A Modified Pontic Appliance for Missing Maxillary Incisors.

A modified pontic technique is presented that simplifies the management of patients with missing anterior teeth during the course of comprehensive orthodontic care. This technique demonstrates a lingual arch attached to lingual sheaths with the pontic placed on the lingual arch. Information presented includes appliance design, improved bond strength of the bracket on the pontic tooth, preparing the appliance for use as anchorage, and the incorporation of an anterior biteplate in the appliance. A modified pontic appliance improves esthetics and function when treating patients with missing maxillary anterior teeth.

Mutations in the Drosophila Rop gene suggest a function in general secretion and synaptic transmission.

The Drosophila protein Rop shows similarity with the Sec1p protein of S. cerevisiae. Sec1p has an essential role in secretion, whereas most related proteins from higher organisms are hypothesized to function in neurotransmitter release. We show that, like the latter proteins, Rop is expressed in the nervous system, but it is expressed in other tissues as well, many of which are actively engaged in secretion. We have isolated mutations in the Rop gene and find that the extracellular accumulation of a number of normally secreted cellular products fails to occur in null mutant animals, which subsequently die at a late embryonic stage. Electrophysiological recordings on temperature-sensitive Rop mutants show that reductions in Rop activity result in a loss of the normal synaptic response to a light stimulus. These data suggest that a member of the Sec1p class of proteins has an in vivo function in both general secretion and synaptic transmission.

Evaluation of the antitumor activity of recombinant human gamma-interferon employing human melanoma xenografts in athymic nude mice.

Three human melanoma cell lines (G-361, HT-144, and SK-MEL-3) that were highly sensitive to growth inhibition in vitro by recombinant human interferon (rHuIFN-gamma) were adapted to grow as s.c. xenografts in athymic nude mice. Take rates were greater than 90% for all three tumors, with in vivo doubling times of 15, 4, and 15 days for G-361, HT-144, and SK-MEL-3, respectively. Commencing 3 days posttumor implantation mice were treated with daily s.c. injections of rHuIFN-gamma for 30 days over a dose range of 2.4-326 megaunits/mouse/day at a site distinct from the tumor implant. Tumors were measured twice weekly and mice were observed daily for deaths and morbidity until day 60 postimplantation. No apparent antitumor activity was observed in either the G-361 or HT-144 tumors at any dose despite the achievement of high rHuIFN-gamma blood levels. Intralesional treatment of the HT-144 xenograft with rHuIFN-gamma at 240 megaunits/mouse/day did not significantly retard tumor growth or increase lifespan. However, the SK-MEL-3 tumor showed a significant response at the 326-megaunit dose as noted by a tumor growth delay of 11.8 days in treated versus control animals and by an increased number of 60-day survivors. The tumor growth suppression appeared to be greater during the treatment period than during the subsequent observation period. Other experiments employing 326, 530, and 860 megaunits rHuIFN-gamma/mouse/day in mice bearing the SK-MEL-3 tumor demonstrated tumor growth delays of 4.2, 4.8, and 19.8 days, respectively, suggesting a dose response. These data support the conclusions that (a) in vitro antiproliferative activity of rHuIFN-gamma is not necessarily predictive of in vivo efficacy; and (b) relatively high doses of rHuIFN-gamma appear to be required for demonstrating an in vivo antitumor effect in this model.

Therapeutic synergism of tiazofurin and selected antitumor drugs against sensitive and resistant P388 leukemia in mice.

Tiazofurin is a synthetic "C" nucleoside analogue with a promising spectrum of experimental antitumor activity and a relatively novel mechanism of action. Previous work in our laboratories had revealed indications of collateral sensitivity and therapeutic synergism for selected murine tumor models treated with tiazofurin alone or in combination with an antimetabolite or an alkylating agent. Elucidation by others of biochemical indicators of tiazofurin activity provided the rationale for extending our studies to include the tiazofurin combinations reported here. Young, adult, female, BALB/c X DBA/2 F1 mice bearing body burdens of about 4 X 10(7) cells at the start of treatment were used. Cells were implanted either i.p. or s.c. Tiazofurin plus cisplatin or the 5'-palmitate of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) was evaluated against the parent P388/O leukemia line. Tiazofurin plus 6-thioguanine was evaluated against the ara-C-resistant P388. All drug treatments were i.p. injections given daily for 9 days. The experimental design permitted comparison of optimal nontoxic single-agent and two-drug combination regimens on the basis of the estimated log10 change in tumor cell burden at the end of treatment. Concurrent untreated control mice bearing tumor burdens ranging from approximately one to 10(7) cells permitted estimates of cells surviving treatment. Optimal treatment with each of these combinations afforded tumor burden reductions that were greater by 1 to 7 orders of magnitude than the effects of the respective single agents. Optimal single-agent and combination dosages (mg per kg per dose) were as follows: tiazofurin, 500; cisplatin, 2.0; the 5'-palmitate of ara-C, 25; 6-thioguanine, 0.8; tiazofurin, 330 plus cisplatin, 0.58; tiazofurin, 220 plus the 5'-palmitate of ara-C, 20; tiazofurin, 100 plus 6-thioguanine, 0.8. The observed therapeutic synergism of these drugs with tiazofurin in animal models suggests the possibility that treatment with tiazofurin combinations may yield clinical results superior to those obtained with the single agents alone. Therapeutic synergism can be most readily maximized when biochemical markers of drug action are available to provide appropriate clinical-laboratory correlations. Extension of these approaches to the use of tiazofurin, for which biochemical markers and experimental combination chemotherapy leads are now available, would support the rational clinical development of tiazofurin combinations.

Hematology and clinical chemistry reference values for C57BL/6 X DBA/2 F1 mice.

We have analyzed hematology data from 504 individual male C57BL/6 X DBA/2 (hereafter called B6D2F1) mice. Clinical chemistry data from an additional 304 individual male B6D2F1 mice have also been analyzed. The mice had served as drug-diluent controls in 24 toxicological evaluations of anticancer drugs administered singly or in combination. The studies were carried out under standardized conditions during an 18-month period between July 1975 and December 1976. Test values corresponding to 9 percentiles have been selected from an ordered ranking of values for each of 18 hematologic tests and 18 clinical chemistry tests. Since 95% of the values for a given test are found between the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles, test values corresponding to these percentiles provide reference values ("normal" values) for these mice. The other percentiles (5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th) indicate the distribution of values between the reference limits for each test. Since values for all tests do not conform to the Gaussian distribution, this nonparametric analysis provides reference values that are more accurate than might be obtained from calculation of the mean and standard deviation of a given test. The B6D2F1 mouse, commonly referred to as BDF1, has been widely used for preclinical evaluation of anticancer drugs, and these data should be useful to investigators who are conducting qualitative and quantitative toxicity evaluations in these mice.

Preclinical antitumor activity of penclomedine in mice: cross-resistance, schedule dependence, and oral activity against tumor xenografts in brain.

Penclomedine is 3,5-dichloro-2,4-dimethoxy-6-(trichloromethyl)pyridine (NSC 338720), an alpha-picoline derivative with p.o. antitumor activity in preclinical leukemia and solid tumor models. Described here are an in vivo cross-resistance profile of penclomedine, treatment schedule dependence studies, and studies exploring the effects of p.o. drug on human tumors xenografted into mouse brain. The latter studies exploited the apparent facile distribution of penclomedine to the central nervous system. Tumor models used included murine leukemia lines selected in vivo for acquired resistance to various antitumor drugs and the human mammary and lung tumor xenografts MX-1 and H82, respectively. The therapeutic effects of p.o. penclomedine against s.c. MX-1 and H82 xenografts were shown to be independent of treatment schedule. Therapeutic activity was comparable when p.o. and parenteral treatments were compared. Lines of P388 leukemia resistant to melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and carmustine were cross-resistant to penclomedine in vivo. Leukemia lines resistant to antimetabolites, DNA binders/intercalators, and vincristine were not cross-resistant to penclomedine. Intracerebrally implanted MX-1 xenografts retained their sensitivity to p.o. penclomedine, and therapeutic activity was at least comparable to that of carmustine, a drug known for its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. These results demonstrate attributes of penclomedine that are relatively uncommon among currently available antitumor drugs and that are of interest for the anticipated clinical development of this drug.

Antitumor activity of 2-chloroethyl (methylsulfonyl)methanesulfonate (clomesone, NSC 33847) against selected tumor systems in mice.

Clomesone was evaluated for antitumor activity against a spectrum of animal tumor models. Clomesone exhibited significant antitumor activity against the murine L1210 leukemia implanted i.p., s.c., and intracerebrally (i.c.). Activity against s.c.-implanted tumor was largely independent of schedule and route of administration. Therapeutically optimal single-dose treatment (for tumored mice) was less toxic to nontumored mice than therapeutically optimal prolonged treatment. Clomesone also exhibited activity against other murine tumors (P388 leukemia, B16 melanoma, Lewis lung carcinoma, and M5076 sarcoma). It was active against P388 leukemia sublines resistant to cyclophosphamide, L-phenylalanine mustard, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). No activity was observed against a P388 subline resistant to N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea or against Ridgway osteogenic sarcoma, a nitrosourea-resistant murine solid tumor. Clomesone is generally as effective as the chloroethylnitrosoureas against experimental tumor models. Since clomesone does not have the hydroxyethylating and carbamoylating activities of the chloroethylnitrosoureas (which do not appear to contribute to antitumor activity), it would likely be a more toxicologically selective compound. It may prove to be less carcinogenic than the chloroethylnitrosoureas, and it may contribute less target organ toxicity and less interference with the actions of other drugs when used in combinations.

Preclinical antitumor activity and pharmacological properties of deoxyspergualin.

A new antibiotic, deoxyspergualin (DSG), demonstrated antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia in mice. The life span of mice bearing either i.p. or s.c.-implanted L1210 increased greater than 150% following i.p. administration of 25 mg/kg DSG on days 1-9. Activity obtained with i.p. bolus treatments was schedule dependent. The tumor burden in mice bearing the s.c. implanted L1210 was reduced by 4-6 log10 units at the end of treatment when DSG was administered every 3 h for 8 injections on days 1, 5, and 9. By contrast, single injections of DSG on days 1, 5, and 9 allowed the tumor burden to increase at least 100-fold during treatment and daily single injections for 9 days reduced the tumor burden by 2 log10 units. The therapeutic advantage for i.p.-implanted L1210 of maintaining plasma concentrations of DSG was indicated further by infusion studies using s.c.-implanted Alzet osmotic pumps. Tumor burden was reduced by 3.5 and 6 log10 units following s.c. bolus treatments every 3 h on day 1 and a 24 h-infusion, respectively. The optimal infusion time for an infusion rate in mice of 179 mg/kg/day appeared to be 72 h. Pharmacokinetic studies following bolus i.v. injection revealed a rapid plasma clearance of parent drug (20.8 ml/min/kg) and a beta half-life of approximately 12 min. The bolus dose kinetics was used to predict the steady state plasma concentrations resulting from s.c. infusion; good agreement was observed between predicted values and experimental results. Based on these preclinical data, DSG has been developed to clinical trial. Initial Phase I protocols involve a 120-h infusion schedule.

Antitumor activity and biochemical effects of aphidicolin glycinate (NSC 303812) alone and in combination with cisplatin in vivo.

Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of DNA polymerases alpha and delta, is cytotoxic in vitro against tumor cells. The poor solubility of aphidicolin has led to the development of aphidicolin glycinate (AG; NSC 303812), a water soluble ester currently in early clinical trials. The antitumor activity of AG was investigated in a series of transplantable murine tumors in vivo. The drug demonstrated activity against the i.p. implanted B16 melanoma, producing maximum increased life spans of 75% following i.p. administration every 3 h for three doses on days 1-9. Treatment schedules involving both single injections per day on days 1-9 and multiple injections per day on days 1, 5, and 9 were less effective, indicating that this antitumor activity is schedule dependent. Similarly, greater activity was observed against the i.p. M5076 sarcoma when three daily injections were given on days 1-9 (57% increased life span) than with a single injection either on days 1-9 (36% increased life span) or on days 1, 5, 9, and 13 (inactive). Further scheduling studies in the s.c. M5076 sarcoma model showed that a 7-day infusion was superior to both a 24-h infusion and a 7-day course of three bolus treatments per day. On the assumption that DNA polymerase inhibition is the basis for this antitumor activity, inhibition of DNA synthesis in BALB/c x DBA/2 F1 mice was investigated by measuring incorporation of [3H]thymidine (20 microCi, i.v.) into DNA of spleen and jejunum. At 2 h after administration of AG, inhibition of DNA synthesis was dose dependent (median inhibitory dose, 60 mg/kg in both tissues) and was > 99% at 300 mg/kg. The inhibition was rapid in onset; AG (100 mg/kg i.p.) produced maximal (> 98%) inhibition in both tissues at 30 min. Recovery occurred in the intestine within 16 h; in spleen recovery was delayed to 24 h, and was followed by a rebound incorporation at 48 h (203%). A comparison of the inhibition of thymidine incorporation in tumor cells (B16 melanoma and P388 leukemia) and normal jejunum revealed no significant differences in the extent of inhibition or the rapidity of recovery in these tissues. The rapid recovery of DNA synthesis inhibition supports the use of prolonged infusion schedules in clinical trials, but the lack of evidence of selectivity for tumor cells suggests that AG may be of limited therapeutic value as a single agent. Thus, we evaluated AG in combination with cisplatin in an in vivo model of cisplatin refractory human ovarian cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antitumor activity of ethyl 5-amino-1,2-dihydro-2-methyl-3-phenyl-pyrido [3,4-b]pyrazin-7-ylcarbamate, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, hydrate (NSC 370147) against selected tumor systems in culture and in mice.

Ethyl 5-amino-1,2-dihydro-2-methyl-3-phenylpyrido[3,4-b]pyrazin- 7-ylcarbamate, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, hydrate (NSC 370147) was evaluated for antitumor activity against a spectrum of tumor systems in culture and in mice. NSC 370147 was cytotoxic to a variety of mouse and human cell lines at nanomolar concentrations. The compound exhibited good in vivo antitumor activity against several murine tumors (P388 and L1210 leukemia, colon 11/A and 36, mammary 16/C, and M5076 sarcoma). Activity was largely independent of route of administration but favored a prolonged treatment schedule. NSC 370147 was as active against murine leukemia sublines resistant to Adriamycin, amsacrine, vincristine, melphalan, cisplatin, methotrexate, and CI-920 (a topoisomerase II inhibitor) as against the corresponding parental lines. Only the 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-resistant P388 subline exhibited any cross-resistance to NSC 370147. NSC 370147 has a spectrum of activity similar to that of vincristine and, unlike vincristine, is active against multidrug-resistant cell lines. Therefore, NSC 370147 is a candidate for clinical trial because of its favorable activity compared to vincristine, its effectiveness against multidrug-resistant cells, and its retention of activity for p.o. administration.

Practical spontaneous metastasis model for in vivo therapeutic studies using a human melanoma.

In vivo studies aimed at therapy of spontaneous human tumor metastases have been hampered by the lack of practical experimental models. The LOX amelanotic melanoma model described here represents a transplantation model which rapidly and reproducibly results in spontaneous pulmonary metastasis following s.c. inoculation into athymic mice. Pulmonary lesions can be detected using a simple bioassay procedure which is useful for estimation of metastatic cell killing. Using this model we demonstrate that systemic therapy with cyclophosphamide or dacarbazine can produce metastatic cell killing consistent with complete eradication of established pulmonary metastases. This model may also prove useful for future experimental therapeutic studies aimed at prevention of metastases by manipulating tumor staging interval and treatment schedule.

Preclinical antitumor activity of an alpha-picoline derivative, penclomedine (NSC 338720), on human and murine tumors.

Penclomedine, a synthetic alpha-picoline derivative, was identified as a potential antitumor agent in the P388 leukemia prescreen of the National Cancer Institute. Upon further evaluation in the National Cancer Institute in vivo tumor panel, the compound demonstrated good activity against two breast tumors. A single i.p. dose or five daily doses caused partial regressions of advanced-stage s.c. implanted mouse CD8F1 mammary adenocarcinomas. Also, penclomedine administered i.p. on Days 1,5, and 9 caused regression of the human MX-1 mammary carcinoma implanted under the renal capsule of athymic mice. In contrast, penclomedine demonstrated only marginal to moderate activity against the i.p. implanted L1210 leukemia and M5076 sarcoma and was inactive in three additional non-breast tumor models (i.p. B16 melanoma, i.v. Lewis lung carcinoma, and s.c. colon adenocarcinoma 38). Penclomedine administered p.o. and i.p. was equally effective against the subrenal capsule MX-1. Doses given p.o. every fourth day caused complete regression of 39 of 40 advanced-stage s.c. implanted MX-1 tumors but were much less effective against human H82 small cell lung carcinomas (13 of 80 complete regressions). Penclomedine p.o. also inhibited growth of the human MCF-7 and mouse 16/C breast adenocarcinomas. Further studies to support the development of penclomedine to clinical trial are in progress.

Elevated DT-diaphorase activity and messenger RNA content in human non-small cell lung carcinoma: relationship to the response of lung tumor xenografts to mitomycin Cl.

The enzyme DT-diaphorase (DTD; NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2), is an obligate two electron reductase which catalyzes reduction of a broad range of substrates, including quinones. We report here variations in DTD concentrations among different classes of lung tumors known also to vary in their responsiveness to cytotoxic agents. Small cell lung carcinomas (SCLCs) and cell lines derived from them have the low DTD activities and mRNA content characteristic of normal human lung, whereas non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) have greatly elevated levels. DTD activity was increased up to 80-fold in NSCLC tumors relative to normal lung and 20-35-fold in NSCLC relative to SCLC cell lines. Increased DTD activity appeared to be a function of the NSCLC phenotype rather than a result of derivation from a cell type rich in DTD, since all histological classes of NSCLC showed this phenotype. In addition, where transfection of SCLC cell lines with the v-Ha-ras protooncogene caused a transition to a NSCLC phenotype, DTD activity was also elevated. Neuroendocrine-positive cells (SCLC, carcinoids, and a few NSCLC lines) typically had far lower DTD activities than did cell lines which lacked neuroendocrine markers (most NSCLC cells and mesotheliomas). High DTD activity may be exploited in the design of drugs which undergo bioreductive activation by this enzyme. Consistent with this, xenografts derived from NSCLC cell lines with high DTD that were grown in athymic nude mice were more susceptible to the antitumor quinone, mitomycin C, than were xenografts derived from SCLC cells containing low DTD. These data provide a mechanistic basis for the rational design of more effective bioreductive antitumor agents for use against NSCLC.

Sequence-specific DNA binding by a two zinc-finger peptide from the Drosophila melanogaster Tramtrack protein.

We show that the DNA-binding domain of the Drosophila melanogaster regulatory protein Tramtrack consists of a 66 amino acid sequence containing two zinc-finger motifs and a short sequence N-terminal to the first finger motif. This short N-terminal sequence is essential for DNA binding and we suggest it is involved in maintaining the three-dimensional structure of the first finger domain, as has been seen in the nuclear magnetic resonance structure of one of the zinc-finger domains of the yeast transcription factor SW15. The characterization of the DNA-binding activity of this 66 residue peptide (delta 911zf) shows that it binds in a sequence-specific manner, as a monomer, to a natural target site with an apparent KD approximately 4 x 10(-7) M. The shortest delta 911zf binding site, which retains full affinity, consists of an 11 base-pair sequence with a one nucleotide overhang at each 5' end. DNase I, hydroxyl radical and methylation protection footprinting studies show that, in common with other zinc-finger proteins, delta 911zf binds in the major groove of DNA. The data presented are consistent with the zinc-fingers of Tramtrack contacting both strands of the DNA, and thus the binding differs in detail to that observed in the crystal structure of the three zinc-fingers of Zif268 complexed to their target DNA.

A genetic analysis of the 63E-64A genomic region of Drosophila melanogaster: identification of mutations in a replication factor C subunit.

We have performed an F2 genetic screen to identify lethal mutations within the 63E-64A genomic region. We have isolated 122 mutations in 20 different complementation groups. Of these groups, 16 are represented by multiple alleles. We have also established that the Rop and Ras2 genes are located within the 63E-64A genomic domain at 64A10,11. We have sequenced 10.2 kb of DNA surrounding this gene pair and find that in addition to Rop and Ras2 there is another gene located within this DNA sequence. The gene product, which we have named Rfc40, shows 68% identity to the 40-kDa subunit of replication factor C. We find that the members of one complementation group (13 alleles) derived from our screen correspond to mutations in the Rop gene, whereas the members of another (five alleles) correspond to mutations in the Rfc40 gene. In addition we have isolated 11 new mutant alleles of the disembodied gene.

Modulation of cytosine arabinoside toxicity by 3-deazauridine in a murine leukemia model.

3-Deazauridine (DAUrd), a competitive inhibitor of CTP synthetase, inhibits both RNA and DNA synthesis. Murine leukemia cells resistant to cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) due to a deletion of deoxycytidine kinase are collaterally sensitive to DAUrd, which inhibits the de novo production of CTP and hence results in dCTP depletion. We evaluated DAUrd in combination with the palmitate derivative of ara-C (palmO-ara-C) in mice bearing L1210 leukemia cells with a subpopulation resistant to ara-C. Both simultaneous administration and a sequential schedule of palmO-ara-C at its maximally tolerated dose (MTD), followed by DAUrd treatment, failed to produce a therapeutic gain. We also studied whether non-toxic doses of DAUrd (15-250 mg/kg i.p. at h 0 and 6 on days 4 and 8) could modulate the antileukemic activity of palmO-ara-C (7.5-120 mg/kg i.p. at h 3 on days 4 and 8). The addition of DAUrd produced a modest (but statistically significant) prolongation of life span and a further 2-log10 reduction in tumor burden compared to the same dose of palmO-ara-C alone, and resulted in long-term survivors in five of 30 treated animals. Two-dimensional dose-response analysis of the survival data indicated a positive drug interaction (p less than or equal to 0.01) when the dosage of DAUrd was modeled to reflect an apparent threshold effect. Cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPE-C; 0.625-2.5 mg/kg i.p. at h 0 and 6 on days 4 and 8), a more potent inhibitor of CTP synthetase, was also given with palmO-ara-C. This combination resulted in an additional 2-6 log10 units of cell kill and occasional long-term survivors at palmO-ara-C dosages that alone resulted in no more than 2 log10 units of cell kill and no long-term survivors. However, DAUrd and CPE-C given with palmO-ara-C increased host toxicity, compromising the tolerable dose of palmO-ara-C. Single-agent palmO-ara-C given at its MTD produced a similar reduction in tumor burden and increase in life span compared to the highest palmO-ara-C dose that could be given in combination with either modulator.

An investigation of the mouse as a model for vincristine toxicity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxicologic responses of mice to vincristine (VCR), an established antitumor drug, and to compare them with those reported for dogs, monkeys, and humans. This comparison was expected to facilitate the continuing appraisal of the mouse as a model for toxicologic responses to antitumor drugs in human patients. In duplicate experiments, male B6D2F1 mice were treated with 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/kg of VCR in single IP doses. These sublethal doses corresponded to 0.25, 0.40, 0.50, and 0.80 LD50. On posttreatment days 1, 3, 6, 10, 14, and 21, groups of mice were killed and blood and other tissues were collected for hematologic (8 tests), clinical chemical (15 tests), and histopathologic (11 tissues) evaluations. VCR produced dose-dependent body weight loss, reticulocytopenia, granulocytopenia, elevated plasma alkaline phosphatase, GPT, and GOT activities, and damage to the gastrointestinal epithelium. These reversible changes were most severe during the first 3 days posttreatment. The mouse was comparable to the dog and the monkey in reflecting the target organ toxicity of VCR in humans. Studies with additional antitumor drugs will be required before the overall predictive reliability of this model can be expressed quantitatively.

Effect of nitrosoureas on calmodulin activity in vitro and in mouse intestine in vivo.

The effects of BCNU, CCNU, methyl-CCNU, streptozotocin, and chlorozotocin on calmodulin activity were studied in vitro and in vivo. Preincubation of BCNU, CCNU, and methyl-CCNU with calmodulin produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of in vitro calmodulin activity expressed as stimulation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Cyclohexylisocyanate produced a similar inhibition. Streptozotocin and chlorozotocin had no effect. Calmodulin inhibition by methyl-CCNU was dependent on the concentration of calcium in the preincubation mixture. Administration of methyl-CCNU or chlorozotocin IP to CF1 mice produced a dose-dependent inhibition of calmodulin activity in the small intestine. Methyl-CCNU produced a significant decrease in intestinal calmodulin activity as early as 1 h after treatment, an effect that persisted up to 52 h. Morphologic changes in the intestinal crypt epithelial cells were evident between 27 h and 5 days after treatment, but not earlier than 27 h. Renal and testicular calmodulin activity and morphology were unaffected. Although it was not possible to correlate the extent of calmodulin inhibition with severity of the intestinal lesions, the data suggested a relationship between reduced activity of calmodulin in a tissue and the ultimate appearance of lesions. This apparent interaction between an antitumor drug and calmodulin in vivo could have multiple implications for cancer chemotherapy.

Effects of prochlorperazine on experimental nephrotoxicity.

In early studies of the antitumor drug 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1nitrosourea (methyl-CCNU), animal models consistently predicted that the compound would be nephrotoxic in humans. Nephrotoxicity in cancer patients who had received methyl-CCNU was not confirmed until about 6 years after clinical trials began. We have investigated the possibility that prochlorperazine, a commonly used antiemetic, might affect the development of nephrotoxicity. Prochlorperazine (1, 2, 5, and 8 mg/kg IP on days 1-3) produced a dose-related reduction in the concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen in mice that received nephrotoxic doses of methyl-CCNU (42, 52, or 63 mg/kg IP on day 1). The frequency and severity of renal lesions evaluated histopathologically were reduced significantly as the prochlorperazine dose increased. To study further this apparent protective activity of prochlorperazine, we chose a second nephrotoxin, mercuric chloride (HgCl2, 1 mg/kg IP on day 1) and a rodent species used more commonly as a model for nephrotoxicity, the rat. Prochlorperazine (2.5 or 10 mg/kg IP on days 1-5) inhibited HgCl2-induced urinary excretion of N-acetylglucosaminidase and leucine aminopeptidase. Urinary excretion of these enzymes on day 1 reflected proximal tubular epithelial degeneration and necrosis in rats that received HgCl2 alone. The severity of HgCl2-induced renal lesions evaluated histopathologically on day 16 was significantly reduced by combination treatment with prochlorperazine. Phenothiazines have numerous pharmacologic properties that might account for this observation, and additional studies will be required to establish the mechanism of this protective effect of prochlorperazine against acute nephrotoxicity in rodents.

Evaluation of trans-tetrachloro-1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum (IV) in murine leukemia L1210 resistant and sensitive to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II).

trans-Tetrachloro-1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum (IV) (tetraplatin) was therapeutically effective in mice bearing leukemia L1210 resistant (L1210/DDPt) or sensitive (L1210/0) to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin). Furthermore, the sensitivity of cultured L1210/DDPt and L1210/0 cell populations to tetraplatin, cisplatin, and dichloro-trans-dihydroxyisopropylamine platinum (IV) (CHIP) was a function of the concentrations used for each compound. The relative degree of sensitivity between cultured L1210/DDPt and L1210/0 cells for each compound on the basis of the LC99 (the concentration of each compound required to reduce the number of viable cells by 99% in each cell line) was 3-fold for cisplatin, 2-fold for tetraplatin, and 3-fold for CHIP; thus the cultured L1210/0 cells exhibited a greater degree of sensitivity than the L1210/DDPt cells to the platinum compounds. The data indicate that if reduction of platinum IV compounds to platinum II compounds or metabolites is required for antitumor activity, then the cultured L1210 cells are capable of this bioreduction independently of any host factors.