Opposing effects of Sca-1(+) cell-based systemic FGF2 gene transfer strategy on lumbar versus caudal vertebrae in the mouse.

Our previous work showed that a Sca-1(+) cell-based FGF2 therapy was capable of promoting robust increases in trabecular bone formation and connectivity on the endosteum of long bones. Past work reported that administration of FGF2 protein promoted bone formation in red marrow but not in yellow marrow. The issue as to whether the Sca-1(+) cell-based FGF2 therapy is effective in yellow marrow is highly relevant to its clinical potential for osteoporosis, as most red marrows in a person of an advanced age are converted to yellow marrows. Accordingly, this study sought to compare the osteogenic effects of this stem cell-based FGF2 therapy on red marrow-filled lumbar vertebrae with those on yellow marrow-filled caudal vertebrae of young adult W(41)/W(41) mice. The Sca-1(+) cell-based FGF2 therapy drastically increased trabecular bone formation in lumbar vertebrae, but the therapy not only did not promote bone formation but instead caused substantial loss of trabecular bone in caudal vertebrae. The lack of an osteogenic response was not due to insufficient engraftment of FGF2-expressing Sca-1(+) cells or inadequate FGF2 expression in caudal vertebrae. Previous studies have demonstrated that recipient mice of this stem cell-based FGF2 therapy developed secondary hyperparathyroidism and increased bone resorption. Thus, the loss of bone mass in caudal vertebrae might in part be due to an increase in resorption without a corresponding increase in bone formation. In conclusion, the Sca-1(+) cell-based FGF2 therapy is osteogenic in red marrow but not in yellow marrow.

Bone architectural and structural properties after 56Fe26+ radiation-induced changes in body mass.

High-energy, high-charge (HZE) radiation, including iron ions ((56)Fe(26+)), is a component of the space environment. We recently observed a profound loss of trabecular bone in mice after whole-body HZE irradiation. The goal of this study was to examine morphology in bones that were excluded from a (56)Fe(26+) beam used to irradiate the body. Using 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats and excluding the hind limbs and pelvis, we irradiated animals with 0, 1, 2 and 4 Gy (56)Fe(26+) ions and killed them humanely after 9 months. Animals grew throughout the experiment. Trabecular bone volume, connectivity and thickness within the proximal tibiae were significantly lower than control in a dose-dependent manner. Irradiated animals generally had less body mass than controls, which largely accounted for the variability in bone parameters as determined by ANCOVA. Likewise, lower cortical parameters were associated with reduced mass. However, lesser trabecular thickness in the 4-Gy group could not be attributed to body mass alone. Indicators of bone metabolism were generally unchanged, suggesting stabilized turnover. Exposure to (56)Fe(26+) ions can alter trabecular microarchitecture in shielded bones. Reduced body mass seems to be correlated with these deficits of trabecular and cortical bone.

A murine model for bone loss from therapeutic and space-relevant sources of radiation.

Cancer patients receiving radiation therapy are exposed to photon (gamma/X-ray), electron, and less commonly proton radiation. Similarly, astronauts on exploratory missions will be exposed to extended periods of lower-dose radiation from multiple sources and of multiple types, including heavy ions. Therapeutic doses of radiation have been shown to have deleterious consequences on bone health, occasionally causing osteoradionecrosis and spontaneous fractures. However, no animal model exists to study the cause of radiation-induced osteoporosis. Additionally, the effect of lower doses of ionizing radiation, including heavy ions, on general bone quality has not been investigated. This study presents data developing a murine model for radiation-induced bone loss. Female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to gamma, proton, carbon, or iron radiation at 2-Gray doses, representing both a clinical treatment fraction and spaceflight exposure for an exploratory mission. Mice were euthanized 110 days after irradiation. The proximal tibiae and femur diaphyses were analyzed using microcomputed tomography. Results demonstrate profound changes in trabecular architecture. Significant losses in trabecular bone volume fraction were observed for all radiation species: gamma, (-29%), proton (-35%), carbon (-39%), and iron (-34%). Trabecular connectivity density, thickness, spacing, and number were also affected. These data have clear implications for clinical radiotherapy in that bone loss in an animal model has been demonstrated at low doses. Additionally, these data suggest that space radiation has the potential to exacerbate the bone loss caused by microgravity, although lower doses and dose rates need to be studied.

BALB/c mice fed milk or beef protein: differences in response to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine carcinogenesis.

The development of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon tumors and immune responses were investigated in male BALB/c mice fed six different equicaloric diets. Milk or beef at a low (11%) or high (33%) level supplied the dietary protein, and corn oil (primarily) at a low (5%) or high (30%) level supplied the fat. Eleven weekly injections of DMH (at 20 mg/kg mouse) or saline were administered. At 59 weeks of age, the milk-fed mice had a significantly higher (P less than or equal to .05) colon tumor incidence than the beef-fed mice, 67 and 16%, respectively. Tumor volume and colon weight in the milk-fed mice were also significantly greater. Low natural killer cell activity against [125I]5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine-labeled colon tumor cells and high serum blocking of antitumor cell activity were observed in the milk-fed-mice. These mice also exhibited higher T-lymphocyte cytotoxicity against colon tumor cells. These results differ from those of our previous studies and those of numerous epidemiologic investigations.

Suppression of tumor growth and enhancement of immune status with high levels of dietary vitamin B6 in BALB/c mice.

Effects of dietary vitamin B6 at levels ranging from deficiency to megadoses on the development of herpes simplex virus type 2-transformed (H238) cell-induced tumors and on in vitro responses relating to cell-mediated immunity were examined. Male BALB/cByJ mice (n = 260), 5 weeks of age, were fed 20% casein diets containing pyridoxine (PN) at 0.2, 1.2 for the control diet, 7.7, or 74.3 mg/kg diet for 4-11 weeks. After 4 weeks of dietary treatment, 120 of the mice received an injection of H238 cells; mice without H238 injection served as controls. At 4, 8, and 11 weeks, animals from each group were euthanized and blood and spleen samples obtained. Mice fed 0.2 mg PN developed mild deficiency symptoms and gained significantly less weight than those fed 1.2-, 7.7-, and 74.3-mg PN diets. Thirteen to 16 days after tumor cell injection, primary tumor incidence was lowest in mice fed 74.3 mg PN; later, incidence among groups was similar. Mice fed 1.2 mg PN had the largest primary tumor volume, the highest incidence of lung metastases, and the greatest number of metastatic nodules per animal at 7 weeks post injection. Overall, lower tumor volumes were found in animals fed 7.7 and 74.3 mg PN (14 and 32% less than the tumor volume for those fed 1.2 mg PN, respectively); mice fed 0.2 mg PN had the lowest tumor volume. Blood and spleen lymphoproliferative response to stimulation by phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A generally tended to be higher in mice fed 7.7 and 74.3 mg PN as compared to that in animals fed either 0.2 or 1.2 mg PN. However, decreased mitogen-stimulated responsiveness was observed in all animals with progressive tumor growth. Tumor growth also resulted in splenomegaly and increased thymic atrophy. Significant negative relationships between tumor volume and tumor pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP) concentrations were observed for 1.2-, 7.7-, and 74.3-mg PN diet groups. These data suggest that high dietary intake of vitamin B6 may have suppressed tumor development by either immune enhancement or PLP growth regulation of this tumor.

Hyperthermia enhances localization of 111In-labeled hapten to bifunctional antibody in human colon tumor xenografts.

A unique bifunctional antibody (BFA) delivery system was examined for radiolocalization and distribution following hyperthermia (41.5 degrees C, 45 min) of T380h human colon tumor xenografts. The BFA is an F(ab')2 fragment made by combining two murine monoclonal antibodies with different specificities, one directed against carcinoembryonic antigen (monoclonal antibody CEM 231) and the other (monoclonal antibody CHA 255) against a hapten found on a derivative of 111In-labeled benzyl-EDTA (EOTUBE). This BFA is known as CEM/CHA. The CEM/CHA accumulates in carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing tissue and clears from normal tissues prior to administration of the radiolabeled hapten. T380h tumor chunks were injected s.c. into 31 nude mice. Two weeks later mean tumor volume was 352 mm3 and the animals were assigned to one of four groups: (a) CEM/CHA + hyperthermia + 111In-EOTUBE; (b) CHA 255 F(ab')2 + hyperthermia + 111In-EOTUBE, and (c and d) treated in the same manner as a and b, respectively, but without heat. The CEM/CHA, CHA 255 F(ab')2, and 111In-labeled hapten were injected i.p. at 14 micrograms, 7 micrograms, and 140-200 microCi/mouse, respectively. The hyperthermia was administered 22-24 h after BFA and the radiolabeled hapten was injected 2 h later. Twenty-four h thereafter, the animals were euthanized for testing. A significantly greater percentage of injected radioactivity localized within heated compared to unheated tumors in mice given CEM/CHA and 111In-EOTUBE (7.39%/g tumor and 4.46%/tumor versus 2.72%/g tumor and 1.44%/tumor, respectively). The percentage of kidney activity in mice given CHA 255 F(ab')2 fragments and heat was 57% lower than in the nonheated group when expressed on a per g basis (12.73 and 22.20%, respectively). Microautoradiography showed greater radiolocalization in heated tumors than in nonheated control tumors of comparable size. Semiquantification by immunoperoxidase staining for carcinoembryonic antigen did not reveal similar differences in the amounts of antigen present in tumors from heated and nonheated groups. These findings suggest that hyperthermia could be used to enhance delivery of radiolabeled haptens to prelocalized BFA and, thus, to enhance tumor imaging and therapeutic efficacy.

Radiolocalization of human small cell lung cancer and antigen-positive normal tissues using monoclonal antibody LS2D617.

The murine monoclonal antibody LS2D617, which reacts with an antigen associated with human small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), was tested in preclinical models to assess its potential for specific targeting of tumors in human SCLC cancer patients. LS2D617 detects a cell antigen on the surface of cultured SCLC and neuroblastoma cell lines. Scatchard analysis of the binding of LS2D617 to NCIH69 SCLC cells indicates an affinity constant of about 1 x 10(8) M-1 and an epitope expression level of approximately 2 x 10(6) antigenic sites/cell. Molecular weight analysis of the target antigen and antibody competition experiments showed that LS2D617 should be classified as a SCLC Cluster 1 antibody (i.e., reacts with the neural cell adhesion molecule). LS2D617 was labeled with 111In and tested for biodistribution (4, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h postinjection) in nude mice bearing the human SCLC NCIH69 tumor. Tumor values peaked at about 35% injected dose/g (Day 3) compared with about 8% injected dose/g for an irrelevant IgG1 antibody while normal tissue accumulation for both antibodies was about 2-8% injected dose/g. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that LS2D617 reacts with the central nervous system, peripheral nerves, endocrine tissues, and heart tissue of rabbits as it does in human tissues. The ability of LS2D617 to accumulate in vivo in normal tissues that express the specific target antigen was tested in rabbits. Rabbits given i.v. injections of 111In-LS2D617 or control labeled antibody were sacrificed at 48 h and tissues were examined by gamma well counting, autoradiography, and immunohistochemical staining for murine immunoglobulin. Specific uptake was seen in all sites defined as antigen positive by immunohistology (i.e., heart, liver bile duct, peripheral nerves, pituitary, adrenal), excepting the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) which was inaccessible to antibody because of the blood brain barrier. The use of preclinical in vivo targeting models to assess tumor as well as antigen-positive normal tissue targeting should aid in the strategy of antibody-based therapeutic intervention of human cancer by providing insight into the potential for tumor targeting and normal tissue toxicity that may be encountered in the clinic.

Immunotherapy with low-dose interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in a murine tumor model.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of locally administered low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone or together with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in a herpes simplex virus type 2-transformed murine (H238) fibrosarcoma model. In vitro incubation showed that IL-2, but not IFN-gamma, had a significant inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis in H238 cells. In vivo experiments were performed with BALB/c mice to determine the optimal time of treatment with each cytokine after subcutaneous (sc) tumor implantation. The greatest antitumor effect with IL-2 (1 x 10(5) total international units, sc) was noted when treatment was administered during the first week after tumor injection, whereas with IFN-gamma (500 total units, intraperitoneally) treatment during the second week proved best. Combination of the two agents produced complete tumor regression in 44.4% of mice; regression with single-modality treatment was 0-11%. The presence of H238 tumor induced splenomegaly and enhanced the oxidative burst capacity of phagocytes. Peripheral blood leukocyte counts were low in tumor-bearing groups, regardless of treatment. IL-2 and IFN-gamma were nondetectable in the plasma of tumor-bearing or control mice; however, total TGF-beta 1 was 248% higher with IL-2 treatment compared with tumor-bearing nontreated controls. These results show that IL-2 and IFN-gamma can significantly inhibit the growth of highly aggressive H238 tumors and support further investigations with these agents.

Liposome-encapsulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha enhances the effects of radiation against human colon tumor xenografts.

Recent reports have shown that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) can augment the effects of radiation against certain tumor types. However, the high concentrations of intravenous infusion of TNF-alpha needed to cause tumor regression can induce many systemic side effects. The aims of this study were to determine if TNF-alpha encapsulated in sterically stabilized (Stealth, ALZA Corporation, Mountain View, CA), PEGylated liposomes (SL) augments the antitumor effects of radiation and to compare its efficacy and possible toxicity with free TNF-alpha in the LS174T human colon tumor xenograft model. Nude mice were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) with LS174T cells and treated intravenously (i.v.) with Stealth-liposomal TNF-alpha (SL-TNF-alpha) with and without radiation or TNF-alpha with or without radiation when tumor size was approximately 200 mm(3). In phase 1, a significant decrease (p = 0.047) in tumor growth was observed with radiation at day 21 but not with SL-TNF-alpha or free TNF-alpha alone. By the end of phase 1 (day 27) with continued treatments, the SL-TNF-alpha plus radiation group had significantly smaller tumors (p = 0.044) than those in the free TNF-alpha plus radiation group. In phase 2, where a similar tumor growth reduction pattern was observed, the addition of TNF-alpha to radiation, either as free protein or within SL, increased lymphocyte activation and natural killer (NK) cell numbers in both blood and spleen. The effect was generally more pronounced with SL-TNF-alpha. Systemic toxicity, based on hematologic analyses and body weight, was absent or minimal. Collectively, the data show that pretreatment with SL-TNF-alpha can enhance more effectively, and possibly more safely, the effects of radiation against human colon tumor xenografts than can free TNF-alpha and that the increased antitumor action may involve upregulation of lymphocytes.

Evaluation of combined vaccinia virus-mediated antitumor gene therapy with p53, IL-2, and IL-12 in a glioma model.

Our previous studies have shown that vaccinia virus (VV) expressing p53, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleukin-12 (IL-12) results in an effective inhibition of subcutaneous glioma growth in mice. We propose that combination therapy of tumors with virus-mediated p53 and cytokine genes offers the prospect of synergistic antitumor response. In this work, the antitumor efficacy of VV-mediated combination of p53, IL-2, and IL-12 genes was evaluated in a nude mouse model. To minimize cytokine-associated toxicity, a virus dose as low as 10 plaque-forming units of VV expressing IL-2 and IL-12 per animal was used alone and together with 2 x 10(7) plaque-forming units of VV expressing p53. Intratumoral treatment of established C6 glioma with recombinant viruses rVV-p53, rVV-mIL2, rVV-mIL12, and rVV-2-12 induced the prolonged expression of p53, IL-2, IL-12, and both cytokines simultaneously. The combination of rVV-p53/rVV-mIL 2 or rVV-p53/rVV-2-12 resulted in significant tumor inhibition compared to single modality treatment (P<.05). rVV-p53/rVV-2-12 therapy was associated with significant elevation of natural killer, Mac-1+, and NKT cells in blood and interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in tumors. The difference in the inhibition of tumor growth between the rVV-p53/rVV-mIL2 combination and rVV-p53 was statistically insignificant. These data demonstrate that gene therapy based on VV-mediated combination of p53, IL-2, and IL-12 treatment may be a promising adjunctive strategy for glioma treatment.

Hyperthermia and radiation in vivo: effect of 2-deoxy-D-glucose.

Since hypoxic cells rely heavily on glucose metabolism for energy, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), an inhibitor of anaerobic glycolysis, would be expected to increase tumor cell killing by heat and thus enhance the effect of concurrent radiation. In order to test this hypothesis two types of BALB/c mouse tumors, one induced by subcutaneous injection of 10(6) herpes virus Type 2-transformed (H238) cells and the other by injection of 1.6 X 10(5) 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-transformed (#51) cells in the right thigh, were subjected to radiation, 2-DG, and heat used singly and in various combinations. Control mice were injected with saline. Three to four weeks after inoculation the mice were assigned to one of eight treatment groups (28 mice/group) so that average tumor volume/group before treatment would be equivalent. A single 2000 rad dose of radiation 3 hr prior to heat and 2-DG injected intraperitoneally at 1 g/kg 30 min before heating were given to some of the groups. Localized heat at 43.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C for 30 min, when used, was administered by means of a water bath. Rectal temperatures were kept below 39 degrees C, whereas intratumor temperatures reached a maximum of 42 degrees C. After treatment, tumor volume, mouse weight, and mortality were noted twice a week for four weeks. In both tumor models, mice receiving radiation plus heat, and radiation plus heat plus 2-DG, had significantly smaller tumors over the entire 4 to 28 day range after treatment than saline-injected control mice. In addition, in the H238 tumor model, addition of 2-DG to treatment with radiation and heat resulted in significantly smaller tumors at 25 days. 2-DG alone or in combination with heat (without radiation) resulted in significantly smaller H238 cell-induced tumors at day 28 post-treatment when compared to the saline controls. The H238 tumor-bearing mice experienced a significant (4.7%) loss in total body weight after heating. It could be that heating trauma produced dehydration and possibly also decreased caloric intake to an extent which could be measured in weight loss. This observation, however, was not made in the heated mice in the #51 tumor model.

Suppression of immune responses by herpes virus type 2-transformed murine tumor cells.

Work done in our laboratories, using a murine model, indicates that suppression of host immune responses might be due to secretion of soluble factors by tumor cells. The H238 cells (BALB/c embryonic fibroblasts transformed by UV-inactivated herpes simplex virus Type 2) exhibit progressive tumor growth with subsequent decrease in lymphoproliferation. To further study the suppressive effects of a tumor, H238 conditioned medium (CM) was tested for its ability to block murine and human mitogenic and allogeneic lymphocyte responses. PHA, Con A and LPS were used as mitogens. Lymphoproliferation, in the presence of increasing amounts of H238 CM, resulted in a greater degree of suppression of [3H]thymidine ([3H]Tdr) uptake, in both human and mouse systems. The kinetics of proliferation in the presence of concentrated H238 CM (cCM) showed that depression was evident regardless of the time of cCM addition, thereby affecting it at any stage of the cell cycle. Treatment of H238 cCM using acid (pH 2.3), base (pH 9.6), trypsin (100 micrograms/ml), heat (56 degrees C, 100 degrees C) and freeze-thawing, restored PHA-stimulated lymphoproliferation. Dialysis of H238 cCM showed that the molecular weight of the suppressor lies between 15 and 25 kDa. Northern blot analysis demonstrated the presence of a TGF-beta transcript in H238 cells. Neutralization of the H238 cCM with monoclonal antibody to TGF-beta resulted in complete abrogation of suppressive activity in spleen cell lymphoblastogenesis. These results suggest that TGF-beta appears to be the main inhibitor of immune responses found in this HSV-2-induced murine tumor cell line. Such tumor-induced modulations may contribute to the outcome of immunotherapy in the tumor-bearing host.

Different weekly changes in immune response in virus-transformed cell-injected mice fed two different diets.

Changes in tumor development and in certain immune responses were investigated at 7-weekly intervals after subcutaneous injection of 5 X 10(5) herpes simplex virus Type 2-transformed cells (H238 cells) into male BALB/c mice fed 2 different diets. One diet contained 11% casein and 5% fat while the other had 11% supplemented wheat gluten and 30% fat. Weanling mice (140/group) were fed one or the other of the diets for 12 weeks before injection and subsequent testing of 15 injected and 5 non-injected mice from each diet group each week. In mice fed the low-fat diet containing casein both tumor incidence and tumor volume were significantly lower (P less than or equal to 0.05) than in the group fed the 30% fat diet containing supplemented wheat protein. The casein-fed mice also had less splenomegaly and a higher proportion of mature lymphocytes in the spleen during tumor growth. The proliferative capability of the spleen cells after phytohemagglutinin stimulation was enhanced 2 weeks after H238 cell injection only in the casein-fed mice.

Modification of spontaneous mammary tumors in mice fed different sources of protein, fat and carbohydrate.

The effects of different sources of dietary protein (milk, soy, wheat, fish and beef), fat (corn oil and butter), and carbohydrate (dextrin and sucrose) on the development of spontaneous mammary tumors in virgin female C3H/HeJ mice were investigated. Weanling mice were randomly divided (28 mice/group) and fed ad libitum one of 14 equicaloric diets containing either 11% or 33% protein and 5% or 30% fat or a standard mouse feed for approximately 2 years. Beginning at 6 months of age, tumor incidence, non-specific deaths, individual weights and amount of food consumed were monitored. Variations in tumor incidence were most pronounced when the mice fed different sources of protein (at a high level) were compared. The mice fed the low fat diets containing either low milk protein (high carbohydrate) or high fish protein generally exhibited the lowest tumor incidence and highest percent survival. High weight gain was correlated with early tumor appearance, but not with tumor incidence later in the experiment. The mice fed a low fat diet containing low milk protein were tumor-free significantly longer than mice fed the diets containing fish or beef. The only groups with 100% tumor incidence by 120 weeks of age were those fed diets containing sucrose (table sugar) or a high fat level.

Modification of herpes 2-transformed cell-induced tumors in mice fed different sources of protein, fat and carbohydrate.

The effects of different sources of protein (milk, soy, wheat, fish and beef), fat (corn oil and butter), and carbohydrate (dextrin and sucrose) on tumor development and on spleen characteristics were investigated in BALB/c mice injected subcutaneously with 5 X 10(5) herpes simplex virus Type 2-transformed cells (H238 cells). Low or high levels of protein and fat were used. Several weeks post-injection results indicated that a high level of fat significantly enhanced tumor incidence. A high fat level was also associated with a lower spleen weight and a smaller proportion of mature granulocytes in the spleen. Butter, compared to corn oil, significantly restricted tumor volume. Among the most highly significant findings was the low tumor incidence in mice fed protein from either a milk or a fish source.

Modification of a transplantable colon tumor and immune responses in mice fed different sources of protein, fat and carbohydrate.

The effects of different sources of dietary protein, fat and carbohydrate on tumor development and on tests relating to cell-mediated immunity were investigated in male BALB/c mice after subcutaneous injection of 8 X 10(4) 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon tumor (no. 51) cells. Results indicated that mice fed the milk protein source (especially at the low protein level) had smaller tumors, a higher spleen cell proliferative response to stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and greater cytotoxic T-cell activity against the tumor cells than those fed the comparable diets containing protein from the other sources. Peripheral blood lymphocytes only from the milk-fed mice, regardless of tumor presence, exhibited a relatively low response to PHA stimulation, thereby suggesting a dietary effect on the migration pattern of PHA-responsive lymphocytes. The level of protein significantly affected both T-cell and natural killer cell cytotoxicity. The tumor-bearing mice fed the diet containing sucrose (table sugar) had a significantly lower spleen cell response to PHA stimulation than those fed the comparable diet containing dextrin. The level or source of fat did not significantly affect any of the parameters tested in this system.

Evaluation of radiation effects against C6 glioma in combination with vaccinia virus-p53 gene therapy.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the antitumor effects of recombinant vaccinia virus-p53 (rVV-p53) in combination with radiation therapy against the C6 rat glioma, a p53 deficient tumor that is relatively radioresistant. VV-LIVP, the parental virus (Lister strain), was used as a control. Localized treatment of subcutaneous C6 tumors in athymic mice with either rVV-p53 or VV-LIVP together with tumor irradiation resulted in low tumor incidence and significantly slower tumor progression compared to the agents given as single modalities. Assays of blood and spleen indicated that immune system activation may account, at least partly, for the enhance tumor inhibition seen with combined treatment. No overt signs of treatment-related toxicity were noted.

Acute effects of whole-body proton irradiation on the immune system of the mouse.

The acute effects of proton whole-body irradiation on the distribution and function of leukocyte populations in the spleen and blood were examined and compared to the effects of photons derived from a (60)Co gamma-ray source. Adult female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to a single dose (3 Gy at 0.4 Gy/min) of protons at spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP), protons at the distal entry (E) region, or gamma rays and killed humanely at six different times thereafter. Specific differences were noted in the results, thereby suggesting that the kinetics of the response may be variable. However, the lack of significant differences in most assays at most times suggests that the RBE for both entry and peak regions of the Bragg curve was essentially 1.0 under the conditions of this study. The greatest immunodepression was observed at 4 days postexposure. Flow cytometry and mitogenic stimulation analyses of the spleen and peripheral blood demonstrated that lymphocyte populations differ in radiosensitivity, with B (CD19(+)) cells being most sensitive, T (CD3(+)) cells being moderately sensitive, and natural killer (NK1.1(+)) cells being most resistant. B lymphocytes showed the most rapid recovery. Comparison of the T-lymphocyte subsets showed that CD4(+) T helper/inducer cells were more radiosensitive than the CD8(+) T cytotoxic/suppressor cells. These findings should have an impact on future studies designed to maximize protection of normal tissue during and after proton-radiation exposure.

Evaluation of pGL1-TNF-alpha therapy in combination with radiation.

Long-term control of high-grade brain tumors is rarely achieved with current therapeutic regimens. In this study a new plasmid-based human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression vector was synthesized (pGL1-TNF-alpha) and evaluated together with radiation in the aggressive, rapidly growing C6 rat glioma model. pGL1-TNF-alpha was successfully transfected into C6 cells in vitro using a cationic polyamine method. Expression was detected up to 7 days and averaged 0.4 ng of TNF-alpha in the culture medium from 1x10(5) cells. The expressed protein was biologically functional, as evidenced by growth inhibition of L929, a TNF-alpha-susceptible cell line. Using fluorescence-labeled monoclonal antibodies and laser scanning cytometry, we confirmed that both the P55 and P75 receptors for TNF-alpha were present on the C6 cell membrane. However, the receptors were present at low density and P55 was expressed more than the P75 receptor. These findings were in contrast to results obtained with TNF-alpha-susceptible L929 cells. Tests in athymic mice showed that pGL1-TNF-alpha administered intratumorally 16-18 h before radiation (each modality given three times) significantly inhibited C6 tumor progression (P<0.05). This effect was more than additive, because pGL1-TNF-alpha alone did not slow tumor growth and radiation alone had little effect on tumor growth. These results indicate that pGL1-TNF-alpha has potential to augment the antitumor effects of radiation against a tumor type that is virtually incurable.

Evaluation of TNF-alpha effects on radiation efficacy in a human lung adenocarcinoma model.

This study sought to determine if pretreatment with low-dose tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) can enhance the effects of radiation in an NCI-H441 human lung tumor xenograft model. In vitro assays were performed on spleen cells, blood leukocytes, and plasma from the animals, as well as on cultured tumor cells. Tumors in animals given only TNF-alpha grew as well as, or better than, tumors in their untreated counterparts at all time-dose regimens employed. In contrast, early treatment with a total radiation dose of 16 Gy resulted in complete tumor inhibition, whereas 8 Gy modestly (but significantly, P < 0.05) slowed tumor progression. However, the administration of TNF-alpha (4 x 10(4) total units/mouse) 16-18 h prior to irradiation (8 Gy total dose) enhanced the antitumor effects of radiation when treatment was initiated early (P < 0.05). Oxygen radical production and response to mitogenic stimulation by splenocytes were greatest in untreated tumor-bearing animals. Total leukocyte counts in mice given radiation or TNF-alpha + radiation were low, and treatment-related changes were found in percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes. In vitro assays of tumor cells showed that TNF-alpha + radiation resulted in greater suppression of clonogenic survival and incorporation of [3H]TdR and [3H]UdR incorporation than either agent alone. These results suggest that the use of low-dose TNF-alpha together with radiation may be beneficial in the clinical setting and so warrant further investigation.