Phase II evaluation of capecitabine in refractory nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

We conducted a multi-institutional study to assess the activity and toxicity of capecitabine in patients with persistent or recurrent nonsquamous cancer of the cervix. Eligible patients were required to possess adequate renal, hepatic and bone marrow function and a Gynecologic Oncology Group performance status of 0-2. Histologic confirmation of the original primary cancer was mandated. Patients must have received one prior systemic chemotherapeutic regimen for cervical cancer that did not include the chemotherapy that may have been administered in conjunction with prior radiation therapy. The initial dose schedule was 2500 mg/m2 orally daily in two divided doses for 14 consecutive days, followed by a 7-day rest, such that each cycle was 21 days. Responses were assessed using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. Twenty-one patients were entered into the trial. One patient was declared ineligible for wrong cell type; thus, 20 were evaluable for toxicity. A median of 2.5 cycles was administered (range 1-11). There was one septic death. Grade 4 neutropenia, renal, neurologic, and pulmonary toxicity was seen in 5%, 5%, 5%, and 10% patients, respectively. There were no responses. Nine patients (45%) each had stable disease and nine showed progression. The remaining two cases (10%) did not have subsequent disease assessment and response could not be assessed. Oral capecitabine at the dose and schedule tested has insignificant activity in nonsquamous cervical cancer patients previously treated with chemotherapy.

Comparison of combination therapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin versus cyclophosphamide and cisplatin in patients with suboptimal stage III and stage IV ovarian cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

This prospective study compared the combination of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) and cisplatin with the standard therapy of cyclophosphamide/cisplatin in women with suboptimal stage III and stage IV ovarian cancer. Of the initial 410 women who presented with advanced disease and greater than 1 cm residual masses after initial surgery, 386 met all eligibility criteria and were randomly assigned to receive a regimen of cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 or cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 delivered over 24 hours. Dosage reductions were permitted in the event of significant toxicity. Among 216 patients with measurable disease, responses were reported in 73% of those receiving cisplatin/paclitaxel and in 60% of those receiving cisplatin/cyclophosphamide. Median progression-free survival was significantly longer (P < .001) in the group treated with cisplatin/paclitaxel, compared with those receiving cisplatin/cyclophosphamide (17.9 v 12.9 months, respectively).

Cyclophosphamide and cisplatin versus paclitaxel and cisplatin: a phase III randomized trial in patients with suboptimal stage III/IV ovarian cancer (from the Gynecologic Oncology Group).

Administration of an alkylating agent plus a platinum coordination complex is standard therapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in the United States. The most commonly used combination is cyclophosphamide/ cisplatin; however, the benefit of this combination in overall survival has not been compelling. We report a prospective comparison of this regimen versus a combination of cisplatin with paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ), a new and well-tolerated agent with documented activity in cisplatin-refractory ovarian cancer. Three hundred eighty-six patients with advanced ovarian cancer and greater than 1 cm residual masses following initial surgery were randomly assigned to receive a regimen of cisplatin (75 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m2), or cisplatin (75 mg/m2) and paclitaxel (135 mg/m2), delivered over 24 hours. Dose reductions in cyclophosphamide or paclitaxel were permitted for significant toxicity. In 216 patients with measurable disease, responses were reported in 73% of those randomized to the cisplatin/paclitaxel arm and in 60% randomized to the cisplatin/cyclophosphamide arm. Progression-free survival was significantly longer (P < .001) with cisplatin/paclitaxel (median, 12.9 v 17.9 months). Overall survival was also significantly longer (P < .001) with cisplatin/paclitaxel (median, 37.5 v 24.4 months). Incorporating paclitaxel into first-line therapy for patients with suboptimally debulked stage III and stage IV ovarian cancer can increase the duration of the progression-free interval and extend overall survival while maintaining an acceptable toxicity profile.

Analysis of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia for the presence of human papillomavirus DNA.

We have analyzed a number of invasive squamous cell carcinomas for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA using dot blot and Southern blot analysis. Seven of 31 samples (23%) were positive by dot blot and/or Southern blot analysis. In contrast, six of 11 (55%) of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasias contained HPV DNA by dot blot and/or Southern blot hybridization. Less than 50% of the invasive vulvar carcinomas contained detectable HPV DNA. The average age at onset of vulvar carcinoma is higher than that for cervical carcinoma (in which HPV DNA is detected in over 80% of cases). Therefore, the role of HPV in the genesis of vulvar carcinoma may be different from the role of HPV in the genesis of cervical carcinoma.

Vulvar keratoacanthoma.

BACKGROUND: Keratoacanthomas are neoplastic proliferations of keratinocytes thought to originate from follicular epithelium. There is only one previously reported case in which keratoacanthoma involved the vulva. CASE: A 54-year-old woman presented with a nonulcerated vulvar lesion of approximately 1 month's duration. The lesion was 1 cm in diameter, located on the mid-right labium majus, with no surrounding induration or hyperkeratosis. The patient underwent wide local excision and the clinical-pathologic diagnosis was keratoacanthoma. After 2 years, she remains free of vulvar recurrence. CONCLUSION: Because of similarities in clinical presentation and histology to squamous cell carcinoma, the diagnosis of keratoacanthoma can be challenging. History and physical examination findings should be correlated with the histologic diagnosis, with consideration for dermatopathology consultation.

Immunohistochemical study of HER-2/neu, epidermal growth factor receptor, and steroid receptor expression in normal and malignant endometrium.

HER-2/neu oncogene protein, epidermal growth factor receptor, progesterone receptor, and estrogen receptor were examined immunohistochemically in specimens of normal and neoplastic endometrium. Tissues obtained at the time of hysterectomy were snap-frozen at liquid nitrogen temperature and serially sectioned at 4 microns. Normal endometrial epithelial cells stained with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor and anti-HER-2/neu with intensities graded from 0 to 3+. Of the 49 endometrial malignancies studied, seven (14%) contained tissue exhibiting HER-2/neu staining in excess (4+) of any of the normal tissues or the other 42 cancer specimens. Expression of both HER-2/neu and steroid receptors was heterogeneous within these seven tumors. To examine this heterogeneity more closely, sections of these and other tumors were double-stained for HER-2/neu and progesterone receptor. It was found that the cells exhibiting 4+ HER-2/neu staining were progesterone receptor-negative. Conversely, cells that were progesterone receptor-positive within the same specimen exhibited HER-2/neu immunostaining equal to or less than 3+. All specimens containing 4+ HER-2/neu tissue were graded 1 or 2 adenocarcinomas, stage I. Thus, there is an inverse relationship between overexpression of HER-2/neu and progesterone receptor in endometrial cancer. On the other hand, overexpression of HER-2/neu in endometrial cancer does not seem to be related to loss of other differentiated characteristics. The prognostic value of these observations awaits continued study.

Regulation of signal transduction.

1. A systematic study is reported on the control of 1-phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI kinase) and PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP kinase), enzymes of the phosphatidylinositol phosphorylation pathway which leads to the production of second messengers. IP3 and DAG. In liver of normal male, adult, fed Wistar rats the steady state activity of PI kinase was 0.5 +/- 0.01 and that of PIP kinase was 0.046 +/- 0.003 nmol/hr/mg protein. The concentration of IP3 was 1.8 +/- 0.1 pmol/mg protein. 2. That the two kinases have short half-lives was observed in starvation. where in the rat liver or bone marrow activities rapidly decreased and on refeeding were restored in a day. Injection to rats of the protein synthetic inhibitor, cycloheximide, yielded t1/2 = 80 min for the two enzymes in bone marrow and t1/2 = 80 min in liver. 3. Linkage of the signal transduction enzymes with proliferation was shown by the high activities as compared to liver of these enzymes in rat organs of high cell renewal capacity, e.g., thymus, bone marrow, spleen and testes. 4. Linkage with malignant proliferation was indicated by the observation that in rat hepatomas the enzyme activities increased 5- to 9-fold and were highest in rapidly growing hepatoma 3924A (29- and 45-fold). 5. In human primary ovarian carcinoma PI and PIP kinase activities were elevated 4.4 and 2.9-fold, respectively, and in OVCAR-5 cells, 32- and 11-fold, respectively. Similar increases were observed in MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells in comparison with normal breast parenchymal cells. 6. The linkage of signal transduction enzyme activities with malignant proliferation was also observed in experiments when human breast carcinoma cells were plated in flasks and expressed their proliferative capacity in the log phase. PI and PIP kinase activities steadily and coordinately increased to a peak 11-fold rise in mid-log phase. In late log and plateau phases the kinase activities gradually declined to the starting level. Similar observations were made for the two enzymes in human ovarian carcinoma OVCAR-5 cells and in rat hepatoma 3924A cells in tissue culture. 7. In animals injected with cycloheximide the bone marrow PI and PIP kinase activities exhibited t1/2 = 0.12 hr, the shortest decay rate in comparison with 8 enzymes of purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis with t1/2 = 0.6 to 4.3 hr. 8. Injection of tiazofurin decreased PI and PIP kinase activities in the bone marrow with t1/2 = 82 and 78 min, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Current issues in the regulation of signal transduction.

(1) In all examined rat and human tissues and cells, PIP kinase activity was rate-limiting and PLC activity was present in great excess. (2) The steady-state activities of the signal transduction enzymes, PI kinase, PIP kinase and PLC, and the concentration of the end product, IP3, were determined in rat liver and hepatomas of different malignancies. The activities of all three enzymes were elevated in the hepatomas in a non-random fashion. A generalization emerged that the enzyme with the lowest activity in liver, PIP kinase, increased to the highest extent and the enzyme with the highest activity in liver, PLC, increased to the smallest extent in rapidly growing hepatomas. The IP3 concentration in the hepatomas was elevated in a progression-linked fashion. (3) The three signal transduction enzyme activities were elevated in human ovarian carcinoma samples and in human breast carcinoma cells. (4) When human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-435 cells were allowed to go through lag, log and plateau phases, the IP3 concentration reached a 20-fold peak at 12 hr after plating. The elevation in IP3 concentration preceded the rise in PI and PIP kinase activities which increased 11-fold in the log phase. The IP3 concentration and PI and PIP kinase activities returned to their baseline levels when the plateau phase was reached. The PLC activity did not change significantly during the whole period. (5) Administration of cycloheximide i.p. in rats revealed short half-lives in the bone marrow for the two kinases (8 min) and a long half-life for PLC (> 6 hr). In a group of 10 enzymes, the half-lives of the kinases were the shortest. In cycloheximide-injected rats, the bone marrow IP3 concentration was reduced to about 50% in 30 min. The reduction of IP3 concentration is attributed to the decline to 15 and 12%, respectively, in PI and PIP kinase activities since PLC activity did not change. (6) In 3-day starved rats, the bone marrow PI and PIP kinase were reduced to activities (13%) that were markedly lower than the decrease in the protein concentration (to 55%). By contrast, the PLC activity was preferentially maintained (to 78%) over the protein level. Under starvation, the IP3 concentration decreased (to 24%), indicating that starvation can markedly disrupt IP3 homeostasis. Refeeding returned the enzymic activities and the IP3 concentration to the normal level in bone marrow in 24 hr. (7) Comparison of the absolute activities of PI and PIP kinases and PLC showed that PLC is present in an excess; therefore, it does not appear to have a rate-limiting action in cycloheximide treated rats or in starvation. (8) Whereas PI and PIP kinases have short half-lives and apparently rapid synthetic rates, PLC has high activity, a long half-life and responds to starvation with only a small decrease. (9) The gain in function manifested in the over-expressed capacity for signal transduction confers growth advantages to cancer cells. These increased activities, particularly those of PI and PIP kinases, should be sensitive targets for chemotherapy.

Regulation of the signal transduction program by drugs.

The purpose of this paper was to clarify critical aspects of the behavior of signal transduction activity in normal and cancer cells. 1. Signal transduction activity in the conversion of phosphatidylinositol through PI and PIP kinases and PLC to IP3 is regulated at multiple sites. In liver, hepatomas and human carcinomas PIP kinase is the rate limiting enzyme and PLC activity is present in great excess. 2. The steady-state signal transduction activity as measured by the three enzyme activities and IP3 concentration was markedly up-regulated in rat hepatomas of different growth rates. The steady-state specific activities of the three signal transduction enzymes were elevated in ovarian carcinomas as compared to normal ovary. Increased enzyme activities were also observed in human breast carcinoma cells as compared to normal human breast parenchymal cells. In breast, ovarian and rat hepatoma cells as they go through lag, log and plateau phases, IP3 concentration in the early lag phase increased 4.5- to 20-fold and PI and PIP kinase activities peaked in mid-log phase. These events returned to baseline levels in the plateau phase. PLC activity did not change. 3. The bone marrow PI and PIP kinase activities in 3-day starvation were decreased to 13% and IP3 concentration was reduced to 24%; at 1-day refeeding they returned to normal. PLC activity changed little. These alterations are in line with the rapid t1/2 degradation rates (12 min) of PI and PIP kinases observed in studies with cycloheximide. By contrast, PLC has a long half-life. 4. The molecular action of tiazofurin entails inhibition of IMP DH activity, decrease in GTP and IP3 concentrations, reduction of ras and myc oncogene expression, and signal transduction enzyme activities. These events are followed by induced differentiation and apoptosis. There are also decreases in enzyme activities which have rapid turnover, including TdR kinase, dTMP synthase, and GPRT. In vitro studies indicated that these events are abrogated by addition of guanine which restores GTP concentrations. Therefore, most or all these events were brought about by the reduced GTP concentration in the tiazofurin target cells. 5. Quercetin and genistein are able to inhibit PI and PIP kinase activities and reduce IP3 concentration in vivo and in tissue culture systems. These flavonoids are also inhibitors of cell proliferation and clonogenic ability in rat hepatoma 3924A and in human OVCAR-5 and MDA-MB-435 cells. Quercetin down-regulated the expression of c-myc and Ki-ras oncogenes and led to induced differentiation and apoptosis in K562 cells. Genistein reduced IP3 concentration in vivo and in the tissue culture system. Genistein is antiproliferative and has cytototoxicity in human carcinoma cells. All three drugs, tiazofurin, quercetin and genistein, act, in part at least, through depression of cellular IP3 concentration although the mechanisms may not be identical. 6. Quercetin and genistein, which attack different targets and different phases of the cell cycle, proved to be synergistic in OVCAR-5 cells. The impact of tiazofurin, genistein and quercetin is of interest because the drugs crucially inhibit the display of the neoplastic program of cells and lead to induced differentiation and apoptosis.

Regulation of deoxycytidine kinase activity and inhibition by DFDC.

(1) Deoxycytidine kinase activity increased in a transformation- and progression-linked fashion in rat hepatomas of different proliferation rates. The activity also increased and was growth rate-linked in a series of tissue culture cell lines of human and animal tumors. (2) Deoxycytidine kinase activity was stringently linked with expression of the neoplastic proliferative program as it sharply increased in log phase in tissue culture cells of hepatoma 3924A and several human carcinoma strains. (3) Deoxycytidine kinase is subject to nutritional and hormonal regulation. On starvation the activity in liver decreased and on refeeding it returned to normal. Steroid hormone increased liver enzymic activity. Deoxycytidine kinase is substrate-inducible, since deoxycytidine injections in rat led to a 2- to 3-fold increase in hepatic enzyme activity. (4) Actinomycin or cycloheximide treatment blocked the increase in liver deoxycytidine kinase activity induced by steroid or deoxycytidine treatment. Therefore, it is assumed that the rise in deoxycytidine kinase activity requires new RNA and protein synthesis. (5) Cycloheximide treatment of rats carrying hepatomas yielded a t1/2 = 3.4 hr in the tumor for deoxycytidine kinase activity which was the shortest among the examined enzymes of purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis. (6) Actinomycin treatment of rats carrying hepatomas yielded a t1/2 of 5.8 hr for deoxycytidine kinase activity in the tumor which was one of the shortest in the examined enzymes of purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis. (7) Difluorodeoxycytidine (DFDC) is a competitive inhibitor (Ki = 7-28 microM) of deoxycytidine kinase from rat hepatoma and from human pancreatic carcinoma and ovarian carcinoma cells in culture.

Gynecologic cancers metastatic to the breast.

BACKGROUND: We report a series of gynecologic cancers metastatic to the breast, illustrating the diagnostic and prognostic implications of this rare event. STUDY DESIGN: By reviewing the gynecologic oncology data base, we identified 10 women with gynecologic cancer metastatic to the breast who were treated at Indiana University School of Medicine between August 1978 and February 1995. Medical records were reviewed for pertinent data concerning the presentation, evaluation, and treatment of the primary gynecologic malignancy and the metastatic breast tumor. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 56.8 years (range, 30-80 years). The most common gynecologic malignancy was ovarian cancer (five patients), followed by cervical cancer (two patients) and cancers of the vagina, endometrium, or peritoneum (one patient each). A palpable solitary breast mass was found in 8 of 10 patients (80%), and the upper outer quadrant of the breast was the most common site of tumor involvement. One woman presented with examination findings resembling inflammatory breast cancer, and one patient presented with multiple firm subcutaneous nodules. Despite further treatment, which in all cases consisted of systemic chemotherapy, 83% of the patients died with a breast metastasis within 1 year of presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary breast malignancy should be suspected in any patient with a breast tumor and a known history of gynecologic cancer. A breast metastasis implies widespread tumor dissemination and a poor prognosis. Radical breast surgery should be avoided.

Coordinated increase in activities of the signal transduction enzymes PI kinase and PIP kinase in human cancer cells.

The steady-state activities of the first two enzymes of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) phosphorylation pathway, PI 4-kinase, EC 2.7.1.67 (PI kinase) and PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase, EC 2.7.1.68 (PIP kinase) as compared to human normal ovary are elevated in human ovarian carcinomas (4.1- and 2.7-fold) and in human OVCAR-5 cells in tissue culture (31.2- and 8.9-fold). Compared to normal human breast parenchymal cells. PI kinase and PIP kinase activities were increased in breast carcinoma MDA-MB-435 cells grown in nude mice as solid tumors (7.3- and 2.3-fold, respectively) and in MDA-MB-435 cells grown in tissue culture (95.8- and 15.5-fold, respectively). When the human carcinoma cells were plated and expressed their neoplastic proliferative program in the log phase, in the MDA-MB-435 breast carcinoma cells the PI and PIP kinase activities coordinately increased 11-fold; in ovarian carcinoma OVCAR-5 cells 5.8- and 4.5-fold, respectively. These studies provide the first evidence in human cancer cells of an increased capacity for the operation of signal transduction. This is indicated by the markedly elevated activities of PI and PIP kinases in the phosphatidylinositol phosphorylation sequence which leads to production of second messengers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG).

Linkage of reduction in 1-phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase activity and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate concentration in human ovarian carcinoma cells treated with quercetin.

Quercetin inhibited 1-phosphatidylinositol (Pl) 4-kinase, EC 2.7.1.67 (Pl kinase) activity in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 4 microM) in particulate extracts from human ovarian carcinoma. In OVCAR-5 cells quercetin produced growth inhibition (IC50 = 63 microM) and cytotoxicity (LC50 = 17 microM). The growth inhibition by quercetin was accompanied by an 80% decrease in Pl kinase activity and a 65% decrease in the concentration of the second messenger, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). When human OVCAR-5 cells were plated and expressed their neoplastic proliferative program in the log phase, Pl kinase and Pl 4-phosphate 5-kinase, EC 2.7.1.68 (PIP kinase) activities coordinately increased to a peak of 5.8- and 4.5-fold, respectively. The results demonstrate for the first time inhibition by quercetin of the enhanced capacity for operation of signal transduction in human ovarian carcinoma cells, thus providing a novel target in cancer cells.

Tiazofurin: molecular and clinical action.

UNLABELLED: The purpose is to provide an overview of the molecular and clinical impact of tiazofurin. METHOD: The biochemical and clinical techniques were reported (1, 2). RESULTS: IMP DH activity increased in various animal and human tumors and was particularly high in leukemic blast cells. The increased activity was due to an elevation in the mRNA concentration of type II isozyme. Tiazofurin, a C-nucleoside, was converted in sensitive cells to the active metabolite, TAD, which tightly bound at the NADH site inhibited IMP DH activity. The inhibition led to decreased GTP concentration, down-regulation of ras and myc oncogenes and induced maturation of blast cells. New evidence shows that tiazofurin injection downregulated signal transduction activity due to a reduction of the activities of PI and PIP kinases leading to a decrease in the concentration of the second messenger, IP3. In patients; tiazofurin infusion and allopurinol administration led to reduction of IMP DH activity and GTP concentration. Allopurinol inhibited xanthine oxidase activity leading to a marked rise in hypoxanthine concentration which inhibited the increased guanine salvage pathway. In the clinic, the increase in serum hypoxanthine concentration is essential for the success of tiazofurin treatment. Tiazofurin showed additivity or synergism with ribavirin, retinoic acid, taxol, quercetin, gemcitabin, dipyridamole and brefeldin. Ribavirin which inhibits IMP DH at the IMP site has been shown to prolong the IMP depressing action of tiazofurin in rat bone marrow cells. CONCLUSION: Tiazofurin and allopurinol achieve reduction of GTP concentration in leukemic blast cells through inhibition of IMP DH and GPRT activities. As a result, induced maturation occurs with down-regulation of ras and myc oncogenes and probably reduced signal transduction capacity. Tiazofurin in leukemic patients provides over 75% therapeutic responses and patients can be treated with this combination for many months with good quality of life. These clinical and biochemical results were recently confirmed independently (3).

Increased signal transduction activity and down-regulation in human cancer cells.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the behavior of signal transduction activity in rat and human carcinoma cells. Signal transduction activity was measured by the steady-state activity of the three enzymes involved in the conversion of 1-phosphatidylinositol (PI) to IP3, PI 4-kinase, PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase, and phospholipase C activities were measured by our methods. The results indicate that the steady-state activities of the three signal transduction enzymes and the end-product, IP3, were up-regulated in a transformation- and progression-linked fashion. In rat liver PI kinase, PIP kinase and PLC activities were 0.4, O.04, and 800 nmol/hour/mg protein, respectively. PI and PIP kinase and PLC activities were increased 2- to 8-fold in five rat hepatomas and 29-, 45-, and 4-fold, respectively, in rapidly growing hepatoma 3924A. PI and PIP kinase activities as compared to normal ovary were elevated in human ovarian epithelial carcinomas (4- and 3-fold) and in OVCAR-5 cells in culture (31- and 11-fold). Compared to normal breast parenchymal cells, PI and PIP kinase activities were increased in human breast carcinoma cells (96- and 16-fold). When breast carcinoma cells were plated and expressed their neoplastic proliferative program. IP3 concentration increased 20-fold in early log phase: PI and PIP kinase activities increased 11-fold in mid log phase: PLC activity did not change throughout. PI and PIP kinase activities in bone marrow had short half-lives (t1/2 = 8 minutes) but PLC had a long one (t1/2 > 6 hours). The elevated signal transduction activity was down-regulated by the anti-cancer drug, tiazofurin, and also by quercetin, an inhibitor of PI kinase. The addition of these drugs to cultured carcinoma cells reduced the IP3 concentration, and the cells were killed. These integrated studies are the first showing that signal transduction activity is stringently linked with transformation and progression in rat and human solid tumors and carcinoma cells. Down-regulation (by tiazofurin) or inhibition of PI and PIP kinase activities (by quercetin) in human carcinoma cells led to a marked reduction of IP3 concentration and to cell death. Tiazofurin and quercetin may be useful in the treatment of carcinomas with increased signal transduction capacity.

Increased thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthase activities in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Thymidylate synthase (dTMP synthase, EC 2.1.1.45) is responsible for the de novo biosynthesis of thymidylate (dTMP) whereas thymidine kinase (TdR kinase, EC 2.7.1.21) is the salvage enzyme which leads to the production of dTMP even in presence of d TMP synthase inhibition. The current study was undertaken to compare the steady-state activities of d TMP synthase and TdR kinase in extracts of human epithelial ovarian carcinoma and normal ovaries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Tissue extracts of epithelial ovarian carcinomas and normal ovaries were analyzed for activities of d TMP synthase (by a method that measures released 3H2O) and TdR kinase (by polyethyleneimine impregnated (PEI) cellulose plate radioassay), methods established in this laboratory. RESULTS: The dTMP synthase activity (mean +/- S.E.) in extracts of ovarian carcinomas (N = 11) was 0.198 +/- 0.069 and in extracts of normal ovaries (N = 12) it was 0.025 +/- 0.0004 nmol/hr/mg protein. By contrast, TdR kinase activity in extracts of ovarian carcinoma (N = 13) was 27.7 +/- 8.5 compared to 1.0 +/- 0.3 nmol/hr/mg protein in extracts of normal ovaries (N = 15). CONCLUSION: The observed 140-fold higher TdR kinase activity suggests that DNA synthesis may continue despite inhibition of dTMP synthase with current schedules of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin. The addition of azidothymidine, a competitive inhibitor of TdR kinase, to 5-FU and leucovorin might be a rational biochemical strategy to employ in patients with refractory ovarian carcinoma.

Differences in thermostability of thymidine kinase isoenzymes in normal ovary and ovarian carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: Thymidine kinase 1 (TK 1 EC. 2.7.1.21) the most specific and cell-cycle regulated salvage enzyme for pyrimidine nucleoside supply of DNA synthesis is a promising target to rationally designed chemo- and other therapies. The present study was undertaken to compare the heat stability of TK isoenzymes of both normal ovarian and epithelial ovarian cancer cells. Tissue extracts of epithelial ovarian carcinomas (N = 7) and normal ovaries (N = 9) were analyzed for thymidine kinase activity using the polyethyleneimine-cellulose disc radioassay. The TK activity in extracts of ovarian carcinomas was 12-fold higher than in extracts of normal ovaries. The TK activity of ovarian carcinomas decreased significantly even after 30 minutes incubation at 37 degrees C while, the enzyme activity of normal ovarian extracts was more stable and decreased to the same extent after 120 minutes. The half-life time of the enzyme activity was 82 min in the normal but only 36 minutes in the cancer tissue extract at 37 degrees C. CONCLUSION: The TK activity of malignant ovarian cells was much higher but more unstable (t1/2 = 36 minutes) than the enzyme isolated from healthy ovaries (t1/2 = 82 minutes). This profound difference in thermostability might provide the molecular background for hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy as a promising treatment for ovarian malignancies.

Intraperitoneal 5-fluorouracil for pseudomyxoma peritoneii.

Pseudomyxoma peritoneii has an indolent course but a 5-year survival rate of 40-45%. The role for postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy is unclear. Nine patients with pseudomyxoma arising from mucinous neoplasms of the ovary and intestinal tract received a total of 89 courses of intraperitoneal 5-fluorouracil (IP5FU). Each course consisted of eight 4-h exchanges of 1 g of 5FU in 2 l of 1.5% Inpersol(R). Median follow-up after diagnosis was 30 months (range 6-74). All patients were evaluable for toxicity and response. There was one treatment-related death due to renal failure and sepsis. Three patients developed disease progression prior to scheduled second-look laparotomy. At second-look laparotomy two patients demonstrated pathologic complete responses, one had stable disease and one had progression of disease. One patient remained clinically free of progression after refusing second-look laparotomy. The projected 5-year survival by Kaplan-Meier estimate was 87% for patients treated with IP5FU compared to a 52% 5-year survival seen in a series of 11 patients treated prior to the use of IP5FU (P = 0.12). This preliminary analysis suggests that IPFU in the described schedule fails to improve survival statistically compared to previously used regimens for patients with pseudomyxoma peritoneii.

A phase II study of fazarabine in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. A Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

BACKGROUND: A total of 22 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer previously treated with cisplatin-containing chemotherapy were treated with Fazarabine. METHODS: The drug was administered at an initial dose of 30 mg/m2/day for 5 consecutive days. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. There were 19 evaluable patients. RESULTS: No complete or partial responders were observed in this study; 48% of patients were deemed to have stable disease. The major toxicity was hematologic, with four patients exhibiting grade 4 neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS: Fazarabine shows no useful activity as a single agent when given at this dose and schedule in the management of previously treated patients with cancer of the ovary.

5-fluorouracil and low-dose leucovorin in the treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma. A phase II trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group.

Twenty-one patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma not amenable to cure with further surgery or radiotherapy were entered into a Phase II trial utilizing i.v. leucovorin at 20 mg/m2 followed by i.v. 5-fluorouracil at 425 mg/m2 administered daily for 5 days every 4 weeks for the first two courses and then every 5 weeks. Twenty-one patients were entered. Of these, 20 were eligible for toxicity assessment and 19 for response. Five had received prior radiotherapy, and all had received prior cisplatin-based chemotherapy. There was one patient response (5.3%; 95% confidence intervals for response of 0% to 26%). Toxicity was moderate with 5 of 20 (25%) grade 3 or 4 leukopenia, 12 of 20 (60%) grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia, 1 of 20 (5%) grade 3 thrombocytopenia, 5 of 20 (25%) grade 3 GI toxicity, and 2 of 20 (10%) grade 3 neurotoxicity. There was one toxic death in a patient who developed granulocytopenia and pneumonia after her third course of treatment. This dose schedule of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin has minimal activity in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma who have received prior cisplatin chemotherapy.