SSCP) method followed by direct sequencing. Mutations of K-ras, involving a G to A transition in second position of codon 12 of K-ras exon 1, were detected in six out of eight (75%) extrahepatic bile duct carcinomas and six out of eleven (54.5%) pancreatic duct carcinomas. However, no mutations of p53 were observed in either tumor type. The results indicate an association between anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction and development of biliary carcinomas that may be pertinent to the human situation, and indicate that conditions of the model predispose to mutations occurring in K-ras but not p53.

Animals↗

Increased telomerase activity is not directly related to metastatic potential in rat transplantable osteosarcomas.

Previously, we reported the establishment of two transplantable osteosarcomas in rats, one induced by local application of a carcinogen, 4-hydroxyamino quinoline 1-oxide (4-HAQO), and another which developed spontaneously, and their subdivision into four lines with high and low metastatic potential to the lung. In the present study, activation of telomerase was investigated by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay followed by densitometric quantification. Telomerase activity was found to be elevated in all four lines without any link to the metastatic potential. Thus the spontaneous osteosarcoma (SOS) and derived metastatic lesions (S-SLM) demonstrated a 20.1-23.5-fold increase and the chemical carcinogen (4HAQO)-induced osteosarcoma (COS) and metastatic lesions (C-SLM) were 18.4-19.1-fold elevated as compared to the value for abdominal muscle. The results suggest that activation of telomerase occurs in rat osteosarcomas but that it is not directly involved in determining their metastatic potential.

Animals↗

p53 mutation and absence of mdm2 amplification and Ki-ras mutation in 4-hydroxyamino quinoline 1-oxide induced transplantable osteosarcomas in rats.

Previously, we reported the establishment of two transplantable osteosarcomas, one induced by local application of a carcinogen, 4-hydroxyamino quinoline 1-oxide(4-HAQO), and another which developed spontaneously in rats, and their subdivision into four lines with high and low metastatic potential to the lung. In the present study, mutations of p53 and Ki-ras genes were investigated by PCR and SSCP followed by direct sequencing, and the amplification of the mdm2 gene was assessed by Southern blot analysis. Mutations of p53 in exon 7 were detected in 4-HAQO-induced transplantable osteosarcomas, but not their spontaneous counterparts, irrespective of the metastatic potentials. Direct sequencing revealed a CGC to CAC transition with an amino acid change of Arg to His, at codon 246. Neither Ki-ras mutations nor mdm2 amplification were detected in any of the transplantable tumors. The results suggest that while p53 mutations occurred during osteosarcoma development by 4-HAQO without mdm2 amplification and Ki-ras mutation does not contribute to osteosarcoma development in rats.

4-Hydroxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide↗

Shortened telomere length and increased telomerase activity in hamster pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas and cell lines.

Recently, shortened telomere length and increased telomerase activity have been demonstrated in various human cancers. In the study reported here, we ascertained whether gene changes are characteristic of pancreatic cancers. Hamster duct carcinomas and cell lines were investigated by Southern blot analysis for telomere restriction fragment (TRF) length and by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay for telomerase activity. Comparison with normal pancreas and spleen revealed shortened TRF length and markedly increased telomerase activity in primary pancreatic duct carcinomas induced by the rapid-production model as well as in a transplantable carcinoma and the cell lines. The enzyme level was 86.0-215.7 times the low levels found in control pancreas and spleen tissues. Late-passage Syrian hamster embryo cells, known to be immortalized and tumorigenic, had shorter TRFs than the original cells in primary culture did. These results indicate that hamster pancreatic duct carcinoma cells are immortalized, with the potential for proliferation ad infinitum, and provide a model for basic therapeutic research into the substances targeting telomerase.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of 2-methylnaphthalene in B6C3F1 mice.

The toxicity and carcinogenic potential of 2-methylnaphthalene (2-MN) were examined in B6C3F1 mice. Groups of 50 male and 50 female mice were given diets containing 0, 0.075, and 0.15% 2-MN for 81 weeks. Both 0.075 and 0.15% 2-MN caused pulmonary alveolar proteinosis at high incidence: 55.1 and 45.8% in females and 42.9 and 46.9% in males, respectively. The incidences of total lung tumors, including bronchiolar/alveolar adenomas and carcinomas, were 20.4 and 12.2% in male mice given 0.075 and 0.15% 2-MN, respectively, the former value being significantly increased compared with the 4. 1% in control males. However, in the respective incidences of the adenomas and carcinomas, neither intergroup differences nor dose dependencies were observed. The incidences of other tumors did not differ between mice treated with 2-MN and the controls. The results indicated that 2-MN induces pulmonary alveolar proteinosis but does not possess unequivocal carcinogenic potential in B6C3F1 mice.

Adenoma↗

Hot-spot mutations in the p53 gene of liver nodules induced in rats fed DL-ethionine with a methyl-deficient diet.

Male F-344 rats were fed for 15 weeks a methyl-deficient L-amino acid defined diet containing 0.05% DL-ethionine. Nodules protruding from the surface of the liver were dissected free of surrounding tissue, and polyadenylated RNA isolated from the nodules was reverse transcribed. The region of the p53 gene comprising codons 120-290 was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, and cDNAs were sequenced. Mutations were detected in nodules obtained from 7 of 12 rats. In all seven cases, the same two point mutations were present. The first was at the first base of codon 246 and consisted of a C-->T transition (C:G-->T:A, Arg-->Cys), while the second was at the second base of codon 247 and consisted of a G-->T transversion (G:C-->T:A, Arg-->Leu). It is concluded that the hepatocarcinogen ethionine induces specific hot-spot p53 gene mutations; this is in contrast to the mutations at various sites previously observed to occur in rats fed a hepatocarcinogenic methyl-deficient diet alone. The results also provide the first evidence that ethionine is mutagenic in the rat.

Animals↗

Inhibition by piroxicam of oxidative DNA damage, liver cirrhosis and development of enzyme-altered nodules caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet in rats.

Previously, we have reported that aspirin, a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, can prevent the fibrosis, cirrhosis and generation of oxidative DNA damage, and the associated development of glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive preneoplastic liver nodules, caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet in rats. In the present study, in order to elucidate the role of COX pathway in liver lesion-induction by a CDAA diet, the modulatory effects of other distinct chemical classes of COX inhibitors were examined. A long-acting example, piroxicam (PIRO) (at doses of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%) and the short-acting ibuprofen (IBU) (at doses of 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%) and indomethacin (IND) (at doses of 0.005 and 0.008%) were administered in the CDAA diet to male F344 rats, and animals were killed after 12 and 30 weeks. In another experiment, IND was given in drinking water at doses of 0.001, 0.002 and 0.004%. None of the inhibitors affected the development of fatty liver caused by a CDAA diet, but PIRO at doses higher than 0.04%, strongly inhibited the development of GST-P-positive and neoplastic nodules as well as fibrosis, cirrhosis and formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) adducts. IBU at the highest dose also exhibited similar but much less pronounced inhibitory effects. With IND, there was only a tendency for inhibition with no clear dose-dependence. The results together with our previous findings, indicate that relatively strong COX inhibitors, acting irreversibly like aspirin or for extended periods like PIRO, can prevent the endogenous hepatocarcinogenesis associated with a CDAA diet, although not the development of a fatty liver, suggesting that an augmented COX pathway might play key roles in the causation of liver lesions in this model.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Inhibition by N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide and all-trans-retinoic acid of exogenous and endogenous development of putative preneoplastic, glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive lesions in the livers of rats.

The effects of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR) and all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA) on the exogenous and endogenous models of rat liver carcinogenesis respectively using diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were studied. For the exogenous study, male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, were given a single i.p. dose of 200 mg/kg body wt of DEN, partially hepatectomized at week 3, administered 4-HPR at doses of 0, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.16% or tRA at 0, 0.004, 0.008 and 0.015% in diet from week 2 for 6 weeks, and killed at the end of week 8. For the endogenous study, rats were fed the CDAA diet containing 4-HPR or tRA for 12 weeks and killed at the end of week 12. 4-HPR decreased the numbers and sizes of the glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci, assayed as putative preneoplastic lesions, the levels of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHG), a parameter of oxidative DNA damage, and the bromodeoxyuridine labeling indices (BrdU L.I.) by all three doses in the DEN-initiated case and, more prominently, in the CDAA diet-associated case. In contrast, while tRA failed to exert inhibitory effects apparently on foci development, 8-OHG formation or BrdU labeling in the DEN-initiated case, it reduced the numbers and sizes of the foci, the 8-OHG levels and the BrdU L.I. by all three doses in the CDAA diet-associated case. Furthermore, both 4-HPR and tRA inhibited the CDAA diet-associated induction of hepatocyte necrosis and connective tissue increase but not intrahepatocellular fat accumulation. These results indicate that 4-HPR exerts chemopreventive effects against the exogenous and endogenous rat liver carcinogenesis, while tRA can inhibit only the latter.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Increased telomerase activities in human pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas.

Telomerase is a key enzyme with regard to immortalization of cancer cells and increased activity has been demonstrated in various human malignant neoplasms. Since little is known of its role in pancreatic cancers, we investigated changes in telomerase activity in human pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas and compared the frequency of increased telomerase activity with the presence of K-ras gene mutations. The samples were obtained from 38 pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas and 7 tumor surrounding tissues at surgical resection. Telomerase activity was examined by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length was examined by Southern analysis. K-ras mutation was examined by means of polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Among 38 pancreatic carcinomas, 32 (84%) exhibited increased telomerase activities with no apparent relation to the histological type of tumor, tumor size, regional lymphnode involvement and distant metastasis or clinical stage. In tissue surrounding the tumor, telomerase activity was not detected. TRF length tended to be reduced in pancreatic carcinomas. Mutations of K-ras gene were found in 24 out of the 38 (63%) cases. Among the 38 cases, 14 showed increased telomerase activity without K-ras mutation and 4 cases showed K-ras mutation without telomerase activity. These results suggest that increased telomerase activity might be a sensitive genetic diagnostic marker and could be a target for future therapy of pancreatic duct carcinomas.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Inhibition by green tea extract of diethylnitrosamine-initiated but not choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet-associated development of putative preneoplastic, glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive lesions in rat liver.

The effects of green tea extract (GTE) on exogenous and endogenous models of rat liver carcinogenesis using diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were studied. For the exogenous carcinogenesis study, male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, were given a single intraperitoneal dose of 200 mg/kg body weight of DEN, partially hepatectomized at week 3, and administered GTE at doses of 0, 0.01 and 0.1% in the drinking water from week 2 for 10 weeks. For the endogenous carcinogenesis study, rats were fed the CDAA diet and simultaneously given GTE for 12 weeks. All rats were killed at the end of week 12. After DEN-initiation, the apparent numbers of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci, assayed as putative preneoplastic lesions, were decreased by the administration of GTE, though their sizes were not altered. In contrast, GTE did not significantly reduce the numbers of the lesions induced by the CDAA diet or affect their sizes. While the levels of 8-hydroxyguanine, a parameter of oxidative DNA damage, were reduced by the GTE administration in both experimental models, GTE did not protect against the CDAA-diet-associated liver tissue damage in terms of either histology or plasma marker enzyme levels. We conclude that, while GTE may be a possible chemopreventive agent for nitrosamine-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis in the absence of chronic hepatocyte damage, it does not significantly inhibit lesion development in hepatocarcinogenesis associated with the CDAA diet, a cirrhosis-associated model.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Infrequent Ki-ras and an absence of p53 mutations in hepatocellular carcinomas induced by a choline deficient L-amino acid defined diet in rats.

Mutations of Ki-ras and p53 genes in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) induced by the choline deficient L-amino acid defined (CDAA) diet in rats were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis followed by direct sequencing. Male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, were continuously given a CDAA diet for 70 weeks and then sacrificed. Macroscopically detectable nodules which were histologically confirmed to be well-differentiated HCCs were dissected free from the surrounding tissue and subjected to gene mutation analysis along with samples of non-tumor areas. Conformational change in the Ki-ras gene was detected in 1 out of 7 HCCs, involving a GGC to GTC transversion at codon 13. No p53 mutations were detected in 7 HCCs and also neither Ki-ras nor p53 mutations were found in non-tumor areas. The results suggest that neither Ki-ras nor p53 genes play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis caused by long term expose to a CDAA diet in rats.

Amino Acids↗

Enhancement of N-nitrosodiethylamine-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis caused by a colchicine-induced cell cycle disturbance in partially hepatectomized rats.

The effects of a colchicine-induced M-phase block of regeneration after partial hepatectomy on early-stage liver carcinogenesis were studied in rats. When administered 1 or 3 days after N-diethylnitrosamine initiation and partial hepatectomy, colchicine increased the mitotic index of regenerating hepatocytes at days 4-6 without evidence of liver cell necrosis. When the protocol was combined with a selection procedure (E. Cayama et al., Nature (Lond.), 275: 60-62, 1978), a significant increase in the size but not number of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive foci at week 5 was observed in a colchicine dose-dependent manner. This was associated with an elevated incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine into the gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive cells. In a longer-term experiment, the numbers, sizes, and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine labeling index of persistent nodules were increased significantly in colchicine-treated rats at week 9. This was associated with significant increases in the incidences and numbers of hepatocellular carcinomas at week 42. The above results raise the interesting possibility that a cell cycle disturbance in the early stage of liver carcinogenesis provides a persisting growth advantage for initiated cells, resulting in enhanced growth of foci and persistent nodules that evolve into hepatocellular carcinomas.

Animals↗