Components of a hyperthermia clinic: recommendations for staffing, equipment, and treatment monitoring.

Like other technically sophisticated medical endeavours, a hyperthermia clinic relies on skilled staffing. Physicians, physicists and technologists perform multiple tasks to ensure properly functioning equipment, appropriate patient selection, and to plan and administer this treatment. This paper reviews the competencies and tasks that are used in a hyperthermia clinic.

Dosimetric equivalence of nonstandard HDR brachytherapy catheter patterns.

PURPOSE: To determine whether alternative high dose rate prostate brachytherapy catheter patterns can result in similar or improved dose distributions while providing better access and reducing trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standard prostate cancer high dose rate brachytherapy uses a regular grid of parallel needle positions to guide the catheter insertion. This geometry does not easily allow the physician to avoid piercing the critical structures near the penile bulb nor does it provide position flexibility in the case of pubic arch interference. This study used CT datasets with 3 mm slice spacing from ten previously treated patients and digitized new catheters following three hypothetical catheter patterns: conical, bi-conical, and fireworks. The conical patterns were used to accommodate a robotic delivery using a single entry point. The bi-conical and fireworks patterns were specifically designed to avoid the critical structures near the penile bulb. For each catheter distribution, a plan was optimized with the inverse planning algorithm, IPSA, and compared with the plan used for treatment. Irrelevant of catheter geometry, a plan must fulfill the RTOG-0321 dose criteria for target dose coverage (V100(Prostate) > 90%) and organ-at-risk dose sparing (V75(Bladder) < 1 cc, V75(Rectum) < 1 cc, V125(Urethra) << 1cc). RESULTS: The three nonstandard catheter patterns used 16 nonparallel, straight divergent catheters, with entry points in the perineum. Thirty plans from ten patients with prostate sizes ranging from 26 to 89 cc were optimized. All nonstandard patterns fulfilled the RTOG criteria when the clinical plan did. In some cases, the dose distribution was improved by better sparing the organs-at-risk. CONCLUSION: Alternative catheter patterns can provide the physician with additional ways to treat patients previously considered unsuited for brachytherapy treatment (pubic arch interference) and facilitate robotic guidance of catheter insertion. In addition, alternative catheter patterns may decrease toxicity by avoidance of the critical structures near the penile bulb while still fulfilling the RTOG criteria.

Induction of ouabain-resistant mutation and sister chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster cells with chemical carcinogens mediated by human pulmonary macrophages.

Pulmonary macrophages (PAM) metabolically activated benzo[a]pyrene [B(a)P] and its proximate carcinogenic metabolite, (+/-)trans 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (7,8-diol), to ultimate mutagens that were detected in cocultivated Chinese hamster V79 cells. Increases in the frequency of ouabainresistant (O(r)) mutations and sister chromatid exchanges were found in V79 cells only when they were cocultivated with both PAM and the chemical procarcinogens. 7,8-Diol caused higher frequencies of both O(r) mutations and sister chromatid exchanges than did the parent compound, B(a)P. When metabolically activated by PAM the mean O(r) mutation frequency caused by B(a)P was 9 O(r) mutants/10(6) surviving V79 cells per 10(6) PAM and a 10-fold interindividual variation (range, 2-21) was found. The mean O(r) mutation frequency caused by 7,8-diol was 64 and a ninefold interindividual variation (range, 14-120) was found. In the absence of PAM, the O(r) mutation frequency in V79 cells was one or less O(r) mutant per 10(6) survivors. 7,8-Benzoflavone, an inhibitor of mixed function oxidases, reduced the frequencies of O(r) mutations and of sister chromatid exchanges in V79 cells caused by 7,8-diol and B(a)P. As expected 7,8-benzoflavone did not influence the frequency of O(r) mutations caused by one of the ultimate mutagens derived from B(a)P and 7,8-diol, (+/-)7beta, 8alpha-dihydroxy-9alpha, 10alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene. These data are consistant with the hypothesis that PAM may play a role in the activation of environmental chemical procarcinogens.

Neoplastic transformation in tissues of rats exposed to monocrotaline or dehydroretronecine.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats received sc injections biweekly of either the pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrotaline or its metabolite dehydroretronecine for 1 year. The animals were then observed for an additional 12 months for the induction of neoplasms. Of 60 rats that received dehydroretronecine, 39 developed rhabdomyosarcomas at the injection site, and 5 of these neoplasms metastasized. In the 60 monocrotaline-treated rats, 31 widely dispersed tumors of various cell types were recorded. The reason suggested for the variation in tissue response was that the metabolite dehydroretronecine is a proximate carcinogen, whereas monocrotaline must first be metabolized before its carcinogenic potential is realized.

DNA transfection of ecotropic murine leukemia viruses in mouse cell cultures.

DNA's were isolated from cells chronically infected with N-, B-, or NB-tropic murine leukemia viruses and tested for infectious activity in various mouse cell cultures. Early detection of the DNA transfection is facilitated by growing the DNA-recipient cells in medium containing 10(-6) M hydrocortisone. Appropriate shearing of the DNA preparations may increase the efficiency of the transfection. With these procedures virus production of the transfected cells can be detected by XC plaque assay as early as 4 days after DNA inoculation in NIH 3T3 cells. Susceptibility of the mouse cell cultures to DNA transfection does not parallel their susceptibility to virion infection. Progeny viruses derived from the transfection show the same N- or B-tropic host range property as do the parent viruses.

Comparative ultrastructural effects of aflatoxin B1 on mouse, rat, and human hepatocytes in primary culture.

Human, rat, and mouse hepatocytes in primary culture were treated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and examined for ultrastructural alterations. As early as 1 h following in vitro exposure to AFB1, there were ultrastructural changes in the nuclei of rat and human hepatocytes. The most prominent change in the nuclei was a segregation of nucleolar components that resembled the segregation in liver cells of rats exposed to AFB1 in vivo. The nucleolar segregations were developed by incubating rat hepatocytes for 24 h in a medium containing as little as 0.01 micrograms of AFB1 per ml. The minimum concentration to induce the same change in human hepatocytes was 0.1 micrograms/ml. No distinct nucleolar alteration was observed in mouse hepatocytes incubated in a medium containing 10 micrograms of AFB1 per ml. Irregular nuclear chromatin condensation also developed in the cells exposed to a higher concentration of AFB1, whereas little damage was observed in mitochondria and lysosomes. The similarity in morphological changes between our in vitro model and in vivo models previously investigated indicates that the hepatocytes in primary culture maintain the biological properties necessary for carcinogen responses similar to liver cells in vivo. In addition, the morphological changes in cultured rat and mouse hepatocytes induced by AFB1 correlate with in vivo experiments insofar as mice are relatively resistant, whereas rats are sensitive to AFB1 carcinogenesis. Thus, cultured hepatocyte systems may be a valuable tool to study genetic damage which may lead to hepatocellular carcinomas in human and animal livers.

Dehydroretronecine-induced rhabdomyosarcomas in rats.

Two groups of rat were given s.c. injections of either monocrotaline or its major detectable metabolite, dehydroretronecine, biweekly for 1 year. Tissues obtained from partial hepatectomies performed at 4 months on a portion of these animals showed that both compounds caused a decided inhibition of mitotic division in regenerating liver. Rhabdomyosarcomas developed at the site of dehydroretronecine injection in 51.6% of the rats and in 3.3% of the monocrotaline-treated rats. Metastatic lesions were recorded in 8.3% of these animals. In addition to the above, 10% of the monocrotaline-treated rats developed other tumors that included myelogenous leukemias, hepatocellular carcinomas, and pulmonary adenomas. These data indicate that either monocrotaline or its metabolite dehydroretronecine are capable of causing neoplastic transformations in the tissues of experimental animals.

Measurement of benzo(a)pyrene-DNA adducts by enzyme immunoassays and radioimmunoassay.

Ultrasensitive enzymatic radioimmunoassay (USERIA) was compared to radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in determining the amount of benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] metabolite covalently bound to guanine in DNA. In the USERIA approach, DNA either with or without B(a)P metabolite modification was adsorbed on the wells of microtiter plates, and rabbit antiserum to B(a)P metabolite-modified DNA [B(a)P-DNA] was then added. Antibodies reacted specifically with the B(a)P-DNA attached to the surface of the plate. After reaction between goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated to alkaline phosphatase and rabbit IgG bound to the solid phase, this specific antigen-antibody reaction was enzymatically amplified by alkaline phosphatase conversion of [3H]adenosine 5'-monophosphate to [3H]adenosine. Following chromatographic separation from [3H]adenosine5'-monophosphate, [3H]adenosine was measured by liquid scintillation counting. The amount of [3H]-adenosine formed was linearly related to the amount of B(a)P-DNA in 10 ng DNA attached to the solid phase. As little as 3 fmol of bound B(a)P metabolite can be detected by noncompetitive USERIA, while 10 fmol of the adducts in 25 microgram DNA [1 B(a)P-DNA adduct per 7 X 10(6) nucleotides] can be measured by the competitive USERIA approach. Under our standard competitive procedure with 1 microgram DNA in the antigen-antibody reaction mixture, USERIA is approximately 500-fold more sensitive than radioimmunoassay and 5-fold more sensitive than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of B(a)P-DNA adducts. These highly sensitive assays should be extremely useful for studies in DNA damage and repair by B(a)P metabolites as well as in studies on environmental exposure to this ubiquitous carcinogen.

Prostate volume change after radioactive seed implantation: possible benefit of improved dose volume histogram with perioperative steroid.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in prostate volume associated with radioactive seed implantation and identify factors that influence prostate swelling. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between June 1997 and August 1999, 161 patients implanted for prostate carcinoma at the University of California, San Francisco, had prostate volume measurements taken at 4 time points (preplan, preimplant, postimplant, postimplant dosimetry). Patient records were reviewed for treatment with perioperative steroids, hormone therapy (nHT), and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). One and 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) methods were used to test differences in mean effects among patient subsets. RESULTS: A mean 20% volume increase was noted immediately postimplant overall (p < 0.0001), and even with EBRT and/or HT. Steroids were associated with a mean volume decrease of 19.9%, by 3-4 weeks post-procedure (p < 0.0001). Without steroids, only a 3.8% mean change was seen (p = ns). Steroid use resulted in a significant increase in mean dose-volume histogram (DVH) (p = 0.001); however, this benefit was only observed among patients who did not receive steroid. A consistently high DVH occurred with steroid use. CONCLUSION: A significant decrease in prostate volume and improved DVH are associated with steroid use. The diminished benefit of steroid use and higher mean DVH achieved in later years suggests the existence of a significant "learning curve" for brachytherapy procedures.

Normal tissue dosimetric comparison between HDR prostate implant boost and conformal external beam radiotherapy boost: potential for dose escalation.

PURPOSE: To compare the dose and volume of bladder and rectum treated using high-dose-rate (HDR) prostate implant boost versus conformal external beam radiotherapy boost, and to use the dose-volume information to perform a critical volume tolerance (CVT) analysis and then estimate the potential for further dose escalation using HDR brachytherapy boost. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Using CT scan data collected before and after patients underwent HDR prostate implant, a 7-field conformal prostate-only external beam treatment plan and HDR brachytherapy treatment plan were constructed for each patient. Doses to the normal structures were calculated. Dose-volume histograms (DVH) were plotted for comparison of the two techniques. Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed at four dose levels to compare the dose to normal structures between the two treatment techniques. The acute and late effects of HDR brachytherapy were calculated based on the linear-quadratic (LQ) model. CVT analyses were performed to calculate the potential dose gain (PDG) using HDR brachytherapy boost. RESULTS: The volume of bladder and rectum receiving high dose was significantly less from implant boost. On the average, 0.19 cc of the bladder received 100% of the brachytherapy prescription dose, compared with 5.1 cc of the bladder receiving 100% of the prescription dose in the 7-field conformal external beam radiotherapy boost. Similarly, 0.25 cc of the rectum received 100% of the dose with the implant boost, as compared to 2.9 cc in the conformal external beam treatment. The implant also delivered higher doses inside the prostate volume. On average, 47% of the prostate received > or =150% of the prescription dose. The CVT analysis revealed a range of PDG using the HDR brachytherapy boost which depended on the following variables: critical volume (CV), critical volume tolerance dose (CVTD), number of HDR fractions (N), and the dose of external beam radiotherapy (XRT) delivered with brachytherapy boost. The PDG varied from -3.45% to 10.53% for tumor with an alpha-beta ratio of 10 and 7.14% to 64.6% for tumor with an alpha-beta ratio of 1.5 based on the parameters used for calculation in this study. CONCLUSIONS: HDR brachytherapy can provide better sparing of rectum and bladder while delivering a higher dose to the prostate. Even with the increased late effects of high dose per fraction, there is still a potential for dose escalation beyond external radiotherapy limits using HDR brachytherapy.

Evaluation of ultrasound-based prostate localization for image-guided radiotherapy.

To evaluate the use of the ultrasound-based BAT system for daily prostate alignment. Prostate alignments using the BAT system were compared with alignments using radiographic images of implanted radiopaque markers. The latter alignments were used as a reference. The difference between the BAT and marker alignments represents the displacements that would remain if the alignments were done using ultrasonography. The inter-user variability of the contour alignment process was assessed. On the basis of the marker alignments, the initial displacement of the prostate in the AP, superoinferior, and lateral direction was -0.9 +/- 3.9, 0.1 +/- 3.9, and 0.2 +/- 3.4 mm respectively. The directed differences between the BAT and marker alignments in the respective directions were 0.2 +/- 3.7, 2.7 +/- 3.9, and 1.6 +/- 3.1 mm. The occurrence of displacements >/=5 mm was reduced by a factor of two in the AP direction after the BAT system was used. Among eight users, the average range of couch shifts due to contour alignment variability was 7, 7, and 5 mm in the antero-posterior (AP), superoinferior, and lateral direction, respectively. In our study, the BAT alignments were systematically different from the marker alignments in the superoinferior, and lateral directions. The remaining random variability of the prostate position after the ultrasound-based alignment was similar to the initial variability. However, the occurrence of displacements >/=5 mm was reduced in the AP direction. The inter-user variation of the contour alignment process was significant.

Mismatch cleavage detects base deletion in cystic fibrosis gene.

The delta F508 is the most common defect in the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene; it involves in a 3-base deletion in codon 508 and results in the loss of a phenylalanine residue at amino acid position 508. Our previous results have shown the mismatch enzyme cleavage at the mismatch of a DNA duplex in identifying a specific DNA sequence or a point mutation. The assay is simple and reliable. By manipulating the melting temperature (Tm) for the hybrids of the DNA targets and the deoxynucleotide probes, the mismatch cleavage assays are able to detect the most common defective CF gene, delta F508. The assays with a delta F508 and a normal wild-type probe can differentiate the three genotypes, i.e., delta F508/delta F508, delta F508/normal and normal/normal. Furthermore, the addition of ammonium acetate amplifier to the assay for recycling the target DNA can increase the sensitivity to a level that is sufficient to detect the mutated target in a few micrograms of genomic DNA without the aid of PCR amplification. The detection of the base deletion, the amplification of sensitivity and the differentiation among the genotypes of normal, carrier delta F508 and mutant delta F508 suggest the useful application of mismatch cleavage in genetic diagnosis at the DNA level.

Mismatch cleavage detects pathogenic microorganisms.

When a DNA probe hybridizes a DNA target and generates a G/A mismatch in the probe-target DNA heteroduplex, the mismatch enzyme, mutY, will cut the A base at the site of the mismatch. This specific cleavage at the mismatched A on the known probe will reveal the complementary DNA sequences of the targets. This study shows mismatch cleavage assays identify the complementary sequence of cryptic plasmid target in the extract of chlamydia infected cells in culture. In addition, the specific cleavage at a single base permits differentiation of two sequences with one base difference. This was shown in differentiating the subtypes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1. The addition of amines in the assays increases the sensitivity by freeing the target for recycling. The combined assay system of high sensitivity and demonstrated specificity allows further evaluation for direct identification of pathogenic microorganisms in patient samples.

Re-examining the role of prostate-specific antigen density in predicting outcome for clinically localized prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic significance of prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) in clinically localized prostate cancer and determine whether this index is independent of or superior to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in predicting outcome of patients treated with external beam radiotherapy. METHODS: Between January 1989 and December 1993, 175 evaluable patients with clinically localized prostate cancer received definitive radiotherapy using computed tomography (CT)-guided conformal techniques. PSAD was defined as the ratio of the pretreatment serum PSA to the prostate volume measured from CT treatment planning scans by one investigator. All PSA values were determined using the Hybritech assay. Biochemical failure was defined as two consecutive elevations in PSA separated by at least 3 months and a final PSA value greater than 1 ng/mL. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis including PSA and Gleason score revealed both to be statistically significant predictors of biochemical disease-free survival (P = 0.048 and P < 0.001, respectively). PSAD did not achieve significance on regression analysis. A direct multivariate analysis including PSA and PSAD required dichotomization in order to reduce high correlation. This analysis demonstrated a relative risk (RR) for failure of 1.27 (NS) for high PSA versus low PSA compared with a RR of 1.20 (NS) for high PSAD versus low PSAD. A regression model containing all three variables indicated only the Gleason score as significant in predicting biochemical failure. CONCLUSIONS: These data do not suggest that PSAD is either an independent prognostic factor or a stronger discriminant of outcome than PSA in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with definitive external beam radiotherapy. Larger patient numbers with longer follow-up data, use of a clinical end point, or an analysis restricted to the appropriate subgroup may demonstrate the utility of PSAD in the future.

Genotoxic effects of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human and rat mammary epithelial cells.

Five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of different carcinogenic activities were evaluated for their effects on DNA synthesis (3HTdR labeling index (L.I.] of rat and human mammary epithelial cells (MEC) and for their effects on chromosomes in MEC-mediated sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assays. When compared with DMSO-treated cells, exposures of rat MEC to the two most potent carcinogens (5 micrograms/ml for 24 hr), i.e., 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P), resulted in a 45-62% reduction in the L.I. of rat MEC. Another carcinogen, 20-methylcholanthrene (MCA), produced a 35-48% reduction in L.I., while the noncarcinogenic PAHs, 1,2-benzanthracene (BA) and benzo(e)pyrene (B[e]P), showed no effect. Similarly, exposures of human MEC to DMBA and B[a]P resulted in a 50-90% depression in L.I. while BA was significantly less effective (30% reduction). When co-cultivated with Chinese hamster V-79 cells in the presence of PAH, both rat and human MEC can activate and release the active metabolites to induce SCE in V-79 cells. In the rat MEC-mediated assay for all 5 PAHs, the frequencies of SCE per chromosome in DMBA-, B[a]P-, MCA-, BA-, B[e]P-, and DMSO (solvent control)-treated groups were 6, 3, 1.4, 0.7, 0.4, and 0.3, respectively. DMBA was most effective in increasing SCE, while B[e]P was ineffective. In the human MEC-mediated assay, B[a]P was more effective than DMBA in inducing SCE, and the frequencies of SCE per chromosome were 4.5 and 3.6 in B[a]P- and DMBA-treated groups, respectively. Comparing depression of L.I., SCE, and in vivo carcinogenicity for the 5 PAHs, SCE mediated by rat MEC is better correlated with carcinogenicity in rat than L.I. depression.

Tissue distribution, binding properties and lesions produced by dehydroretronecine in the nonhuman primate.

Four-month-old rhesus monkeys were injected with 65 mg of [3H] dehydroretronecine per kg body weight and sacrificed at 6,12 and 24 h following injection. By the 24th h 13% of the dose had been eliminated in the urine. Although there were no feces, the extremely high radioactivity of the bile and intestinal contents suggested this route was a major one for the excretion of this compound. The 3H was distributed throughout the body by the 6th h with the greatest percentage being in the skin and muscle. However, per gram of tissue the gastric mucosa and bile showed the highest radioactivity. Likewise, it was in the gastric mucosa that the lesions produced by dehydroretronecine were the most severe. High levels of radioactivity persisted in the gastric mucosal lysates after washings with trichloroacetic acit (TCA) while only a small percentage of the (3)H remained in the washed liver lysate. It was determined that over 20% of the 3H was bound to mucosal protein and less than 1% to the nucleic acids.

Mutagenicity of formaldehyde in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts: synergy with ionizing radiation and N-nitroso-N-methylurea.

Cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells, a widely utilized model system in risk assessment of environmental agents, have been utilized to measure toxicity and mutagenicity of formaldehyde with or without previous exposure to either the alkylating agent N-nitroso-N-methylurea or to ionizing radiation. Each of these agents caused a dose-dependent decrease in colony forming efficiency and a parallel increase in 6-thioguanine resistant colonies. Significant mutant frequencies were induced by 0.3 up to 1 mM formaldehyde, 2 and 4 Gy of radiation and 0.2 and 0.5 mM N-nitroso-N-methylurea. Exposure of cells to ionizing radiation or N-nitroso-N-methylurea followed by submutagenic concentrations of formaldehyde potentiated both the cytotoxicity and the mutagenicity as compared with the corresponding separate effects caused by each of these agents. Taken together, these studies clearly demonstrate genotoxic effects in vitro of three recognized carcinogens, i.e. formaldehyde, N-nitroso-N-methylurea and ionizing radiation. Moreover, the synergies now demonstrated in regards to cytopathic consequences indicate interactive effects between formaldehyde and these agents, representing both a chemical and a physical carcinogen.

Comparison of metabolic activation of carcinogens in human, rat, and hamster hepatocytes.

The activities to activate and detoxify procarcinogens were compared in intact hepatocytes from humans, Sprague-Dawley rats and Syrian golden hamsters. Mutagenic metabolites that were released from the isolated hepatocytes were detected by mutation induction in co-cultivated Salmonella typhimurium TA98. Hepatocytes from the 3 animal species all activated aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and aminofluorene (AF) and released active metabolites to induce mutation in the indicator S. typhimurium T98. Hamster hepatocytes were more effective than were human and rat hepatocytes to mediate mutation of Salmonella TA98 by AFB1, AAF and AF. Hepatocytes of human and rat failed to mediate mutation by 1-aminopyrene (1-AP). Indeed, at low concentration of 1-AP and 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), the presence of the hepatocytes decreased the number of TA98 revertants. Only at higher concentrations of 1-aminopyrene and 1-nitropyrene did hamster hepatocytes increase mutation frequencies of indicator cells over the control groups. It seems that hepatocytes, particularly human hepatocytes, are better able to absorb and detoxify 1-AP and 1-NP than to activate them.

A comparison of cytotoxicity, ouabain-resistant mutation, sister-chromatid exchanges, and nascent DNA synthesis in Chinese hamster cells treated with dihydrodiol epoxide derivatives of benzo[a]pyrene.

Chinese hamster V79 cells were treated with either (+/-)-7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P-diol epoxide I) or (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 beta,10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P-diol epoxide II) and the nascent DNA was labeled with [Me-3H]thymidine. The cells were harvested for determination of cytotoxicity, sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE), ouabain-resistant (Or) mutations and the size of newly synthesized daughter-strand DNA. Both isomers caused dose-dependent decreases in survival of cells and in the size of nascent DNA. Increases in the frequencies of SCE and of Or mutation were found in cells treated with either isomer. However, B[a]P-diol epoxide I caused 10--20-fold more Or mutations and 50-100% more SCE than did B[a]P-diol epoxide II at equal molar dose levels. In contrast to the marked difference in the frequencies of both SCE and Or mutations caused by both compounds, the isomers induced similar reductions in the size of the nascent DNA at equal dose levels. In comparing the molecular and biological effects of the two isomers the reduction in the size of nascent DNA was more closely related to cytotoxicity than to the induction of SCE or Or mutations.

The effect of caffeine on cytotoxicity, mutagenesis, and sister-chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster cells treated with dihydrodiol epoxide derivatives of benzo[a]pyrene.

The effect of caffeine on Chinese hamster V79 cells after treatment with the highly mutagenic (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene, and the weaker mutagen (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 beta,10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene, B[a]P-deiol-epoxide II, was studied at both the biological and molecular levels. Caffeine, at nontoxic dose levels, caused a synergistic reduction in cell survival induced by both isomers and also inhibited DNA elongation as measured by alkaline sucrose-gradient analysis of nascent DNA. However, caffeine did not affect the induction of either ouabain-resistant mutants or sister-chromatid exchanges by either isomer. These results suggest that enhanced cell killing by caffeine in benzo[a]pyrene-diol-epoxide treated V79 cells may be related to caffeine's inhibitory effect on DNA elongation. However, inhibition of DNA elongation by caffeine did not influence the resulting induced levels of mutagenesis or sister-chromatid exchanges.