Comparison of chromosome aberrations in leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma using FISH on archival tissues.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with chromosome-specific probes was used to study cytogenetic changes in five cases of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and nine cases of uterine leiomyoma (LM). Biotinylated DNA probes for the centromeric regions of chromosomes 1, 6, 8, 9, 17, and 18, painting probes for chromosomes 1 and 22, and the cosmid probe for chromosome region 21q22.3 were used on nuclei isolated from paraffin blocks. Four of five LMS cases revealed major chromosomal aberrations, while the only case with minor clonal aberrations was subsequently found not to be a typical LMS. The most common numerical aberrations found in the LMS cases were extra copies of chromosome 8 (three of five cases), loss of chromosome 1 (three of five cases), and loss of chromosome 6 (two of five cases). One of two LMS cases studied with a chromosome 1 painting probe demonstrated translocations of chromosome 1. In contrast to LMS, only five of nine uterine LM cases had abnormal clones, and these were smaller than those in LMS. Two LM cases showed 9% tetrasomy 8 with 17 or 20% monosomy 6, and three other cases had monosomy 6 clones in 18-34% of cells. These results indicate that typical LMS is characterized by multiple chromosomal aberrations affecting most of the cells, whereas borderline LMS and LM have fewer affected chromosomes and less clonal involvement.

The role of prostaglandin E1 in ornithine decarboxylase induction by tumor promoters.

The effect of topical application of PGE on induction of ODC in mouse epidermis was measured. When direct induction of ODC by TPA was blocked by also applying indomethacin, maximum ODC activity occurred only when PGE was applied simultaneously with TPA 4 1/2 hr before killing of the mice. If either TPA or PGE was applied at other times, ODC activity decreased substantially. Induction of ODC by mezerein was blocked by indomethacin but restored by PGE, as was observed with TPA, but induction by ethyl phenylpropiolate was not affected by indomethacin or PGE. DMBA did not cause a consistent increase in ODC activity, nor was its inductive action affected by indomethacin or PGE. However, another weak inducer, acetic acid, exhibited elevated ODC activity when PGE was also applied. Inhibition by topical retinoic acid of ODC induction by TPA was partially overcome in a dose-response fashion by PGE. The results indicate that at least 2 events, elevation of PGE and another independent event, are required for induction of ODC activity. It appears that TPA causes at least 4 independent events essential for tumor promotion. A model for the events in the 2-stage tumor promotion model is proposed.

Tumor promoter-induced refractory state against ornithine decarboxylase induction by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in mouse epidermis.

More than one application of the potent tumor-promoting agent, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), to mouse skin at intervals of more than 48 h led to a larger induction of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17; ODC) than did a single application. In contrast, at intervals of less than 24 h, the first application of TPA appeared to induce a refractory state; the second application of TPA did not induce ODC. The extent of the inhibitory effect caused by the first application of TPA was dependent on the dose. The abilities of a series of phorbol esters to induce the refractory state correlated with their promoting abilities. However, both mezerein and ethylphenylpropiolate, potent hyperplastic agents with little or no promoting properties, induced the refractory state. On the other hand, pretreatment with TPA caused a refractory effect on ODC induction by mezerein but potentiated ODC induction by ethylphenylpropiolate. The epidermal cells escaped from the refractory state by repeated application of TPA at intervals of 24 h as well as at intervals of twice a week; that is, there was a full induction of ODC activity following a second application within 24 h of a prior application. TPA did not elicit production of detectable ODC-antizyme activity in mouse epidermis. Mixing of a soluble extract from mouse epidermis in the refractory state with that from TPA-stimulated epidermis gave essentially additive ODC activity. Elimination of ODC induction by topical application of retinoic acid or injection of cycloheximide concurrent with the first application of TPA did not restore the ability of a second application of TPA to induce ODC. These results suggest that the refractory effect on ODC induction by TPA does not result from feedback regulation of ODC.

Inhibition of mouse skin tumor promotion and of promoter-stimulated epidermal polyamine biosynthesis by alpha-difluoromethylornithine.

Application of the tumor-promoting agent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to mouse skin leads to a manifold induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity within 5 hr and an increased accumulation of putrescine. The relevance of these TPA-induced changes to the mechanism of tumor promotion was investigated using alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ODC. DFMO applied to mouse skin (0.3 mg in 0.2 ml of solvent) or administered in the drinking water (1%) in conjunction with skin tumor promotion by TPA inhibited the formation of mouse skin papillomas by 50 and 90%, respectively. TPA-induced ODC activity and the accumulation of putrescine were almost completely inhibited. DFMO given in the drinking water decreased spermidine levels, but DFMO treatment by any route did not alter the spermine levels of mouse epidermis. DFMO decreased TPA-induced hyperplasia by 25 to 40%, and the TPA-caused increases in DNA synthesis and mitotic index were inhibited by 60 and 50%, respectively. Therefore, in mouse epidermis, enhanced cell proliferation can be dissociated from ODC induction and the accumulation of putrescine. At the tested dose levels and routes of administration, DFMO did not inhibit the inflammatory response to TPA in several tissues. These results provide evidence for an essential role of ODC induction and the accumulation of putrescine in tumor promotion by TPA and add strength to the proposal that DFMO may be a promising drug for the prevention and treatment of cancer in human beings.

The difference between the effects of single and double applications of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a potent tumor promoter, on polyamine metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis in mouse epidermis.

Double applications of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to mouse skin at intervals of greater than 48 h led to a larger induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and a smaller increase of DNA and RNA synthesis than did a single application. The largest induction of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase occurred at a 120 h interval between coupled TPA applications. The change in ODC activity was followed by a parallel change in putrescine level. At intervals less than 24 h, the first application of TPA appeared to induce a refractory state; the second application of TPA did not induce the polyamine biosynthetic enzymes nor cause an accumulation of polyamines. The effect of the second application of TPA on the synthesis of DNA and RNA was considerably less at all times than that of a single application.

Increased cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity in the epidermis of phorbol ester-treated mouse skin and in papillomas.

The potent tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, produced a 2- to 3-fold increase in the activity of both the low- and high-affinity forms of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity 13 hr after application to mouse skin. The magnitude of the enzyme induction correlated with the tumor-promoting activity of several doses of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and of other phorbol esters. The induction of the low-affinity phosphodiesterase could be blocked by prior i.p. injection of the microtubule poisons, colchicine and vinblastine. The low-affinity cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity of the epidermal component of mouse skin papillomas produced by two-stage tumorigenesis was 3 times that of the surrounding uninvolved epidermis.

Stimulation of the synthesis of the H1 and H3 histone fractions of mouse epidermis by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

Histones from mouse epidermis were fractionated chemically by the method of Johns, and the 5 resulting fractions were subjected to acrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 3.2 using 15% gels. Their migration sequence was observed to be the same as that reported for calf thymus histones. Total epidermal histone from mice treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and a pulse of [3H]lysine was also subjected to acrylamide gel electrophoresis and 5 separate bands were detected. Large increases in the incorporation of [3H]lysine into the H1 and H3 histones were observed when compared to histone bands from control mice, with smaller but significant increases of incorporation occurring into the H2B, H2A, and H4 fractions.

Stimulation of the synthesis of mouse epidermal histones by tumor-promoting agents.

Topical application of 17 nmoles of the potent tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, resulted in a stimulation of the incorporation of [(3)H]lysine into epidermal histones. Maximum incorporation occurred 24 hr after treatment, concurrent with maximum DNA synthesis. The effects of phorbol and two phorbol esters on histone synthesis were related to their tumor-promoting activities. Treatment with hydroxyurea partially prevented the phorbol ester-induced stimulation of both DNA and histone synthesis, although it had no effect on the stimulation of protein synthesis. These findings are consistent with the likelihood that phorbol ester-induced epidermal histone synthesis is the result of a coupling between DNA synthesis and histone synthesis.

The effect of the phorbol ester tumor promoters on the basal and catecholamine-stimulated levels of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate in mouse skin and epidermis in vivo.

To measure the in vivo levels of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in mouse skin, precautions must be taken to avoid artifactual alterations after excision of the skin from the mouse. With such precautions, the level of cyclic AMP in mouse epidermal-dermal preparations was unchanged 1 to 18 hr after application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to mouse skin. The accumulation of cyclic AMP in response to isoproterenol or the naturally occurring catecholamine epinephrine was, however, significantly diminished 9 to 24 hr after application of TPA. No enhanced accumulation of cyclic AMP in response to alpha-adrenergic stimulation accompanied this diminished beta-adrenergic responsiveness. Experiments with pure epidermis confirmed that these observations reflected the effects of TPA on the epidermal cells in the epidermal-dermal preparations. The metabolism of isoproterenol in TPA-treated epidermis was the same as that in control epidermis. Finally, the tumor-promoting activity of various doses of TPA and of other phorbol esters correlated with their ability to diminish the beta-adrenergic responsiveness of the epidermis.

Dissociation of increases in levels of 3':5'-cyclic AMP and 3':5'-cyclic GMP from induction of ornithine decarboxylase by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate in mouse epidermis in vivo.

A single application of 17 nmol of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to mouse skin caused a marked (200- to 400-fold) induction of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17, L-ornithine carboxy-lyase) activity in mouse epidermal and epidermal-dermal preparations. No change in the basal level of 3':5'-cyclic AMP occurred in epidermal-dermal preparations within 30 min of TPA application. Intraperitoneal injection of the beta-agonist isoproterenol resulted in a dose-dependent accumulation of 3':5'-cyclic AMP occurred in epidermal-dermal preparations within 30 min of TPA application. Intraperitoneal injection of the beta-agonist isoproterenol resulted in a dose-dependent accumulation of 3':5'-cyclic AMP 10 min after injection, but caused no induction of ornithine decarboxylase. When isoproterenol was injected 10 min prior to an application of either 1.7 or 17 nmol of TPA, the magnitude of the ornithine decarboxylase induction was the same as induction with TPA alone. Topical application of 17 nmol of TPA caused no increase in the level of 3':5'-cyclic GMP present in the mouse epidermal-dermal preparations 2-20 min after application. Intraperitoneal injection of 1.75 mumol of dibutyryl 3':5'-cyclic GMP and/or butyryl derivatives of cyclic GMP caused a 6-fold increase in the level of cyclic GMP and/or butyryl derivatives of cyclic GMP in epidermal-dermal preparations within 5 min of injection, and the level remained elevated for at least 20-30 min. This dose of dibutyryl 3':5'-cyclic GMP was incapable of inducing ornithine decarboxylase. Injection of dibutyryl 3':5'-cyclic GMP 5 min before application of 1.7 nmol of TPA or 30 min before application of 17 nmol of TPA did not alter the magnitude of the ornithine decarboxylase induction produced by TPA alone. These results suggest that early increases in the total intracellular levels of either 3':5'-cyclic AMP or 3':5'-cyclic GMP are not part of the mechanism by which TPA induces ornithine decarboxylase in the epidermis.

The effect of colchicine on the induction of ornithine decarboxylase by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate.

The induction of mouse epidermal ornithine decarboxylase, 1 of the earliest and largest phenotypic changes following treatment of mouse skin with the tumor-promoting agent, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, can be inhibited by prior administration of colchicine. Maximal inhibition of this enzyme induction was observed when colchicine was injected i.p. 90 or 120 min before promoter treatment, although time intervals up to 20 hr between colchicine and promoter treatment were effective. The effect of colchicine was dose dependent, with a dose as low as 25 nmoles/mouse causing an inhibition of 35%. Other microtubule-disrupting agents, vinblastine, vincristine, and Colcemid, had a similar effect on ornithine decarboxylase activity. However, beta, gamma-lumicolchicine, a photochemical derivative of colchicine with no antimitotic or microtubule-disrupting ability, and cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of microfilament-dependent processes, had no effect. N6, O2'-dibutyryl 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate, when administered just before colchicine, blocked the inhibitory action of colchicine. The results of these studies suggest that colchicine-sensitive structures, most likely containing microtubules, may be mediating elements between the binding of tumor promoters, perhaps to specific cell surface receptors, and the subsequent induction of ornithine decdaboxylase.

Induction of the polyamine-biosynthetic enzymes in mouse epidermis and their specificity for tumor promotion.

The induction of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase in mouse epidermis by various classes of tumor-promoting and nonpromoting compounds has been studied in order to determine the specificity of this response for tumor promotion. The effect of topical applications of a series of phorbol esters on these enzyme activities correlated well with their promoting abilities. Iodoacetic acid, anthralin, and Tween 60, all promoting compounds, also stimulated both of these enzyme activities after single and multiple applications. The hyperplastic agents acetic acid, cantharidin, and ethyl phenylpropriolate, however, had little effect on ornithine decarboxylase activity but a pronounced effect on epidermal S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase activity. The specificity of the ornithine decarboxylase response for tumor promotion was suggested by the results of the above experiments as well as the stimulatory effect of a completely carcinogenic dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; a lower initiating dose had no effect. In addition, epidermal tumors produced by a two-stage procedure showed consistently high levels of ornithine decarboxylase activity but variable levels of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase activity.

Induction of the polyamine-biosynthetic enzymes in mouse epidermis by tumor-promoting agents.

A single topical application of 1.0 mg of crotol oil or 17 nmoles of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) resulted in a rapid, transient stimulation of mouse epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity. The activity reached a peak (230-fold greater than control after TPA) at 4 to 5 hr after croton oil or TPA treatment and returned to control level by 12 hr. The stimulation of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase activity was less pronounced, reaching a peak of activity (6- to 7-fold greater than control) at 9 to 12 hr after TPA or croton oil and slowly declining to control level. The stimulation of both enzyme activities was dependent on the dose of TPA applied and correlated well with the promoting ability of these doses on mouse skin. Phorbol, the nonpromoting parent alcohol of TPA, did not affect the enzymes activities. Cycloheximide pretreatment abolished the increase in enzyme activities after TPA application. By measuring the decline of enzyme activity following cycloheximide treatment, enzyme half-lives of 17 and 41 min were obtained for ornithine and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase, respectively. 5-Azacytidine pretreatment prevented the stimulation of enzyme activities by TPA, while actinomycin D had no effect. Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) partially blocked the rise in enzyme activities.