Natural killer T cells in patients with prostatic carcinoma.

Recent interest has focused on natural killer T (NKT) cells as effector cells in a possible new form of immunotherapy. NKT cells express T cell and natural killer cell receptors. They are CD1d-dependent and can be stimulated by alpha-galactosylceramide. We have studied peripheral blood levels of NKT cells simultaneously with CD8+ cells and natural killer cells in 54 patients with prostatic carcinoma. Levels of NKT cells in patients with androgen withdrawal and stable PSA levels were 211.8 +/- 138.4 cells/microl and in patients with rising PSA levels were 27.0 +/- 22.1 cells/microl. A similar but less pronounced difference in CD8+ cells between these groups was found (656.4 vs. 212.0 cells/microl). Comparing all 54 patients studied, a positive correlation was found between the levels of NKT cells and CD8+ cells (r = 0.83). Our results suggest an important and regulatory role of NKT cells in patients with prostatic carcinoma.

Does transurethral resection of prostatic carcinoma promote tumor spread?

122 patients with prostatic carcinoma treated by radiation therapy were reviewed. An actuarial analysis was done on survival comparing patients treated by transurethral resection (TURP) prior to radiation to those diagnosed by needle biopsy. Survival rates were not significantly different between groups. TURP was also without effect on interval free of distant or local recurrence. Survival and time to distant or local recurrence were analyzed by tumor stage and grade. A multivariate analysis with the Cox model was made by which the effects of TURP and tumor grade and stage were examined simultaneously. TURP was without effect on survival rates and interval to distant or local recurrence after adjustments had been made for the effects of stage and grade.

Determination of androgen receptors in human benign prostatic hypertrophy with two synthetic radiolabeled ligands.

Nuclear and cytosolic androgen receptor concentrations in tissues of human benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) were determined by use of methyltrienolone (R-1881) and 7 alpha,17 alpha-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone (DMNT) as radiolabeled ligands. Cytosolic R-1881-binding sites were 46.1 +/- 43 fmol/mg protein and nuclear R-1881-binding sites were 51.8 +/- 42 fmol/mg protein. DMNT-binding sites in cytosol were 44.3 +/- 38 fmol/mg protein and in nuclear extract 73.4 +/- 64 fmol/mg protein. No significant correlation was found between the number of R-1881- and DMNT-binding sites in either cytosol or nuclear extracts. Cytosolic or nuclear androgen receptor content was not significantly correlated with the percentage of epithelial or stromal cells as determined from the corresponding histological sections. In BPH tissue with marked cystic degeneration, very low androgen receptor levels were found.

Simultaneous determination of six tumor markers in patients with prostatic carcinoma and bladder tumors.

Serum levels of fucosyltransferase (FT), phosphohexoseisomerase (PHI), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), Tennessee antigen (TAG), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and prostatic acid phosphate (PAP) were determined in 75 healthy individuals and in 86 patients with prostatic carcinoma and 38 patients with bladder tumors. The discrimination capacities of the different markers were compared by using inverse distribution plots. At a rate of 5% false positive values the sensitivities for bladder tumors were: FT 30%, TPA 24%, CEA 16%, TAG 15%. The sensitivities for prostatic carcinoma were: PAP 63%, PHI 36%, TPA 18%, CEA 14%, TAG 14%.

Natural killer cell activity in patients with prostatic carcinoma and its in vivo boosting with bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

In patients with prostatic carcinoma, natural killer (NK) cell activity was monitored in a chromium release assay. Cells from the human myeloid cell line K 562 and from a human prostatic cancer cell line (PC 3) were used as target cells. Additionally, in vitro stimulation with beta-interferon was done in each sample. NK activity in patients with localized prostatic cancer was increased as compared to age-matched controls. Patients with advanced disease showed reduced levels of NK activity. Furthermore, hormonally treated patients in relapse had significantly lower activity than patients in remission or with stable disease. Hormone therapy was without major influence on NK activity. BCG vaccination as an adjuvant immunotherapy was done in a small group of patients. Baseline NK activity and interferon-stimulated activity were enhanced by BCG in most cases.

Oxychlordane, animal metabolite of chlordane: isolation and synthesis.

Oxychlordane (C(10)H(4)Cl(8)O), a minor heretofore unidentified metabolite, was isolated from fat of pigs on diets heavily dosed with pure isomers of the insecticide, chlordane (C(10)H(6)Cl(8)). Chemical and spectroscopic evidence provides bases for proposal of structure of the metabolite as 1-exo-2-endo-4,5,6,7,8,8-octachloro-2,3-exo-epoxy-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindene.