The N-butyl-N-4-hydroxybutyl Nitrosamine Mouse Urinary Bladder Cancer Model.

Urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is a common and complex malignancy, with a multifactorial etiology, like environmental factors, such as cigarette smoking, occupational exposure, and genetic factors.UBC exhibits considerable genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity. Among all UBC lesions, urothelial carcinoma is the most frequently observed histological type. Despite all the developments made in urologic oncology field, therapeutic options remain inadequate. There is urgency for the identification and development of new antineoplastic drugs to replace or improve current protocols and in vivo models have been proven to be essential for this step. There are different animal models of UBC: Spontaneous and experimentally induced models (genetically engineered, transplantable-xenograft and syngeneic animals- and chemically induced models). N-butyl-N(4-hydroxybutil)nitrosamine (BBN) is the most suitable reagent to generate chemically induced in vivo models of UBC and to study bladder carcinogenesis. BBN has proven, over the years, to be very realistic and reliable. It is bladder specific, and induces high tumor incidence.

Prevention of bladder tumor formation in mice by a novel bone marrow-derived factor, reptimed.

BACKGROUND: Reptimed is a novel, species-conserved, bone marrow-derived molecule which possesses anti-neoplastic activity. Previously, we established an orthotopic murine bladder tumor (MBT-2) model and reported accurate documentation of the presence and the extent of intravesical involvement of bladder tumor implants using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (1). Herein, we investigated the activity of exogenously administered Reptimed in the MBT-2 model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intravesicular and intraperitoneal administration of Reptimed concurrently with and following transurethral tumor cell implantation was performed and MBT-2 tumor response was assessed at several time points post tumor implant. RESULTS: Serial MRI scans of Reptimed-treated mice at days 14 to 33 post tumor transplant revealed significant inhibition of bladder tumor growth with no significant tumor growth observed by MRI on day 33 post-implant. The corresponding histological examination of the whole mount bladder sections revealed similar inhibitory effects of Reptimed with respect to the topography and depth of intravesical tumor involvement. In contrast, control, untreated bladders revealed extensive exophytic tumors with deeply invasive transitional cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrate the anti-tumor effect of Reptimed and highlight its importance as a potential therapy for cancer.

Tumor versus vascular photodamage in a rat tumor model.

The [4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazoyl] formamide (FANFT)-induced urothelial tumor in the rat is found to express the mdr gene. The resulting multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype results in the expression of an outward transport system that prevents cellular accumulation of certain weakly cationic agents. Among the latter is a photosensitizer with known efficacy for the FANFT tumor, the copper benzochlorin iminium salt. FANFT cells are protected from direct cell kill mediated by this drug, suggesting that the substantial delay in tumor regrowth from this tumor/sensitizer combination can be attributed to vascular effects.

Analysis of differentiation-associated proteins in rat bladder carcinogenesis.

Uroplakins are the major integral membrane proteins synthesized in terminally differentiated, superficial urothelial cells. Alteration of cell differentiation during rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis was analyzed immunohistochemically for the expression of uroplakins. Expression of uroplakins was compared in N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]-formamide (FANFT)-, uracil-, sodium saccharin- or sodium ascorbate-induced urothelial simple hyperplasia, papillary-nodular hyperplasia, papilloma and carcinoma. In controls, uroplakins were located only in superficial cells, especially the luminal surface membrane. In FANFT-induced hyperplasia, including simple hyperplasia, intermediate cells also stained and the staining pattern was disorderly and intermittent. In uracil-induced simple hyperplasia, intermediate cells were stained but in an orderly fashion. In sodium saccharin- or sodium ascorbate-induced simple hyperplasia, superficial cells were swollen but alterations were not observed in the staining pattern. In carcinoma induced by FANFT and uracil, uroplakin expression was very disorderly and focal, usually with no expression on surface cells. It appears that disorderly differentiation is an index of bladder malignancy and is an early event in FANFT-induced lesions but a late event in uracil-, sodium saccharin- and sodium ascorbate-induced lesions.

Effect of indomethacin on N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide-induced urinary tract carcinogenesis.

The effects of indomethacin on the urinary bladder and renal pelvis in rats treated with N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) were studied. Two hundred female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 received control diet without added chemicals. Group 2 was treated with indomethacin (1 mg/kg per day) in the drinking water throughout the experiment. Groups 3 and 4 received 0.2% FANFT in the diet for seven weeks followed by control diet. In addition to FANFT, Group 4 received indomethacin, 1 mg/kg per day, for the entire experiment. The rats were sacrificed after 92 weeks. There were no urothelial tumors in the control group, one renal pelvic tumor in the indomethacin group, 4 tumors in the FANFT group and 10 urothelial tumors in the FANFT + indomethacin group. The difference between Groups 3 and 4 was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Moderate and severe hyperplasia of the renal pelvic and papillary epithelium was found in 15 of 48 rats in Group 2 (indomethacin only) as compared with 6 of 49 control rats (P < 0.05). Moderate and severe hyperplasia was equally frequent in Groups 3 and 4 (14 and 17 animals in each group, respectively). Twenty-four rats in Group 2 had mammary tumors as compared to 12 animals in Group 1 (P < 0.01). Five of the tumors in Group 2 were adenocarcinomas. There was no difference between the number of mammary tumors in Groups 3 and 4 (36 and 32 animals in each group, respectively). The results suggest that indomethacin enhances FANFT-induced urinary tract carcinogenesis. Indomethacin also seems to exert some tumorigenic activity in the mammary gland.

Human relevance of animal carcinogenicity studies.

Extrapolation of results from rodent bioassays involving high-dose exposures to possible carcinogenic risk in humans exposed to low doses is based on the assumptions of species relevance and high- to low-dose extrapolation. For genotoxic chemicals, such as 2-acetylaminofluorene and N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide, these assumptions appear to be appropriate, although the dose response can be greatly modified by cell proliferation effects of these chemicals at high doses. In contrast, nongenotoxic chemicals, such as chemicals causing urinary calculi or sodium saccharin and related sodium and potassium salts, frequently are carcinogenic only at high doses and/or only in specific species. Consequently, for extrapolation of results for nongenotoxic chemicals these assumptions may not be appropriate.

neu is not involved in N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]-formamide-induced bladder carcinoma or 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole transformation of rat bladder epithelial cells.

Enhanced c-erbB-2/neu expression has been linked with a poor prognosis in human bladder cancer. Previous reports have shown that a point mutation at nucleotide T2012 in the coding region of the transmembrane domain of the rat gene is sufficient to confer transformation potential on this gene. We examined the comparative levels of p185neu as well as the sequence around the hotspot (T2012) of the neu gene of rat bladder cells transformed by 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (ANFT) or established in culture from N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT)-induced rat bladder tumors. We concluded that increased p185neu expression did not correlate significantly with tumorigenicity. No alterations in nucleotide sequences of the neu gene were observed in either in vitro model.

Neu is not involved in N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide- induced bladder carcinoma or 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole transformation of rat bladder epithelial cells.

Enhanced c-erbB-2/neu expression has been linked with a poor prognosis in human bladder cancer. Previous reports have shown that a point mutation at nucleotide T2012 in the coding region of the transmembrane domain of the rat gene is sufficient to confer transformation potential on this gene. We examined the comparative levels of p185neu as well as the sequence around the hotspot (T2012) of the neu gene of rat bladder cells transformed by 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (ANFT) or established in culture from N-[-4-(-5-nitro-2-furyl)-2- thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT)-induced rat bladder tumors. We concluded that increased p185neu expression did not correlate significantly with tumorigenicity. No alterations in nucleotide sequences of the neu gene were observed in either in vitro model.

Photodynamic therapy: a new modality for the treatment of cancer.

Photodynamic therapy is a promising new modality for the treatment of neoplastic disease. Currently, Photofrin is the only photosensitizer approved for the treatment of human cancers. In the search for new, chemically pure second generation photosensitizing agents which absorb in the deep red region of the visible spectrum, a novel and unique photosensitizer, CDS1, an iminium salt of copper octaethylbenzochlorin, was developed. This new photosensitizer is chemically pure, cationic, and possesses a strong (epsilon = 35000 M-1.cm-1) absorption peak at 750 nm (in dichloromethane). With copper in the aromatic cavity and a triplet lifetime which is not measurable (< 20 nsec), the photodynamic activity of CDS1 was unexpected. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo animal studies with a transplantable urothelial tumor indicate that CDS1 is an effective photosensitizing agent when used in conjunction with a broad band xenon arc light source or a low frequency, high peak power pulsed alexandrite laser.

Use of cell proliferation data in modeling urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

A multistage, probabilistic, biologically based model of carcinogenesis has been developed involving qualitative and quantitative aspects of the process. A chemical can affect the risk of cancer by directly damaging DNA and/or increasing the number of cell divisions during which errors in DNA replication can occur. Based on this model, carcinogens are classified as genotoxic versus nongenotoxic; nongenotoxic chemicals are further divided on the basis of whether or not they act through a specific cell receptor. Nongenotoxic compounds, particularly those acting through a nonreceptor mechanism, are likely to have dose and/or species-specific thresholds. This classification also implies the existence of chemicals that will be carcinogenic at high doses in animal models, but because of dose and/or mechanistic considerations, will not be carcinogenic to humans at levels of exposure. N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl] formamide (FANFT) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) are classical genotoxic bladder carcinogens that also cause proliferative effects at higher doses. Although there is an apparent no-effect level for the urinary bladder carcinogenicity of these two compounds at low doses, in reality, DNA adducts form at these low levels, and it is likely that there is a cancer effect (no threshold), but it is below the level of detection of the bioassay. These conclusions are based on studies involving multiple doses and time points in rodents, including results from the ED01. Pellets implanted directly into the rodent bladder lumen or calculi formed in the urine as a result of an administered chemical cause abrasion of the urothelium, and a marked increase in cell proliferation and cell number, and ultimately tumors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phenylbutazone peroxidatic metabolism and conjugation.

Phenylbutazone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, elicits therapeutic as well as toxic effects by unknown pathways. Phenylbutazone was shown to form a conjugate with the heterocyclic amine bladder carcinogen 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-thiazole (ANFT). To understand further the reactivity of these compounds, this study was conducted to identify the conjugate formed and determine the mechanism of conjugate formation. Both prostaglandin H synthase and horseradish peroxidase catalyzed conjugate formation. This conjugate was identified by 1H-NMR to be 4-[2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-5-thiazolyl]-4-butyl-1,2-diphenyl-3,5- pyrazolidinedione. Phenylbutazone-mediated oxygen uptake was inhibited by ANFT (0.1 mM) and the spin traps 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (200 mM) and tert-nitrosobutane (4 mM). By contrast, phenol (0.005 to 0.25 mM) and aminopyrine (0.4 mM) stimulated oxygen uptake. None of these agents mediated oxygen uptake in the absence of phenylbutazone. Conjugate formation was significantly increased by phenol (0.005-0.25 mM) and aminopyrine (0.4 mM), as well as in the absence of oxygen. Conjugate formation was inhibited by 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (200 mM), tert-nitrosobutane (4 mM), ascorbic acid (2 mM), and 95% oxygen. Horseradish peroxidase initiated conjugate formation at much lower concentrations than it metabolized ANFT. The stoichiometric relationship between phenylbutazone and ANFT, with respect to conjugate formation, was complex. With the concentration of ANFT fixed at 0.05 mM, phenylbutazone exhibited saturation kinetics with a Km of 0.2 mM. In contrast, saturation kinetics were not observed with ANFT.Km values for ANFT varied with the concentration of phenylbutazone used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Liver NADPH-dependent oxidation of the 5-nitrofurans, FANFT and ANFT, by guinea pig and rat.

1. Oxidative metabolism of the bladder carcinogens FANFT/ANFT was examined in vitro in guinea pig (resistant species) relative to rat (susceptible species). 2. The total rate of ANFT hepatic metabolism by guinea pig (soluble metabolites plus protein bound, 354 pmol/min per mg protein) was approx. 4 times that in rat. 3. The total rate of FANFT metabolism was similar in both species and approx. one-quarter that for ANFT in guinea pig. In rat, the rate of total metabolism of FANFT and ANFT was similar. 4. Cytochrome P450 inhibitors, 2,4-dichloro-6-phenylphenoxyethylamine, 7,8-benzoflavone, and n-octylamine largely inhibited metabolism in guinea pig, but had little effect in rat. 5. H.p.l.c. analysis of ANFT metabolites indicated distinctly different products in guinea pig compared to rat. 7,8-Benzoflavone decreased metabolite formation by 80% in guinea pig, but only 30% in rat. 6. Flavin-dependent monooxygenases may participate in metabolism of these carcinogens in rat, but not guinea pig. 7. Because ANFT is thought to be a more proximate carcinogen than FANFT, the increased rate of ANFT metabolism and the formation of different products in guinea pig compared to rat may partially explain the resistance of guinea pig to FANFT-induced bladder cancer.

Sequencing analysis of Ha-, Ki-, and N-ras genes in rat urinary bladder tumors induced by N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) and sodium saccharin.

Male F344 rats were fed N[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) for up to 4 wk, then given the basal diet with or without 5% sodium saccharin for up to 100 wk. In a previous study, we demonstrated point mutations in codons 12 and 61 of Ha-ras gene among eleven transitional cell carcinomas (TCC), one undifferentiated carcinoma, and two sarcomas of the urinary bladder (Mol Carcinogen 3:210-215, 1990). In this study, Ha-ras, Ki-ras, and N-ras sequences were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing. The results confirm the point mutation in codon 61 (CAA to CGA in 5 TCCs and to CTA in one TCC) of the Ha-ras gene. Mutation at codon 12 was not confirmed. No mutation was found in the Ki-ras gene. Sequences of the N-ras gene exons 1 and 2 were determined, and no mutations was detected. These results suggest the involvement of activated Ha-ras gene, but not Ki-N or N-ras gene, in rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis induced by FANFT. Subsequent sodium saccharin administration did not affect the changes in Ha-ras gene.

Mechanism of formation of the thioether conjugate of the bladder carcinogen 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-thiazole (ANFT).

The formation of thioether conjugates is an important pathway for inactivation of certain carcinogens. This study assessed the mechanism by which the bladder carcinogen 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-thiazole (ANFT) forms a glutathione conjugate (ANFT-SG). Peroxidatic metabolism of ANFT, in the presence of glutathione, results in ANFT-SG formation. Both prostaglandin H synthase and horseradish peroxidase can catalyze this reaction. Metabolism of the reducing co-substrates ANFT, phenol, and aminopyrine elicit increases in oxidized glutathione (GSSG). ANFT-SG formation is potentiated by phenol and aminopyrine. tert-Nitrosobutane (tNB), a thiyl radical trap, prevented increases in both GSSG and ANFT-SG. Increasing concentrations of ANFT elicited corresponding increases in both GSSG and ANFT-SG. Peroxidatic metabolism of ANFT in the presence of glutathione, but not in the absence of glutathione, resulted in oxygen uptake. The formation of GSSG and oxygen uptake are consistent with the presence of thiyl radicals during ANFT metabolism. 5,5-Dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide, a thiyl radical trap, was not as effective as tNB in inhibiting the formation of ANFT-SG and GSSG. Ascorbic acid, a reducing cosubstrate and antioxidant, was very effective in preventing ANFT-SG and GSSG formation, while the strong nucleophile methionine was ineffective. To clarify effects of different test agents, their effects on aminopyrine cation radical formation were assessed. Results are consistent with ANFT reacting with thiyl radicals to form ANFT-SG. ANFT appears to be a thiyl radical trap. Peroxidatic metabolism of ANFT probably results in the formation of a cation radical rather than a carbon-centered radical.

Ras involvement in cells transformed with 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (ANFT) in vitro and with N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazoyl]formamide in vivo.

N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) administration to rats followed by sodium saccharin results in transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder, of which 24% harbor an activated H-ras gene. Since 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (ANFT) is the mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolite of FANFT in vivo, we wished to examine ras activation in in vitro ANFT-transformed rat bladder epithelial cells as well as four cell lines established in culture from in vivo FANFT-induced rat bladder tumors. Screening by Western blotting revealed no enhanced levels of p21ras in ANFT-transformed cells nor in cells established in culture from FANFT-induced rat bladder carcinomas. Further investigations using immunohistochemical staining with a different pan-reactive p21 monoclonal antibody (Cetus Corporation) specific for this method, however, showed two groups of cells from FANFT-induced rat bladder tumors had enhanced immunoreactivity. Apart from this, p21ras expression of most of the cells groups varied little from the controls. We examined the reported hot spots (exons 1 and 2) of each of the ras genes (H-, K- and N-ras) by direct sequencing of amplified DNA. No mutations were present. We conclude, therefore, that ANFT transformation of primary rat bladder epithelial cells in vitro may not in this case be mediated by ras activation, although this is difficult to determine since others have observed that optimal culture conditions can select for certain populations of cells without ras activation.

Acrolein initiates rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

Acrolein, a reactive, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde which is ubiquitous in the environment, forms DNA adducts, is mutagenic, and is teratogenic. However, studies have not indicated a carcinogenic effect in rodent bioassays. Since it is present in cigarette smoke and is the toxic metabolite of cyclophosphamide with respect to the urinary tract, we investigated the possibility that acrolein might have carcinogenic activity toward the rat urinary bladder. We also evaluated whether it possessed initiating and/or promoting activity. To evaluate initiating activity, acrolein was administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg i.p. twice a week for 6 weeks followed by uracil as 3% of the diet for 20 weeks and then control diet for 6 weeks. N-[4-(5-Nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) as 0.2% of the diet followed by uracil was used as a positive control, and a negative control group was administered solvent control (water) i.p. during the 6-week initiation period followed by uracil. Acrolein followed by uracil produced an incidence of 18 of 30 rats (60%) with papilloma compared to 8 of 30 rats (27%) treated with solvent control followed by uracil. FANFT followed by uracil produced an incidence of 70% carcinomas and 30% papillomas, clearly indicating that it is a much more potent initiating agent than acrolein. Acrolein for 6 weeks followed by control diet produced no tumors. To evaluate promoting activity, groups of rats were fed FANFT for 6 weeks followed by acrolein. Acrolein administered during the initial 6 weeks and continued for the second phase of the experiment (to evaluate complete carcinogenic activity) resulted in severe toxicity. Administration of acrolein had to be terminated after 21 weeks of the experiment. The animals were maintained for 53 weeks of the experiment without further chemical treatment, and there was no evidence of papilloma or carcinoma development. This study clearly indicates that acrolein has initiating activity for the urinary bladder when administered by i.p. injection to the male F344 rat, but toxicity precluded evaluation of its promoting or complete carcinogenic activity.

Cell line specific abnormalities in expression of PNA, SBA and L-PHA binding sites by carcinogen induced rat urothelial carcinomas.

Bladder tumor cell lines derived from male F344 rats treated with N-buthyl N-(4-hydroxybuthyl) nitrosamine (BBN) or N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl] formamide (FANFT) have been established in vitro and characterized with respect to histology, karyotype, myc and c-Ha-ras oncogene expression or mutation, anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenicity in nude mice. This unique model system comprising 13 cell populations was employed to study common events during development of carcinogen-induced urothelial neoplasia. Differential expression of malignant phenotypes by these cell lines prompted us to examine their expression of carbohydrate structures binding peanut agglutinin (PNA), soy bean agglutinin (SBA) or leukoagglutinin (L-PHA), which are known indicators of tumor progression in rodents and humans. In the present study we analyzed the patterns of glycoproteins reactive with PNA and L-PHA by Western blotting. We also estimated quantitative differences in lectin binding to surfaces of normal rat urothelium and tumor cell lines by flow cytometry. The patterns of PNA or L-PHA reactive glycoproteins expressed by tumor cells were different from that of normal urothelium in culture. They were also different amongst the tumor cells. A unique non-sialylated, PNA binding glycoprotein (117 kD) was seen in the case of the highly tumorigenic F5 cell line and absent in normal urothelium as well as in other tumor cell lines. Normal cells did not express glycoprotein 60 kD binding PNA (only after desialylation), which was found in lysates of some but not all transformed cell lines. A very high molecular weight (much greater than 200), perhaps mucin-like sialoglycoprotein was found in normal urothelium but not in most of the tumor cell lines. Four major L-PHA reactive bands (greater than 200, 190, 100, 80 kD approximately) were found in normal urothelium. Some of those bands were overexpressed or missing in materials isolated from different tumor cell populations. Total cell surface binding of SBA and PNA by different tumor cell lines was very heterogenous (167-2% that of normal urothelium). No simple correlation between expression of the lectin binding glycoconjugates by urothelial carcinoma cells and other known functional, phenotypic or genetic alterations was found. We were also unable to demonstrate carcinogen-specific changes in expression of lectin binding to these tumor cell lines. Thus we conclude that lectin binding patterns are cell line specific. This may reflect distinct pathways of progression of individual cell lines. The potential sources of phenotypic variability between the cell lines were discussed.

Direct DNA sequencing of the rat neu oncogene transmembrane domain reveals no mutation in urinary bladder carcinomas induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine, N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide or N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF-related growth factors are present in the urine, and EGF has been identified as a urinary component that enhances urinary bladder tumor formation in rats. Neu oncogene encodes a cell surface receptor similar to the EGF receptor and is known to be activated by a point mutation of DNA that encodes the transmembrane domain of the neu protein (p185). In this study, we examined the possible mutational activation of neu oncogene in 50 urinary bladder transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) induced in F344 rats by the following carcinogenesis models: (i) 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) (4 weeks)----3% uracil (20 weeks); (ii) 0.2% N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) (6 weeks)----5% sodium saccharin (72 weeks); and (iii) N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) 20 mg/kg body wt, i.p. twice per week for 4 weeks----3% uracil (20 weeks). The DNA sequence around the transmembrane domain of neu gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced. The results showed no mutation within the examined DNA sequences, indicating that neu oncogene is not activated by a point mutation in the transmembrane domain in urinary bladder carcinomas induced by BBN, FANFT or MNU.