Therapy of lung metastases through combined vaccination with carcinoma cells engineered to release IL-13 and IFN-gamma.

TS/A spontaneous mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cells were engineered to release interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a Th1 cytokine (TS/A-IFNgamma) and interleukin-13 (IL-13), a Th2 cytokine (TS/A-IL13). Mice bearing lung micrometastases induced by parental TS/A cells received repeated subcutaneous vaccinations with TS/A-IFN-gamma admixed with TS/A-IL13 engineered cells. This combined treatment cured up to 75% of mice, whereas vaccinations with either TS/A-IFNgamma or TS/A-IL13 alone cured only 20-40% of mice.

The expression of ccn3(nov) gene in musculoskeletal tumors.

The CCN3(NOV) protein belongs to the CCN [cysteine-rich CYR61, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), nephroblastoma overexpressed gene (Nov)] family of growth regulators, sharing a strikingly conserved multimodular organization but exhibiting distinctive functional features. Although previous studies have revealed an expression of CCN3 protein in several normal tissues, including kidney, nervous system, lung, muscle, and cartilage, less is known about its expression in tumors. In this study, we analyzed the expression of CCN3 in musculoskeletal tumors, using a panel of human cell lines and tissue samples.

Invasive aspergillosis in haematological malignancies: clinical findings and management for intensive chemotherapy completion.

Sixty-one cases of Aspergillus infection (35 acute myeloid leukemia, 15 acute lymphoid leukemia, one myelodysplastic syndrome, two aplastic anemia, eight non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) seen in our department between January 1989 and July 1999 were studied retrospectively to evaluate the clinical characteristics, to ascertain the factors that influenced the outcome from mycotic infections, and whether early diagnosis and prolonged therapy permitted completion of scheduled intensive chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) without fungal recurrence. The patients were divided into three diagnostic categories: proven aspergillosis (autoptic or histologic diagnosis) n = 39, probable aspergillosis (radiological diagnosis with positive microbiology) n = 9, and possible aspergillosis (radiological diagnosis alone) n = 13. In the same period among 675 acute leukemia patients the incidence of proven or probable aspergillosis was 7.

Combined allogeneic tumor cell vaccination and systemic interleukin 12 prevents mammary carcinogenesis in HER-2/neu transgenic mice.

Transgenic Balb/c mice expressing the transforming rat HER-2/neu oncogene develop early and multifocal mammary carcinomas. Within the first 5 months of life the tissue-specific expression of HER-2/neu causes a progression in all their 10 mammary glands from atypical hyperplasia to invasive carcinoma. It was previously observed that chronic administration of interleukin (IL)-12 increased tumor latency, but every mouse eventually succumbed to multiple carcinomas.

Identification of new genes related to the myogenic differentiation arrest of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue tumor committed to the myogenic lineage but arrested prior to terminal differentiation. To identify new genes implicated in the block in myogenic differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma cells and those responsible for their proceeding along the myogenic pathway we used cDNA microarrays to compare gene expression profiles of two clones of the human embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RD with different myogenic potentials: RD/12, which is unable to differentiate, and RD/18, which shows elements able to terminally differentiate, as defined by the expression of myosin heavy chain (up to 50% of the population) and the formation of multinucleated myotube-like structures. We identified 80 genes differentially expressed by the two clones.

An anti-apoptotic role for NGF receptors in human rhabdomyosarcoma.

The expression and biological function of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) receptors was studied in a panel of rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines derived from embryonal and alveolar histotype. All the cell lines expressed both the high affinity receptor TrkA and the low affinity receptor p75(NTR). Treatment with exogenous NGF did not considerably alter rhabdomyosarcoma cell growth or differentiation, but significantly inhibited spontaneous apoptosis as well as apoptosis, and induced by serum starvation or apoptosis induced by treatment with cycloheximide (CHX).

The metastatic ability of Ewing's sarcoma cells is modulated by stem cell factor and by its receptor c-kit.

Ewing's sarcoma is a primitive highly malignant tumor of bone and soft tissues usually metastasizing to bone, bone marrow, and lung. Growth factor receptors and their ligands may be involved in its growth and dissemination. We analyzed the expression of c-kit and its ligand stem cell factor (SCF) in a panel of six Ewing's sarcoma cell lines.

p185(neu) protein is required for tumor and anchorage-independent growth, not for cell proliferation of transgenic mammary carcinoma.

Transgenic FVB-NeuN mice (N202) bearing the rat neu protooncogene driven by the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter/enhancer develop focal mammary carcinomas overexpressing the neu-encoded p185(neu) protein. In vitro expression of p185(neu) among mammary carcinoma cultures was heterogeneous, and we could establish some cell lines and clones displaying a complete loss of p185(neu) expression, along with others with very high p185(neu) protein level. Upon in vivo injection, p185(neu)-positive cells gave rise to fast-growing tumors with a short latency, while p185(neu)-negative cells required a very long latency time, and the resulting tumors were invariably p185(neu)-positive.

Expression of HER/erbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases and induction of differentiation by glial growth factor 2 in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells.

Five human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines were used to investigate the surface expression of HER/erbB receptors, particularly of HER-2, HER-3 and HER-4, by flow cytometry. HER-2 was expressed in 3/5 rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. HER-3 was expressed in all rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines.

[Antropyloric lithiasic obstruction: a variant of Bouveret's syndrome].

Bouveret's syndrome is a rare complication of a biliodigestive fistula, where a big stone occludes the pyloro-duodenal region. The authors describe a case with obstructive variant at antropyloric level. With the help, of the literature they speak about this matter with particular attention to the clinic symptomatology and diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.

[Removal of tattoos by CO2 laser and acetic acid].

The Authors pay attention to small tattoo removal by means of the utilization of the CO2 laser. Moreover, the Authors emphasize the drawback of double treatment which, usually, the patient suffers in tattoo removal by CO2 laser. Then, the pressure of the Authors is small sized tattoo removal in only one sitting achieving so an excellent esthetic result.

[Atypical metastases from gastric carcinoma. A primary and isolated case localized in the abdominal wall].

The authors report a rare case of gastric carcinoma metastasis localised in the anterior abdominal wall which was an isolated and primary sign of disease. After having underlined the rarity of the case, there is a brief discussion of aspects related to the spread of primary tumours in relation to other cases reported over the past decade; the most important reports of atypical secondary localisations are listed.

[Carcinoma of the cecum: is early diagnosis possible?].

Between 1982 and 1989, a consecutive series of 34 patients with cancer of the cecum were operated in our hospital. Overall, at 5 years the survival was 50%. We did not notice any correlation among symptom duration and survival.

[Early gastric cancer: considerations on 22 cases].

Twenty two cases of early gastric cancer were observed in an overall group of 171 patients with gastric cancer. Clinic, radiological and endoscopic elements for diagnosis were discussed, as well as isto-pathological identification and treatment methods. Late prognosis, as related to degree of local and nodes involvement and to surgery applied, was considered.