INTERACTION OF COMPONENT (E) WITH TUMOR CELLULAR DNA

Some antitumor activities of component (E), extracted from the root of Fagopynum Cymosum (Trev) Meisn (FCTM), have recently been discovered in vivo and in vitro. The component E (CE)'s pattern of action with tumor cellular DNA at the molecular pharmacological level was investigated by macromolecular synthesis experiment (MSE) and human DNA interaction system established in our laboratory. The experiments demonstrated that, in vitro, the agent could markedly inhibit the incorporation of 3H-TdR into the cellular DNA, and the IC50 in P388 leukemia cell and in SGC-7901 cell was 17.86 μg/ml and 110.4 μg/ml, respectively. The agent, at mg/ml level, could produce an intercalation reversion pattern with DNA within a short time (2 hours). But when the interval was prolonged for over 4 hours, the action changed to intercalation irreversible pattern. According to these observations, the authors infer that CE interacts with DNA in two ways - directly and indirectly. The indirect action, especially in low concentrations, probably plays the major role. The authors have also compared the interaction of CE with those of components (CB3 and CD1), extracted from FCTM by the same methods, and found that CE is the most active agent against the DNA of cancer cells among the extracts from FCTM.

FLOW CYTOM ETRIC ANALYSIS OF CELLULAR DNA CONTENT IN EPITHELIAL OVARIAN TUMOR

The DNA content of tumor all was analyzed by flow cytometry on parafflnembedded specimens in 73 patients with epithelial ovarian tumor, and its clinical significance was evaluated. One of the 5 benign (20%), 2 of the 11 borderline (18.18%), and 30 of the 57 malignant (52. 63%) tumors were aneuplold. The occurrence rate of aneuploidy In malignant tumors was higher than In benign and borderline tumors ( P < 0. 05 ). Furthermore, aneuploidy was more frequently In the advanced stages (Ⅲ -Ⅳ ) (77. 7%) than in the early stages (Ⅰ - Ⅱ ) (9. 5%) (P<0. 005). The occurrence rate of DNA aneuploidy was higher in patients associated with ascites and the residual tumor≥.2 cm. Patients with aneuploid tumors had more of ten ascites (P<0. 005) and residual tumor size≥2cm (P< 0.005). There was no apparent correlation between the DNA ptoidy and the histologic grade, histologic type of the tumors. G0/G1 cell proportion of DNA diplold tumors in advanced carcinoma (64. 6%) was less than those of early stage carcinoma (75. 9% ) (P<0. 05). The survival rate of diplold tumor patients was higher than that of aneuploid tumor patients in the different time after operation, and the median survival time was 30. 2 months and 10. 3 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that cellular DNA ploidy was the most Important predictive factor (P = 0. 007) of prognosis, followed by residual tumor size (P= 0. 05). Different tumor specimen of the same patient can exhibit variation sometime (38. 9%).The results revealed that the DNA ploidy may reflect tumor biological characteristics, I. e. , Its proliferative ability. Analysis of cellular DNA content of epithelial ovarian tumors would help us to predict the prognosis of the patients better.

Induction of T-cell immunity against Epstein-Barr virus-associated tumors by means of adenovirally transduced dendritic cells

Background Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most powerful antigen-presenting cells to induce specific T-cell immunity, which plays an important role in the body’s anti-tumor responses. In this study, we assessed the feasibility and efficacy of inducing T-cell immunity against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated tumors in vivo using dendritic cells transfected with EBV latent membrane 2A (LMP2A) recombinant adenovirus.Methods Cytokine-activated bone marrow-derived DCs transfected with EBV LMP2A recombinant adenovirus were infused into BALB/c mice. Splenic cytotoxic T-cell responses were evaluated by cytotoxicity and interferon-γ production assays. in vivo immune protection was then assessed in the mice tumor models implanted with tumor cells expressing EBV LMP2A.Results DCs transfected with EBV LMP2A recombinant adenovirus could strongly induce EBV LMP2A-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses and upregulate interferon-γ production in vivo. Vaccination using these DCs led to prolongation of overall survival rates in the mice tumor models and retarded tumor growth. Conclusions The results suggest that DCs transfected with EBV LMP2A recombinant adenovirus can serve as a feasible and effective tool for eliciting LMP2A-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses against EBV LMP2A in vivo in the treatment of EBV-associated tumors.

A Hybrid Mathematical Model of Tumor-Induced Angiogenesis with Blood Perfusion

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessel from existing ones, is a pivotal stage in cancer development,and is an important target for cancer therapy. We develop a hybrid mathematical model to understand the mechanisms behind tumor-induced angiogenesis. This model describes uptake of Tumor Angiogenic Factor（TAF）at extracellular level, uses partial differential equation to describe the evolution of endothelial cell density including TAF induced proliferation, chemotaxis to TAF, and haptotaxis to extracellular matrix. In addition we also consider the phenomenon of blood perfusion in the micro-vessels. The model produces sprout formation with realistic morphological and dynamical features, including the so-called brush border effect, the dendritic branching and fusing of the capillary sprouts forming a vessel network. The model also demonstrates the effects of individual mechanisms in tumor angiogenesis： Chemotaxis to TAF is the key driving mechanisms for the extension of sprout cell; endothelial proliferation is not absolutely necessary for sprout extension; haptotaxis to Extra Cellular Matrix（ECM） gradient provides additional guidance to sprout extension, suggesting potential targets for anti-angiogenic therapies.

Induction of T-cell immunity against leukemia by dendritic cells pulsed with total RNA isolated from leukemia cells

Objectives To assess the feasibility and efficacy of eliciting leukemia-specific T-cell responses in syngeneic mice in vitro and in vivo using dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with total RNA from leukemia cells.Methods DCs generated from bone marrow culture in vitro in the presence of combined cytokines were pulsed with cellular total RNA isolated from cultured L615 cells by cationic lipid 1,2-dioleoyloxy-3-(trimethylammonium) propane (DOTAP). T-cell responses were evaluated by in vitro proliferation, and cytotoxicity assay. And in vivo immune protection and proghosis of mice with leukemia were studied.Results DCs pulsed with total RNA isolated from cultured L615 cells (DCs/RNA) were remarkably effective in stimulating L615-specific T-cell response in vitro, but did not cross-react with other leukemia cells from syngeneic mice. Vaccination of naive mice with viable DCs/RNA vaccine was able to partly protect from challenge with a lethal dose of live L615 cells, leading to low leukemia incidence and overall survival prolongation. Statistically significant survival was also observed in a low lethal dose of L615-bearing mice that received treatment using viable DCs / RNA vaccine alone, suggesting that systemic administration of IL-2 could enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of leukemia RNA/DCs vaccine.Conclusions These data support the use of DCs/RNA vaccine as a feasible and effective route to elicit leukemia immunity against unidentified leukemia-associated antigens for treatment of leukemia-bearing animals.