ICAM-1 expression by lung cancer cell lines: effects of upregulation by cytokines on the interaction with LAK cells.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression by tumour cells may be involved in their interaction with defensive cells. In this study the surface ICAM-1 expression and soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) production by five small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and five non-SCLC (NSCLC) cell lines was investigated. In addition, the effects of ICAM-1 upregulation by cytokines on the adhesion of lung cancer cells to allogeneic lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and susceptibility to LAK cytotoxicity was also evaluated.

Morphologic and phenotypic changes of human neuroblastoma cells in culture induced by cytosine arabinoside.

The effects of cytosine-arabinoside (ARA-C) on the growth and phenotypic expression of a new human neuroblastoma (NB) cell line (GI-ME-N) have been extensively tested. Low doses of ARA-C allowing more than 90% cell viability induce morphological differentiation and growth inhibition. Differentiated cells were larger and flattened with elongated dendritic processes; such cells appeared within 48 h after a dose of ARA-C as low as 0.

Role of Broviac catheters in infections in children with cancer.

In a 3-year period 157 single lumen Broviac catheters were inserted in 145 children with various neoplastic diseases. The overall duration of the catheter courses was 30,533 days (median, 171; range, 2 to 647). Sixty-five percent of the catheter courses (102 of 157) were complicated by at least 1 febrile episode, for a total of 157 episodes.

Cytogenetic and molecular study of two human neuroblastoma cell lines.

Long-term cell cultures (GI-LA-N and GI-ME-N) were established from the metastases of two disseminated neuroblastomas (NB). The first was obtained from a lymph node biopsy of a stage III NB after 7 months of chemotherapy, and the second from a bone marrow specimen of a stage IV NB after 6 months of chemotherapy. Cytogenetic investigation revealed several structural and numerical alterations in both cell cultures, but the only common chromosomal aberration was partial monosomy of 1p.

Effect of cytosine arabinoside on the growth and phenotypic expression of GI-ME-N, a new human neuroblastoma cell line.

Cytosine-arabinoside (ARA-C) effects on a new human neuroblastoma cell line (GI-ME-N), recently established in our laboratory, have been extensively tested. Low doses of ARA-C allowing virtually 100% cell viability induce morphological differentiation and growth inhibition; differentiated cells appear larger and flattened with elongated dendritic processes; such cells appeared within 48 hours after a dose of ARA-C as low as 0.1 microgram/ml.

In vitro response to mitogens and antigens in elderly and post-cytotoxic patients can be modified by a new hypoxanthine derivative (PCF-39).

The in vitro immunomodulatory properties of the hypoxanthine derivative N alpha-5(1.6-dihidro-6-oxo-9-purinyl)pentyloxy/carbonyl -L-arginine (PCF-39) are described. Data obtained with PHA in vitro indicate that PCF-39 exhibits immunopharmacologic activity in elderly and post-cytotoxic patients, while showing no significant activity in normal donors.

Sensory neuropeptides (substance P) and 4-11 SP enhance human neutrophils chemiluminescence; the role of L-arginine.

Investigations on the effect of a naturally occurring neuropeptide, substance P (SP) and one of its synthetic analogues, 4-11 SP, on luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are presented. Both peptides elicited a strong burst of CL with different time course and dose-response curves. SP- and tuftsin-induced CL were similar, both peptides sharing a Lys-Pro-Arg terminal; 4-11 SP, which lacks the terminal arginine, peaked earlier than the natural peptide.

[Neuroblastoma at the Giannina Gaslini Institute. Analysis of 94 cases diagnosed 1972-1981].

The authors have analysed 94 consecutive previously untreated children affected by NB diagnosed at the Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital in the period January 1972 - December 1981. Age at diagnosis ranged between 1 month - 16 years (median 2 years). Diagnosis was made on histological grounds in 82 cases, on clinical, instrumental and laboratory data in the remaining 12 cases.