Inhibition of the CXCR3-mediated pathway suppresses ultraviolet B-induced pigmentation and erythema in skin.

BACKGROUND: Skin pigmentation by ultraviolet (UV) B radiation is caused in part by inflammation mediated by chemokines and cytokines secreted by keratinocytes in the irradiated area. However, such inflammatory processes have not been well documented. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the inflammation processes caused by UVB irradiation using skin-lightening agents that suppress melanin synthesis after UVB irradiation. METHODS: Utilizing a three-dimensional (3D) skin model, agents that suppressed formation of sunburn cells (SBC) after UVB irradiation were screened. Molecules whose expression was upregulated by UVB irradiation and attenuated by pretreatment with the agent were then screened by gene microarray to explore the mechanism of UVB irradiation. Messenger RNA expression of the molecules identified to be responsible for melanin biosynthesis was knocked down with a Tet-off shRNA lentivirus construct to confirm the involvement of the molecule in the pigmentation pathway following UVB irradiation. RESULTS: Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (PSA) pretreatment suppressed SBC formation in the 3D skin model, and erythema formation and pigmentation in volunteers exposed to UVB irradiation. Comprehensive gene analysis after UVB irradiation showed upregulation of CXCR3 and its ligands, CXCL9/monokine induced by interferon (IFN)-γ (MIG), CXCL10/10-kDa IFN-γ-induced protein (IP-10) and CXCL11/inducible T-cell α-chemoattractant (I-TAC). Upregulation of these genes was partially suppressed by PSA pretreatment. Melanin biosynthesis increased upon stimulation of CXCR3 ligands (MIG, IP-10 or I-TAC) and decreased following CXCR3 downregulation by shRNA knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: UVB irradiation activates CXCR3-mediated signalling that leads to melanin synthesis. PSA pretreatment shows a lightening effect partly by attenuating CXCR3-mediated signalling at the transcriptional level.

Adhesion preventive effect of a novel hyaluronic acid gel film in rats.

This study evaluated the efficacy of a novel hyaluronic acid (HA) gel for preventing adhesions in a rat caecal model. The gel was manufactured from an acidic HA solution using a freezing procedure. HA gel films with four different half-lives (50-200 h) in physiological buffered saline at 37 degrees C were prepared, by regulating the freezing time, and tested. The HA gel film was applied as a barrier on the injured caecal surface after standardized treatment with a rotary abrasion apparatus. A control group of 20 animals were abraded in the same way but not treated. Seven days after the initial operation, the incidence and severity of any adhesions were recorded. Application of the HA gel film significantly reduced the incidence and severity of adhesion formation in all treatment groups compared with the control group. This novel HA gel film is effective for reducing post-operative adhesions in this rat model and the resorption rate is optimum for adhesion prevention on the caecal surface.

Human tumor necrosis factor-alpha mutant RGD-V29 (F4614) shows potent antitumor activity and reduced toxicity against human tumor xenografted nude mice.

The antitumor effects of human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) mutant RGD-V29 (code no. F4614), that includes the cell adhesive sequence (4)Arg-(5)Gly-(6)Asp and (29)Arg-->Val substitution, were evaluated. The therapeutic index, a measure of the extent of the therapeutically-effective range, using three constitutive administrations of RGD-V29 in Meth A-bearing mice was 4.8, whereas that of recombinant human TNF (rhTNF) ((1)SSS(4)RTPSDK...(29)RR...(155)L) was 2.8, clearly indicating that the effective RGD-V29 dose-range was extended. Furthermore, RGD-V29 showed potent antitumor activity against human lung cancer Mqnu-1 xenografted nude mice without severe gastrointestinal and other organ toxicities, even when administered at the maximal tolerated dose (MTD). In contrast, rhTNF induced severe toxicity at the MTD. Direct cytotoxicity of RGD-V29 against Mqnu-1 cells was similar to that of rhTNF. In addition, a cytotoxicity assay using a tumor-derived endothelial-like cell (tEC)/normal endothelial cell (nEC) system used to study TNF antitumor effects on tumor-associated endothelial cells, suggested that RGD-V29 showed preferential cytotoxicity toward tumor-associated endothelial cells compared with rhTNF. Thus, RGD-V29 appears to be a low-toxicity mutant of rhTNF that shows preferential activity towards tumors, and therefore merits further investigation in pre-clinical and clinical studies.

Therapeutic potential of chimeric anti-(ganglioside GD3) antibody KM871: antitumor activity in xenograft model of melanoma and effector function analysis.

KM871 is a chimeric antibody recognizing ganglioside GD3, which is one of the major gangliosides expressed on the cell surface of human tumors of neuroectodermal origin. This study demonstrates the antitumor activity of KM871 against human melanoma xenografts in nude mice, and analyzes the effector function operating in mice. In a well-established tumor model, KM871 showed antitumor activity against H-15 and SK-MEL-28 human melanoma but not against H-187 and G361 human melanoma when administered intravenously 5 days/week for 2 weeks. The G361 tumor became sensitive when KM871 was first administered on the day of tumor inoculation. In this assay, it was observed that almost all the mice were tumor-free, but a few mice developed tumors. Therefore, we examined the amount and expression pattern of GD3 antigen on G361 tumors escaping from KM871 treatment, but no change was observed. Next we examined the optimal administration schedule for KM871 in mice, using H-15 melanoma. KM871 showed antitumor activity when administered intravenously either 5 days/week for 2 weeks or three biweekly doses. However, the effect of the former schedule was stronger than three biweekly doses. To compare the effector function in humans and mice, we studied the complement-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity of KM871 using complement or effector cells prepared from humans and mice. It was found that the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity exerted by polymorphonuclear cells and antibody-dependent macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity were the only antitumor mechanism of KM871 in mice. However their action was very weak compared with that in humans, and complement-mediated cytotoxicity, which was strong in humans, was not observed in mice. Therefore, the antitumor activity of KM871 against human melanomas evaluated by the nude mouse model might be underestimated. These results indicate that KM871 shows good antitumor activity against GD3-positive human melanoma and the antitumor activity expected in humans might be superior to that of the nude mouse model.

[Antitumor effects of TZT-1027, a novel dolastatin 10 derivative, on human tumor xenografts in nude mice].

TZT-1027 was evaluated for its antitumor effects in sixteen human tumors xenografted in nude mice from gastric (H-81, H-106, H-30, H-154), breast (H-31, H-62), colon (H-110, H-143), lung (LC-376, H-74, Mqnu-1, LC-351), liver (H-181), renal cell (H-12) and ovarian (H-OC-3, SOC-4) cancer lines. In the latter three and lung (Mqnu-1, LC-351) cancers the results were compared with those obtained with CPT-11, VCR, CDDP, ADM. TZT-1027 showed effective antitumor activity (IR > or = 58%) against fifteen of the tumor lines, all but LC-351, and showed markedly effective activity (IR > or = 80%) against twelve tumor lines, including drug-resistant colon (H-110), lung (H-74) and ovarian (SOC-4) cancer lines. The complete regression was shown in five H-OC-3 tumor-bearing mice out of seven. Moreover, TZT-1027 was shown to be more potent in three cancer models (Mqnu-1, H-81, SOC-4) than CPT-11, and to have markedly effective antitumor activity in two cancers (H-12, H-OC-3) in which VCR was ineffective and in ovarian cancer (SOC-4) in which CPT-11, CDDP and ADM were ineffective. The administration of TZT-1027 induced fewer side effects; transient reduction of body weight was observed in four lines out of sixteen tested. These results suggest that TZT-1027 is an excellent candidate for clinical trials for the treatment of cancer.

Identification and characterization of E-APC, a novel Drosophila homologue of the tumour suppressor APC.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumour suppressor gene are implicated in the genesis of colorectal cancers. The product of the APC gene forms a complex with beta-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) and Axin/conductin, and induces the degradation of beta-catenin. RESULTS: We have identified a novel Drosophila homologue of APC, E-APC, which is similar to but differs in several respects from D-APC. The E-APC cDNA encodes a protein of predicted 1067 amino acids, with seven armadillo repeats, two copies of the 15-amino acid repeat, five copies of the 20-amino acid repeat, and one Axin/conductin binding site. E-APC directly interacts with D-Axin and Armadillo (Arm, the Drosophila homologue of beta-catenin) in vitro, destabilizes intracellular beta-catenin, and suppresses beta-catenin/TCF-regulated transcription in APC-/- colon cancer cells. The E-APC mRNA is ubiquitously expressed throughout all developmental stages in Drosophila. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that E-APC may be universally involved in the regulation of the Wingless signalling pathway by down-regulating the level of Arm in Drosophila.

Negative regulation of Wingless signaling by D-axin, a Drosophila homolog of axin.

Wnt/Wingless directs many cell fates during development. Wnt/Wingless signaling increases the amount of beta-catenin/Armadillo, which in turn activates gene transcription. Here the Drosophila protein D-Axin was shown to interact with Armadillo and D-APC. Mutation of d-axin resulted in the accumulation of cytoplasmic Armadillo and one of the Wingless target gene products, Distal-less. Ectopic expression of d-axin inhibited Wingless signaling. Hence, D-Axin negatively regulates Wingless signaling by down-regulating the level of Armadillo. These results establish the importance of the Axin family of proteins in Wnt/Wingless signaling in Drosophila.

Antitumor activity of the new selective protein kinase C inhibitor 4'-N-benzoyl staurosporine on murine and human tumor models.

CGP 41251 (4'-N-benzoyl staurosporine, CAS 120685-11-2) has been shown to exert increased selectivity for the inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) activity. In the present study the effect of CGP 41251 formulated in gelucire as an antitumor agent was studied in various types of murine and human tumor models. When administered at a dose of 75 mg/kg 3 times daily for 9 days, CGP 41251 prolonged the life span of the mice bearing B16 melanoma (ILS = 36%). CGP 41251, administered orally at doses of 25-225 mg/kg once daily for 9 days, however, did not show distinct efficacy in four kinds of murine tumor models (B16 melanoma, colon 26, colon 38 and M5076). In s.c.inoculated human tumor xenograft models, CGP 41251, administered orally at a dose of 200 mg/kg once daily for 4 weeks showed a broad antitumor spectrum. CGP 41251 inhibited the growth of gastric cancer (H-55), colorectal cancer (H-26), breast cancer (H-31) and lung cancer (H-74 and LC-376) with inhibition rates of 58-80%. In a histopathologic study, increase in central necrosis and condensed nuclei and vacuolar degeneration were observed, but there was no structural destruction by the treatment of CGP 41251. In addition, CGP 41251 decreased the number of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) immunoreactive cells in human tumor cells H-55, H-26 and H-74. These results indicate that CGP 41251 shows a broad antitumor spectrum against human tumors, and it is suggested that CGP 41251 is a promising oral antitumor agent which has a novel mechanism of action.

[Acquired resistance and cross-resistance of gemcitabine to cisplatin or vindesine in human lung cancer xenografted in nude mice].

One of the problems in the treatment of cancer is the development of resistance to anti-tumor agents when used repeatedly. We described the induction of resistance, cross-resistance to cisplatin (CDDP) or vindesine (VDS) and the side effects of gemcitabine, a new Ara-C derivative, in human lung cancers, Mqnu-1 or H-74 xenografted in nude mice. We investigated the effects of 4-week observation period. Gemcitabine was effective and did not show the acquired resistance when given repeatedly. In contrast, CDDP but not VDS, when given repeatedly, showed a decrease of the anti-tumor effect in the second course. Gemcitabine was still effective to the large tumor grown after CDDP or VDS therapy. Thus, gemcitabine may not develop resistance nor show cross-resistance to CDDP or VDS. In addition, repeated treatment with gemcitabine was much safer than CDDP or VDS. These results suggest that gemcitabine is a candidate for the first choice drug in cancer treatment.

[Antitumor activity of combination treatment combining gemcitabine with cisplatin or vindesine against human lung cancer xenografted in nude mice].

Gemcitabine is a new ara-C derivative and shows much more potent cytotoxic action than ara-C, which may be explained by the fact that its intracellular concentration can be maintained over a longer period. We investigated anti-tumor activity combining gemcitabine with cisplatin (CDDP) or vindesine (VDS) with a lung cancer line H-74 that was relatively insensitive to gemcitabine. Mice were observed for 8 weeks, including the 4 week treatment period and the subsequent 4 week drug-free period. The tumor growth inhibition rate, histological changes, and side effects were evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks after the initiation of therapy. The anti-tumor effects of treatment combining gemcitabine with CDDP or VDS were more potent and lasted longer than each drug separately. Statistical analysis shows that the treatment combining gemcitabine with CDDP was additive or synergistic at 4 and 8 weeks after initiation, whereas the treatment combining gemcitabine with VDS was only additive at 4 weeks after initiation and additive or synergistic at 8 weeks after initiation. The side effects of both combination groups were less than those observed in only CDDP or VDS-treated animals. These results suggest the usefulness of a combination therapy combining gemcitabine with CDDP or VDS in future clinical applications.

[Combination chemotherapy of BOF-A2, a new 5-FU derivative, with various anticancer agents against human cancer xenografts in nude mice].

In order to select a suitable combination chemotherapy with BOF-A2 from the view of both anti-tumor effect (IR) and decrease of side effect, we studied a combination significance of BOF-A2 with CPT-11 that promised for a new anticancer drug, CDDP or mitomycin C (MMC) that used widely to many cancer patients and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) against colon, stomach and renal cancer, respectively, by using xenografted nude mice. The combination therapy of BOF-A2 with CDDP was effective against stomach cancer (H-111) from the cellular change and decreased side effect. The combination therapy of BOF-A2 with MMC showed additive effect against stomach cancer (H-111) from IR and cellular changes. The combination effect of BOF-A2 with IFN-alpha was additive and synergistic against renal cancer (H-12). The combination therapy with CPT-11 was effective (IR > or = to 58%) from antitumor effect, additive from IR and synergistic from cellular change against lung cancer (H-74) and colon cancer (H-110), to which conventional drugs were generally insensitive and spontaneously tolerant. BOF-A2 was expected to be a promising new anti-cancer agent in the future clinical trial.

In vivo tumor growth inhibition produced by a novel sulfonamide, E7010, against rodent and human tumors.

The search for compounds active against solid tumors has led us to the discovery of a novel sulfonamide, E7010 (N-[2-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)amino]-3-pyridinyl]-4- methoxybenzenesulfonamide), which inhibits tubulin polymerization. When administered orally, E7010 showed good antitumor activity against various rodent tumors and human tumor xenografts. In tests on mouse tumor, E7010, administered in doses of 25-100 mg/kg daily for 8 days, inhibited the growth of colon 38 carcinoma inoculated s.c. in mice by 60-99%. E7010 was active against s.c. inoculated M5076 fibrosarcoma (75% tumor growth inhibition), s.c. inoculated Lewis lung carcinoma (84% increase in life span), and i.p. inoculated P388 leukemia (118% increase in life span). In a test on rat tumor, E7010 inhibited the growth of SST-2 mammary carcinoma inoculated s.c. in rats by 84%. In tests on s.c. inoculated human tumor xenografts, E7010, when administered orally, showed a broad spectrum of activity. E7010 inhibited the growth of: four kinds of gastric cancer, H-81, H-111, SC-2, and SC-6 by 60-78%; three kinds of colon cancer, H-143, COLO320DM, and WiDr by 58-83%; three kinds of lung cancer, LC-376, LC-6, and LX-1 by 63-82%; and two kinds of breast cancer, H-31 and MX-1 by 79-87%. In studies on drug-resistant P388 leukemia, E7010 was effective against vincristine-resistant P388, cisplatin-resistant P388, and 5-fluorouracil-resistant P388 sublines in mice. Because of its good activity against rodent tumors and human tumor xenografts, E7010 is currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials.

[Antitumor activity of LY 188011, a new deoxycytidine analog, against human cancers xenografted into nude mice].

LY 188011 (gemcitabine hydrochloride) was evaluated for its antitumor effect in fifteen human tumors xenografted in nude mice from seven gastric, two colorectal, two breast, two lung and two liver cancer lines, in the latter four of which the results were compared with those obtained with mitomycin C. LY 188011 significantly reduced the volume of tumor xenografts in seven lines, including drug-resistant colorectal and lung cancer lines. The antitumor effect of LY 188011 was further confirmed by pathological observation. Moreover, LY 188011 has shown to be significantly more potent in two lung cancer models than mitomycin C. Administration of LY 188011 induced less side effect; early loss of body weight was observed in four lines out of fifteen tested. These data suggest that LY 188011 seemed to be an excellent candidate in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer.

[Accordance of the chemosensitivity between clinical specimens and their xenografts in nude mice by SDI test and the value of in vivo chemosensitivity test using nude mice].

We assessed the sensitivity to anticancer drugs by SDI (succinate dehydrogenase inhibition) test with 11 clinical specimens obtained from operated patients. The results were compared with those of xenografted specimen in nude mice, using the adjuvant part of the specimens assayed. Chemosensitivity of clinical specimens against 3 drugs is mitomycin (MMC), adriamycin (ADM) and cisplatin (CDDP), showed a good accordance (73%) with those of xenografted tumors. The drug sensitivity was considered to be one of the features of original tumors and to be well preserved in the xenografts in nude mice. We also studied in vivo experimental chemotherapy on 19 tumor lines in nude mice to compare the chemosensitivity with clinical response to the same chemotherapy observed in each donor patient. A close correlation (83% on responder, 100% on non-responder and the overall predicting accuracy rate were 95%) was shown, suggesting in vivo nude mouse assay having an excellent predictability for clinical results.

[Antitumor activity of combination treatment of BOF-A2 with CDDP against human lung cancers xenografted in nude mice].

CDDP, commonly used in cancer chemotherapy, behaves as not only effector but also modulator of 5-FU when combined with 5-FU and the derivatives. Therefore, the antitumor activity of combination treatment of BOF-A2, a new 5-fluorouracil derivative, with CDDP was evaluated with two human lung cancers (H-74 and LC-376) xenografted in nude mice. BOF-A2 was orally administered at 30 mg/kg (MTD) or 15 mg/kg (1/2 MTD) 3 times a week totally twelve times, and CDDP was administrated interperitoneally at 5 mg/kg (MTD) or 2.5 mg/kg (1/2 MTD) once a week totally 4 times. The antitumor effect of combination of two drugs at the 1/2 MTD was effective to H-74 and markedly effective to LC-376, and the effect was more remarkable than each drug administered individually at the 1/2 MTD, and the combination effect was additive. The effect by the combination was not synergistic but showed a similar activity compared with single drug given individually at the MTD. Moreover, the side effect of combination of the 1/2 MTD was less than group given MTD of CDDP in terms of body weight loss. These data suggests a clinical usefulness of combination BOF-A2 with CDDP against lung cancer.

[Antitumor activity of BOF-A2, a new 5-fluorouracil derivative, against human cancers xenografted in nude mice by intermittent administration].

Antitumor effects of BOF-A2 given intermittently was evaluated with human gastric (H-111, H-83), colorectal (H-110, H-143) and lung (H-74, LC-376) cancers xenografted in nude mice and compared with those by continuous administration. BOF-A2 was orally given 3 or 4 times per week at 30 or 35 mg/kg over 4 weeks. This drug was effective to 5 strains except H-110 (IR > or = 58%), remarkably effective to H-81 and H-143 (IR > or = 80%) and caused tumor regression in mice bearing H-81 especially. Moreover, the drug was effective to H-74 which is rather insensitive to 5-FU and its known derivatives. When the drug was given orally to nude mice xenografted LC-376, 5-FU levels in the tumor tissue was notably durative for a long time as compared to UFT. It would be concluded that BOF-A2 was much effective to insensitive tumor to fluorinated pyrimidines or other anticancer, because of persistence of high levels of 5-FU in the tumor tissue. On the other hand, diarrhea which is caused by other fluorinated pyrimidines or consecutive administration of BOF-A2, was mild by the intermittent administration of BOF-A2.

Airflow study of pathologic larynges using a constant temperature anemometer: further experience.

Phonatory airflow was recorded in 361 laryngeal disease patients and 59 normal subjects by using a constant temperature anemometer to measure Isshiki's proposed parameter, the AC/DC percentage. The pathologic groups displayed AC/DC percentage values smaller than those of the normal group. The value differentials observed among the various diseases suggest that the AC/DC percentage may reflect the vibrational capacity of the vocal cords.