Molecular evidence of bone marrow involvement in advanced case ot Tgammadelta lymphoma with secondary myelofibrosis.

We describe the case of a middle-aged man with long indolent course of generalized Tgammadelta lymphoma. The onset of secondary myelofibrosis made cytological monitoring of the bone marrow infiltrates impossible. As during progression of the disease splenectomy revealed typical histological features of a high-grade hepatosplenic Tgammadelta lymphoma, the low-grade bone infiltrate was considered a secondary lymphoma.

Preclinical activity of trans-indazolium[tetrachlorobisindazoleruthenate(III)] (NSC 666158; IndCR; KP 1019) against tumour colony-forming units and haematopoietic progenitor cells.

Trans-indazolium[tetrachlorobisindazoleruthenate(III)] (KP 1019) is a new heavy metal complex with promising activity against tumour cell lines and in animal models. We studied the antineoplastic effects of KP 1019 (final concentrations: 1, 10, 100 micrograms/ml) on in vitro proliferation of clonogenic cells from freshly explanted human tumours in a capillary soft agar cloning system, and compared the activity of KP 1019 with conventional antineoplastic agents. 53 of 75 specimens (71%) showed adequate growth in controls.

Gemcitabine and etoposide in small cell lung cancer: phase I and II trials.

Gemcitabine and etoposide have both shown single-agent activity against multiple tumor types in clinical trials, including small cell lung cancer, but have not been previously used together. Forty-four patients with small cell and non-small cell lung cancer or other tumor types were enrolled in a phase I dose-finding trial using this drug combination. Gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 was given intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle, and etoposide (dose escalated from 20 to 80 mg/m2) was given on days 8, 9, and 10.

Paclitaxel administered over 3 h followed by cisplatin in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a clinical phase I study.

We have performed a clinical phase I trial of a combination treatment with paclitaxel given as 3-hour infusion and cisplatin to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the dose-limiting toxicity in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Treatment was repeated every 21 days. Doses administered ranged from 135 mg/m2 paclitaxel/75 mg/m2 cisplatin to 250 mg/m2 paclitaxel/100 mg/m2 cisplatin.

Clinical and pharmacokinetic phase I trial of oral dimethylaminoetoposide (NK611) administered for 21 days every 35 days.

We have conducted a clinical and pharmacokinetic trial of the novel podophyllotoxin derivative NK611 administered orally for 21 consecutive days. The treatment was repeated every 35 days. Eighteen patients were included into the study, all of whom were eligible.

Efficacy of 5'-nor-anhydrovinblastine (vinorelbine), against freshly explanted clonogenic human tumor cells in vitro.

Vinorelbine (5'-nor-anhydrovinblastine) is a semisynthetic vinca alkaloid currently undergoing extensive clinical evaluation. We have studied the antitumor effect of vinorelbine (final concentrations: 8.4-1000.

Clinical phase I and pharmacokinetic trial of the new titanium complex budotitane.

Budotitane [cis-diethoxybis(1-phenylbutane-1,3-dionato)titanium (IV)] is a novel inorganic metal complex. Preclinical studies in established screening models indicate considerable antitumor activity. We have performed a clinical Phase I and pharmacokinetic trial with budotitane administered as i.

Clinical phase I study of paclitaxel followed by cisplatin in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

We performed a clinical phase I trial of the combination of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) and cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, using a 3-hour infusion of paclitaxel followed by a 1-hour infusion of cisplatin. Treatment with this combination was repeated every 21 days. Patients who had received prior treatment with platinum-containing regimens were excluded.

Beta-tubulin and P-glycoprotein: major determinants of vincristine accumulation in B-CLL cells.

Vincristine (VCR) accumulation in chronic lymphatic leukemia of B-cell origin (B-CLL) has recently been shown not to be inversely correlated to P-glycoprotein (PGP) levels. Therefore, we studied, in addition to PGP expression and accumulation of VCR, the cellular beta-tubulin content in quiescent and rhIL-2 activated B-CLL cells. VCR mediates cytotoxicity by binding to tubulin.

Characterization and mutual ligand-induced modulation of epidermal growth factor and interferon-alpha receptors on renal carcinoma cells in vitro.

We have determined the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and interferon (IFN)-alpha to their specific receptors on four renal carcinoma cell lines. CaKi-2, a-498 and ACHN cell lines express high numbers, and CaKi-1 expresses low number of EGF receptors (EGFRs). On all four renal carcinoma cell lines, we have also detected specific IFN-alpha binding sites.

Activity of NK 611, a new epipodophyllotoxin derivative, against colony forming units from freshly explanted human tumours in vitro.

NK 611 is a new semisynthetic analogue of etoposide, which presumably also acts through inhibition of topoisomerase II, and has been found to be more potent against several cancer cell lines in vitro than etoposide. The objectives of our study were to determine the activity of NK 611 against freshly explanted clonogenic cells from human tumours and compare this agent with etoposide and other clinically useful agents. After exposure for 1 h in 45 evaluable tumour specimens, NK 611 showed clear concentration-dependent antitumour activity.

Interleukin 1 modulates growth of human renal carcinoma cells in vitro.

We have investigated the influence of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on growth of human renal carcinoma cells in vitro. Using a capillary soft-agar cloning system, 18% of freshly explanted renal carcinomas were stimulated to grow by IL-1 and 4% were inhibited. Subsequent experiments with established renal cancer cell lines demonstrated that two out of four cell lines (Caki-2, A-498) were sensitive to IL-1.

Effects of vinorelbine on epidermal growth factor-receptor binding of human breast cancer cell lines in vitro.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is a mitogenic peptide that binds to surface membrane receptors (EGFR) of breast cancer cells. After binding, secondary transmitter molecules are activated by tyrosine phosphorylation of the intracellular receptor domaine. The activity of the EGF/EGFR system can be modulated by a variety of chemically unrelated compounds including cytostatic agents.

Investigation of the comparative effects of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine on tumor colony forming units in vitro.

2-CdA is a deaminase-resistant purine analogue which has shown clinical activity against various hematological tumors, and is currently undergoing clinical phase II trials. The objectives of our study were to determine the activity of 2-CdA against freshly explanted clonogenic cells from non-hematological human tumors and compare this agent with other clinically useful anticancer agents. We also compared short-term (1 hour) and long-term (21-28 days) exposures.

Chemomodulation of drugs involved in multidrug resistance in chronic lymphatic leukemia of the B-cell type.

Reduced drug accumulation may be one reason for intrinsic drug resistance in chronic lymphatic leukemia of the B-cell type (B-CLL). Immunophenotyped leukemic human B-cells from 38 cases of B-CLL were characterized for P-glycoprotein (PGP) content. In all, 30 cases of B-CLL were additionally analyzed for further parameters: accumulation of daunorubicin (DNR, n = 20) and rhodamine 123 (Rh123, n = 30) in both the presence and the absence of verapamil (VRP).

Effects of the microtubule-disturbing agents docetaxel (Taxotere), vinblastine and vincristine on epidermal growth factor-receptor binding of human breast cancer cell lines in vitro.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a mitogenic peptide that binds to surface membrane receptors (EGFR) of breast cancer cells. After binding, secondary transmitter molecules are activated by tyrosine phosphorylation of the intracellular receptor domaine. The activity of the EGF/EGFR system can be modulated by a variety of chemically unrelated compounds including cytostatic agents.

Removal of breast cancer cells from bone marrow by in vitro purging with ether lipids and cryopreservation.

Four cell lines from human breast cancer (HTB 19, HTB 133, IZB B, and MCF 7M) were investigated for in vitro growth before and after incubation with the ether lipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3) for 4 h and at increasing concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100 micrograms/ml), as well as with and without cryopreservation. When measured with the human tumor cloning assay in agar or methyl-cellulose the surviving fraction showed an inverse correlation with the concentrations of ET-18-OCH3. After a 4-h exposure with 75 micrograms/ml ET-18-OCH3 at a cell density of 2 x 10(5)/ml the number of colonies of HTB 19 decreased from 75 +/- 10/10(3) cells (100%) to 1 +/- 0/10(3) cells (1%), and after subsequent cryopreservation no remaining colonies were found.

Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic trial of dextran conjugated doxorubicin (AD-70, DOX-OXD).

Coupling of anthracyclines to high-molecular-weight carriers may alter drug disposition and improve antitumor effects. We have performed a clinical phase I trial of doxorubicin coupled to dextran (70000 m.w.

Preclinical activity of taxotere (RP 56976, NSC 628503) against freshly explanted clonogenic human tumour cells: comparison with taxol and conventional antineoplastic agents.

Taxotere (TER) and taxol (TA) are new antitumour agents currently undergoing clinical evaluation. We studied the antineoplastic effects of these agents (final concentrations: 4.0, 0.

Differential cytotoxicity of an ether lipid on lymphoma and bone marrow cells and its role in purging malignant lymphoid cells from remission bone marrow contaminated with tumor cells.

Four human clonogenic malignant lymphoid cell lines (CEM, Su-DHL-4, Li-A, and Raji) as well as normal human bone marrow stem cell progenitor cells were investigated for clonal in vitro growth before and after incubation with the ether lipid ET-18-OCH3 for various times (1, 4, and 18 h) and at increasing concentrations of the drug (25, 50, 75, and 100 micrograms/ml). The clonal growth of the malignant lymphoid cell lines was inversely correlated with concentrations and times of drug incubation. The antineoplastic effect of ET-18-OCH3 was further amplified by subsequent cryopreservation.

Some antagonists of platelet activating factor are cytotoxic for human malignant cell lines.

Nine new platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists from 4 different chemical classes (thiopyrimidines: SDZ 59-015; thioimidazolines: SDZ 61-813; imidazoisoquinolines: SDZ 62-434, SDZ 62-759, SDZ 63-135, SDZ 63-596; and imidazopiperidines: SDZ 61-638, SDZ 62-293, SDZ 62-694) have been tested for cytostatic/antiproliferative ([3H]thymidine uptake) and cytotoxic (trypan blue dye exclusion) activity in neoplastic human cell lines of different histology in vitro. The antiproliferative activity of 3 of the 9 PAF antagonists (SDZ 61-638, SDZ 61-813, SDZ 62-694) was not stable after freezing and thawing. SDZ 59-015 showed only minor cytotoxic or antiproliferative effects in a dose range of 2-40 microns after 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation.

Stimulation of clonal growth of human colorectal tumor cells by IL-3 and GM-CSF. Modulation of 5-FU cytotoxicity by GM-CSF.

We studied the influence of recombinant human (rh) interleukin-3 (IL-3) and rh granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on the clonal growth of a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line in a methylcellulose assay for colony growth of solid tumor cell lines (HTCAMC) and a capillary modification of a human tumor cloning assay in agar (HTCAcap). Both growth factors stimulated the clonal growth of this cell line in a dose-dependent fashion. Neutralizing the monoclonal antibody abolished the effect of rhGM-CSF.

Cytotoxic effects of hexadecylphosphocholine in neoplastic cell lines including drug-resistant sublines in vitro.

Hexadecylphosphocholine (HPC) was tested in comparison with the membrane-toxic reference ether lipid ET-18-OCH3 for cytotoxic (trypan blue dye exclusion) and cytostatic/antiproliferative [( 3H]thymidine uptake) activity in six cell lines of human hematologic malignancies, six cell lines of human solid tumors and four drug-resistant sublines and their respective non-resistant parent lines in vitro. HPC showed time- and dose-dependent antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity in almost all cell lines, including drug-resistant sublines over a dose range of 2-120 microM and after incubation times of 24, 48 and 72 h. However, ET-18-OCH3 showed a significantly higher activity than HPC, when both compounds were compared on an equimolar basis.

Cross-resistance pattern of cell lines selected for resistance towards different cytotoxic drugs to membrane-toxic phospholipids in vitro.

The synthetic ether lipids ET-18-OCH3 and BM41.440 and a derivative, hexadecylphosphocholine, were tested for inhibition of [3H]-thymidine uptake into a Chinese hamster ovarian cell line (AUXBl) and its multidrug-resistant subline selected for colchicine resistance (CHRC5). The activity of all three compounds against the multidrug-resistant subline was equal to or higher than that against the parent line.