A pilot study was carried out to assess the value of a radiolabeled antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR1) in localizing tumors in patients with squamous carcinomas of the head and neck. Positive images of large tumours (greater than 3 cm diameter) were obtained in 8 of 11 patients after intravenous administration of 111indium-labeled EGFR1. Two patients gave equivocal results, while negative scans were obtained from the patient with the smallest tumor (1 cm diameter). There were no false-positive images. The success of this study in localizing relatively large squamous carcinomas indicates that the antibody should be evaluated in patients with smaller tumors to establish the limits of detection of the technique.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of oestrogen ablation on the phospholipid metabolite content of primary and transplanted rat mammary tumours.

The concentration of phospholipid metabolites was determined in chemical extracts from two types of rat mammary tumours and compared with proliferation data (S-phase fraction). One of the tumours was an oestrogen-sensitive transplanted tumour. In this tumour the concentration of phosphocholine (PC) and glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) correlated strongly with the S-phase fraction but not with the number of cells actively synthesizing DNA. Oestrogen ablation resulted in tumour regression. Regressing tumours contained less PC and more GPC than those actively growing. The other tumour was induced in rats by intravenous administration of N-methyl N-nitrosourea. Phosphoethanolamine (PE), PC and GPC levels were not associated with the S-phase fraction in this tumour. Oestrogen ablation resulted in tumour regression. There was no significant difference between the regressing and growing tumours in PE, PC or GPC content.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Phospholipid metabolites, prognosis and proliferation in human breast carcinoma.

The content of the phospholipid metabolites, phosphocholine, phosphoethanolamine, glycerophosphorylcholine and glycerophosphorylethanolamine was measured in chemical extracts from 46 human breast carcinoma using 31P NMR spectroscopy. Some patients had received therapy prior to tumour resection. The data were therefore stratified into two groups: (i) all tumours; and (ii) untreated tumours. Three indices of tumour proliferation i.e., mitotic index, Ki67 and S-phase fraction were determined on tissue from the same tumours and were found not to correlate with the content of any of these metabolites. In addition oestrogen-receptor status and density, tumour grade and DNA ploidy were obtained on some tumours. The phosphocholine content was higher in high grade tumours when compared with low grade tumours. There was no apparent relationship between DNA ploidy and the content of any of these metabolites. Glycerophosphorylcholine content of oestrogen-receptor positive tumours correlated with receptor density. However, there was no significant difference between receptor positive and negative tumours in the content of any of the phospholipid metabolites measured.

Aneuploidy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The diaphragmatic echo complex: an in vitro study.

The brightly echogenic appearance of the diaphragm on routine clinical scans is not easily reconciled with the well-documented echo-poor appearance of muscle elsewhere in the body. A series of specimens of normal human diaphragm freshly excised at autopsy were suspended in a water bath. Articulated arm scans were done varying the angle of the incident beam to the specimen by 5-degree increments and recording the maximum attenuation which allowed visualization (ie, an extinction point). This was accomplished for intact diaphragm, peritoneal membrane alone, and diaphragmatic muscle alone with both membranes stripped. The bright specular echoes seen are due almost exclusively to the membranes (parietal pleura and peritoneum) and the diaphragmatic muscle itself produces only low-level scattered echoes as elsewhere. However, these scattered echoes account for persistent visualization of the diaphragm at steep angles of the incident beam. A considerable portion of the in vivo thickness of the diaphragmatic echo complex is, therefore, produced by diaphragm-lung interface.

Diaphragm↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Phosphocholine and choline content of rat sarcoma cells grown in the presence and absence of serum.

Rat sarcoma cells were grown in vitro in tissue culture medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% foetal calf serum for 5 to 8 days followed by serum withdrawal to produce populations of cells with a variety of cell cycle distributions. Phosphocholine (PCho) and choline content and S + G2 fraction were determined. The phosphocholine content of faster growing populations of serum supplemented cells was higher than the slower growing populations. Choline content was not consistently associated with S + G2 fraction. Serum deprivation was accompanied by a decrease in S + G2 fraction after 24 hours but even after 48 hours PCho content was only slightly decreased.

Animals↗