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Breast cancer--22nd annual symposium. 8-11 December 1999, San Antonio, TX, USA.

This symposium focused on trials conducted primarily on patients with metastatic breast cancer with the aim of defining the safest and most effective treatment regimens. The combination of paclitaxel and doxorubicin procured a survival advantage, though confirmation of this multicenter randomized data is awaited from other studies. In elucidating the most effective agents to use with trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech Inc), results with vinorelbine (Navelbine; Pierre Fabre SA) were most encouraging. Randomized studies of hormonal agents in the adjuvant setting have demonstrated an improved relapse-free survival with goserelin (Zoladex) and anastrozole (Arimidex; both AstraZeneca plc), compared to tamoxifen. Data were presented suggesting tamoxifen leads to a worse outcome when prescribed to pre-menopausal estrogen-receptor negative patients. The use of newer selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) was discussed with particular reference to LY-353381 (Eli Lilly and Co) and fulvestrant (AstraZeneca plc), both of which appear to have impressive profiles of action when compared to tamoxifen.

Journal Article↗

Analysis of protein therapeutics by capillary electrophoresis: applications and challenges.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been increasingly used for the analysis of recombinant protein therapeutics in the biotechnology industry over the past several years. In this paper, an overview of the major applications implemented at Genentech Inc. is presented. The applications highlighted in this article are divided into the following three general areas: (i) CE as a replacement for slab gel electrophoresis, particularly capillary electrophoresis-sodium dodecylsulphate and capillary isoelectric focusing; (ii) CE to monitor protein charge heterogeneity as an orthogonal technique to the traditional on-exchange chromatographic methods; and (iii) CE for carbohydrate analysis, including both oligosaccharide and monosaccharide analysis. Overall, the advantages of these CE-based methodologies include automation, ease of quantification, rapid analysis time, enhanced resolution, and robustness when compared to the traditional methods. There are, however, still some challenges in applying CE for protein analysis, particularly in the area of characterization due to the miniaturization nature of CE.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha on skeletal muscle and Walker 256 carcinosarcoma protein metabolism studied in vivo.

Human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) inhibits tumor growth, but its effects on tumor and skeletal muscle protein metabolism in vivo have not been adequately studied. Walker 256 carcinosarcoma growth rate was followed over an 11-day period in Sprague-Dawley rats. Tumor-bearing rats received either saline or 50 micrograms of TNF (Genentech, Inc.) s.c. on day 8 of tumor growth. This single dose of TNF reduced tumor protein growth during a 2-day posttreatment period from 27.6 +/- 4.4 to 10.5 +/- 3.7%/day (mean +/- SE; P less than 0.01). The rate of in vivo incorporation of L-[1-14C]leucine into skeletal muscle protein was significantly increased (P less than 0.05) from 5.1 +/- 0.2%/day in the saline-treated tumor-bearing rats to 7.7 +/- 1.3%/day in the TNF-treated tumor-bearing rats. The latter value was not statistically different from the 9.2 +/- 0.9%/day observed in the tumor-free control animals. TNF administration significantly increased both the total and individual acid-soluble skeletal muscle amino acid concentrations in tumor-bearing rats by an average of 86 +/- 7%, compared to values in saline-treated tumor-bearing rats. Similarly, acid-soluble skeletal muscle 3-methyl-histidine concentrations increased from 66 +/- 14 to 113 +/- 19 pmol/g protein (P less than 0.05). Tumor protein synthesis in the TNF-treated group was 50% greater than in the saline-treated group, whether expressed as %/day (72.7 +/- 9.1 versus 47.9 +/- 4.8; P less than 0.05) or was micrograms/g tumor/min (58.7 +/- 7.7 versus 40.7 +/- 4.5; P less than 0.05). In contrast, estimated tumor protein degradation rates were increased by over 200% in the TNF-treated rats, compared to the values in the saline-treated rats [62.1 +/- 10.7 versus 20.3 +/- 6.0%/day (P less than 0.01) and 50.0 +/- 8.9 versus 17.5 +/- 5.4 micrograms/g tumor/min (P less than 0.01)]. Thus, TNF appears to stimulate tumor protein degradation more than protein synthesis, explaining the overall decrease in tumor growth.

Amino Acids↗

Characterization of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha antiproliferative effects on human cells in culture.

TNF is a macrophage-derived polypeptide known to cause hemorrhagic necrosis of transplanted tumors and is cytotoxic or cytostatic to a variety of malignant human cells in vitro. However, little is known about its mechanism of antiproliferative activity. Human cervical carcinoma (ME-180) cells in log-phase were treated with various doses of rTNF (from Genentech, Inc., Sp. Act. 5.7 x 10(7) U/mg) for 72 hours. Fifty percent inhibition of cell growth was obtained at a dose of 1000 U/ml (ID50). An identical ID50 was obtained for confluent cells. Maximal antiproliferative effects were observed only with 72 hours continuous exposure to rTNF. Exposure of cells to an ID50 dose for 12 hours or less resulted in no antiproliferative effect; similar to results obtained with murine TNF. The incorporation of [3H] uridine and [3H] thymidine was reduced by 25 and 40% respectively by 24 hours after TNF treatment. [3H] uridine incorporation rebounded to 170% of controls level 72 hours after TNF addition. There was a transient 40% decrease in [3H] leucine incorporation at 48 hours which recovered to control value by 72 hours. These studies show that TNF can suppress both DNA and RNA synthesis while protein synthesis is only transiently affected. Considering its short plasma half-life (approximately 20 min) in vivo, these studies also suggest that for optimal antiproliferative effect rTNF should be administered in a fashion which provides sustained drug levels.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

Potentiation by heparin fragments of thrombolysis induced with human tissue-type plasminogen activator or human single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator.

The effect of heparin and of two low molecular weight (low Mr) fractions of heparin on thrombolysis with recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA, Genentech Inc., So. San Francisco, CA) or human single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA, Sandoz AG, Basle, Switzerland) was measured in a rabbit jugular vein thrombosis model. Four bolus injections of 200 anti-Factor Xa units/kg body weight of heparin (Liquemine, Hoffmann-La Roche, Basle, Switzerland), of 90 units/kg of CY 216 (Choay, Paris, France) or of 90 units/kg of CY 222 (Choay, Paris, France) were given intravenously, immediately after the start of the infusion of rt-PA or scu-PA and at hourly intervals during their intravenous infusion over 4 hours. The bolus injections resulted in anti-Factor Xa levels in plasma of 5.7 +/- 1.2 units/ml just before the repeat bolus injections of heparin with corresponding values of 3.9 +/- 0.2 units/ml for CY 216 and 1.6 +/- 0.2 units/ml for CY 222. Thrombolysis with 0.25 mg/kg rt-PA was 36 +/- 1 percent (n = 9) in the absence of anticoagulant, 40 +/- 1 percent (n = 7, p less than 0.05) in the presence of heparin, 49 +/- 5 percent (n = 7, p less than 0.02) with CY 216 and 62 +/- 5 percent (n = 7, p less than 0.01) with CY 222.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Tissue plasminogen activator: a new thrombolytic agent.

The chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, contraindications, and dosage and administration of tissue plasminogen activator are reviewed. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a serine protease that binds to fibrin-plasminogen complex, catalyzing the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. Unlike streptokinase or urokinase, t-PA binds slowly, if at all, to free circulating plasminogen. This clot specificity suggests t-PA will not produce a systemic lytic effect; however, clot specificity appears to be dose-related, and concentrations similar to those achieved in recent clinical trials have been associated with hemostatic defects. Most clinical trials have used a recombinant DNA product (rt-PA). In the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, intravenous infusions of rt-PA appear to be more effective than intravenous streptokinase. Similar rates of hemorrhage, reperfusion arrhythmias, and reocculsion have been reported. Contraindications to rt-PA use are similar to those for other thrombolytic agents. Preliminary studies of rt-PA in various thromboembolic disorders are encouraging. Marketing approval of a t-PA product (rt-PA, Activase, Genentech, Inc.) is expected in the United States by mid-1987. Clinical trials suggest that rt-PA is more effective and as safe as intravenous streptokinase in lysing occlusive coronary-artery thrombi; however, safety and efficacy appear to be dose-related, and further study is needed to determine the optimal dose.

Animals↗

Recombinant human thrombopoietin: clinical experience and in vivo biology.

Thrombopoietin (TPO) has rapidly moved from the laboratory to the clinic in less than 2 years since its cloning. Two forms of recombinant TPO have been developed for clinical use. The full-length molecule (Genentech Inc, San Francisco, CA) is referred to as recombinant human thrombopoietin, and the truncated version of the molecule (Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA) is referred to as pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor. Both of these forms have been evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials. Administration of either of these agents elicits an increase in circulating platelet counts by several-fold in patients who have normal hematopoiesis before chemotherapy. The response in platelets is accompanied by a significant increase in bone marrow megakaryocytes, an increase in frequency and the number of bone marrow progenitor cells of multiple cell lineages, and a marked mobilization of progenitor cells into the peripheral blood. The results of early trials suggest that TPO attenuates thrombocytopenia and enhances platelet recovery after chemotherapy. Several clinical trials are investigating the potential of this cytokine to enhance platelet recovery after high-dose chemotherapy with or without progenitor cell support, bone marrow transplantation, and leukemia treatment, and for increasing the apheresis yield of platelets in normal donors and cancer patients. Based on the encouraging results of the initial clinical trials, TPO holds promise as a useful therapeutic agent in the prevention and treatment of thrombocytopenia in cancer patients and other disorders.

Acute Disease↗

A multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of sustained release GH in the treatment of naive pediatric patients with GH deficiency.

Treatment of naive children with GH deficiency has relied upon long-term replacement therapy with daily injections of GH. The daily schedule may be inconvenient for patients and their caregivers, possibly promoting nonadherence with the treatment regimen or premature termination of treatment. We studied a new sustained release GH formulation, administered once or twice monthly, to determine its efficacy and safety in this population. Seventy-four prepubertal patients with documented GH deficiency were randomized to receive sustained release recombinant human GH at either 1.5 mg/kg once monthly or 0.75 mg/kg twice monthly by sc injection in a 6-month open-label study. Efficacy was determined by growth data from 69 patients completing 6 months and 56 patients completing 12 months in an extension study. Growth rates were significantly increased over baseline and were similar for the two dosage groups. The mean (+/-SD) annualized growth rate (pooled data) was 8.4 +/- 2.1 cm/yr at 6 months, and the growth rate was 7.8 +/- 1.8 at 12 months compared with 4.5 +/- 2.3 at baseline. Standardized height, bone age, and predicted adult height assessments demonstrated catch-up growth without excessive skeletal maturation. Injection site-related events (including pain, erythema, and nodules) were the most commonly reported adverse events; no serious adverse events related to treatment were reported. Laboratory studies documented no accumulation of trough GH or IGF-I levels during treatment, nor did glucose intolerance or persistent hyperinsulinism develop. Sustained release recombinant human GH is safe and effective for long-term GH replacement in children with GH deficiency. Patients achieved similar growth velocities when sustained release GH was given once or twice monthly. The enhanced convenience of this dosage form may result in greater long-term adherence to the treatment regimen.

Antibodies↗

Anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, omalizumab: a new treatment for allergic asthma.

Omalizumab (Xolair Genentech, USA/Tanox, Inc., USA/Novartis Pharma AG, Switzerland) - a humanised antibody to IgE that reduces circulating free IgE - has been developed for the treatment of allergic asthma. It inhibits the early- and late-phase response to allergens, suppresses eosinophilic and T cell inflammation in asthmatic airways and reduces the levels of high-affinity IgE receptors on basophils. In clinical trials of moderate-to-severe asthma, omalizumab allowed a reduction in inhaled corticosteroid dosage while improving peak flows and reducing exacerbations, particularly in patients at high-risk of serious asthma-related morbidity and improved quality of life scores. When added to existing therapies of patients with more severe asthma, omalizumab also improved asthma control. Additionally, in asthma patients with concomitant perennial allergic rhinitis, omalizumab provides improvement in these comorbid conditions. Omalizumab is well-tolerated by asthma patients and represents a new approach to the treatment of the moderate-to-severe asthmatic patient. It is likely that it will first be used at the more severe end of the asthmatic diathesis.

Allergens↗