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Biomedical subjects

B Lathan

Publications and source records attributed to B Lathan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cloning of human tumor cell lines in porous glass capillary tubes: a further development of the human tumor stem cell assay.

The conventional human tumor stem cell assay for cloning tumor cells for drug sensitivity testing is limited by its inability to test drug combinations. In an attempt to overcome this limitation, we cloned tumor cell lines within porous glass capillary tubes. In contrast to plastic porous tubes, the porous glass membranes were transparent, and colony formation could be judged on an inverted microscope. Human as well as animal cell lines showed sufficient colony growth. Colonies formed within these porous tubes were homogeneously distributed, and their morphology was similar to those formed in the common stem cell assay. Cloning efficiency and colony size depended on the mean pore diameter of the glass membrane, with best colony growth within tubes with a pore diameter ranging from 8.5 nm to 14 nm. A linear relationship between number of cells seeded and number of grown colonies could be demonstrated for the cell lines MDA-231 and Colo 201. Colony growth achieved within porous glass capillary tubes is comparable to that achieved in Petri dishes and in nonporous tubes. We conclude that the porous capillary cloning system meets the basic suppositions for a quantitative cloning assay. Moreover, the porosity of the glass membrane offers the possibility of variable perfusion of medium and drugs. Further investigations will focus on various perfusion modalities and chemosensitivity testing.

Animals

Cellular kinetics of prednimustine versus chlorambucil plus prednisolone in vitro.

Intracellular concentrations of prednimustine (PM), chlorambucil (CLB), phenylacetic acid mustard (PAAM) and prednisolone (P) were measured in different experimental tumor cell lines that had been incubated with either PM or CLB + P. For intracellular analytical determination, we modified a high-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the detection of these substances in plasma. Intact PM could be detected in the intracellular compartment of the incubated tumor cells. PM-incubated cells from PM-injected rats exhibited a higher intracellular concentration-time integral (PAAM) and longer concentration-time profiles for drugs with alkylating capacity than did cells exposed to the CLB + P mixture or to CLB. PAAM was not detectable after incubation of cells with PM, whereas in CLB-incubated cells the AUC of PAAM exceeded that of the parent drug CLB. Our in vitro results therefore favour the concept of a facilitated intracellular uptake and an increased antiproliferative effect for PM versus CLB and CLB + P.

Animals

The clinical relevance of IgG subclasses in acute leukemias: low serum IgG as a risk factor for early death due to infection in acute myelogenous leukemia.

In order to investigate the clinical significance of IgG subclass levels in adult patients treated for acute lymphocytic (ALL) or myelogenous leukemias (AML), patients were tested before and in regular intervals during and after chemotherapy. Ten patients treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia had normal total IgG and IgG subclass levels that decreased under chemotherapy. This decrease was not associated with septic complications. In contrast, total IgG and subclass levels increased in most patients with acute myelogenous leukemia during chemotherapy and bone marrow aplasia. Those patients with newly diagnosed AML and low total serum IgG before treatment with intensive remission induction chemotherapy had, however, an increased risk of early death due to septic complications.

Adult

The Second International Symposium on Hodgkin's Disease. Workshop III: Recommendations for future clinical trials.

In the opinion of the participants of the workshop, the following problems should be addressed with high priority: 1st, a clear definition of the 10%-15% of patients who should receive radiotherapy only; 2nd, reduction of toxicity of combined modality approaches for patients in localized stages with risk factors; and 3rd, definition of a poor-prognosis subgroup of patients in stages IIIB/IV for whom more efficient treatment programs must be developed. Dose intensification in the form of ABMT as the prominent example of high dose intensity should be tested in these patients. If this approach proves its efficacy, the concept of dose intensification could be extended to other patients with advanced disease. Results of recent trials in Hodgkin's disease suggest that the cure rates which increased considerably between 1960 and 1980 have reached a plateau. Further improvements that can be realistically expected will be small and studies to prove such progress need large numbers of patients ('megatrials') to avoid 'false negative' results. Such megatrials could be performed as large international or even intercontinental trials. To some extent, overviews could substitute for megatrials, if sufficient high-quality randomized studies addressing a specific question are available for a meta-analysis. The installation of an international steering committee was recommended, which should stimulate and coordinate world-wide efforts for the solution of the remaining problems in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Combined effect of very early intensification and prolonged post-remission chemotherapy in patients with AML.

The study combines the effects of prolonged postremission chemotherapy with that of very early intensification. 900 adult patients at all ages with newly diagnosed AML uniformly received TAD for induction and consolidation followed by monthly myelosuppressive maintenance for 3 years. In patients of 60+ years with persistent bone marrow blasts a second TAD course was given. In all patients of less than 60 years a second induction course started on day 21 even in aplasia with no blasts. Second induction was randomly either TAD or HAM. In the younger age group 69% attained CR and similar in the two arms the CR rate after 5 years is 35%. Including the 50% patients attaining CR in the higher age group the CR rate after 5 years is 32%. In 40 patients receiving allogeneic BMT and 21 patients receiving autologous BMT in first CR relapse free survival is similar to that from chemotherapy alone in a matched pair analysis. We conclude that age adapted very early intensification followed by prolonged postremission chemotherapy represents a therapeutic progress.

Adolescent

Evaluation of an amsacrine analog in a human tumor cloning system.

A human tumor-cloning system was used to compare the antitumor activity of CI-921, a new amsacrine analog with that of its parent compound (amsacrine gluconate). A total of 48 specimens of 9 histologically different types of human malignancy were evaluable for a direct comparison of the cytotoxic activity. Both compounds were tested simultaneously at 10 micrograms/ml final concentration under continuous exposure. The overall activity was similar for both drugs, but the degree of cross-resistance was low. We concluded that in patients, CI-921 might have a different spectrum of antitumor activity from that of its parent compound.

Amsacrine

Age related randomized comparison of sequentially applied high-dose versus intermediate dose cytosine arabinoside in combination with mitoxantrone (S-HAM) in the treatment of relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia: study design and preliminary results.

In a prospective randomized trial, the pending question was addressed whether Cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) should be applied at high or intermediate dose to patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Based upon the previously established regimen of the sequential application of Ara-C and Mitoxantrone (S-HAM) patients below 60 years of age were randomized to receive Ara-C at either 3.0 g/m2 vs 1.0 g/m2 per dose while older patients were randomly assigned to either 1.0 g/m2 or 0.5 g/m2 Ara-C. At the present early stage 51 patients have entered the study and 37 are currently evaluable for response and toxicity. Complete remissions were achieved in 14 of 28 patients below 60 years of age and in 3 of 8 older cases. Predominant side effects consisted of nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and stomatitis. Further recruitment of patients and longer follow-up is required for the assessment of the various treatment arms.

Age Factors

Cytotoxic activity of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine 5-monophosphate (fludarabine, NSC 312887) in a human tumor cloning system.

A human tumor cloning system was utilized to screen for in vitro antitumor effects of the new purine antimetabolite 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine 5-monophosphate. Two hundred and thirty-one specimens were evaluable for drug sensitivity information (i.e. greater than or equal to 20 colonies on control plates). The overall in vitro response rates (defined as a less than or equal to 50% survival of tumor colony forming units) at two different concentrations of the new drug (0.1; 1.0 micrograms/ml) were between 21 and 24%. The new drug had significant antitumor activity (i.e. in more than 35% of specimens of those with at least five tested specimens) only against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic

Detection of murine S180 cells expressing a multidrug resistance phenotype using different in vitro test systems and a monoclonal antibody.

Doxorubicin (adriamycin) preconditioned S180 cells were more resistant to doxorubicin. The resistance was detected by three different methods (short-term test, colony assay, tissue culture assay). The doxorubicin-resistant S180 cells express the pleitrop drug resistance phenotype. There exists a multidrug resistance to doxorubicin, dactinomycin (actinomycin D), vincristine and colchicine. In addition, collateral sensitivity was found to fluorouracil (5-fluorouracil) and methotrexate. This multidrug phenotype is in accordance with the pleiotropic phenotype of colchicine-resistant CHO cells. Resistant S180 cells express a glycoprotein of Mr 170 kd determined by indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody (Mab 265/F4) to the P-glycoprotein of colchicine-resistant CHO-cells. The P-glycoprotein could be an important prognostic factors for tumors with multidrug resistance.

Animals

Improved plating efficiencies for human tumors cloned in capillary tubes versus Petri dishes.

As now constituted, the human tumor cloning assay performed in Petri dishes has several limitations including: (a) not all patients' tumors form colonies in the assay; (b) the plating efficiencies (number of colonies formed/number of cells plated) are low; and (c) a large number of tumor cells are required to perform drug sensitivity testing. In this study the use of capillary tubes, as vessels in which to clone human tumors, is compared to the use of 35-mm Petri dishes. In 100-microliters capillary tubes the optimal plating efficiencies are found with 50,000 cells/vessel (500,000 cells/ml), while in 35-mm Petri dishes the optimal plating efficiencies are found with 500,000 cells/vessel (250,000 cells/ml). In head to head comparisons of plating efficiencies of 183 human tumors (18 different histological types), the median plating efficiency was 5-fold higher (range, 1.16-37.00) for the capillary tubes than for the Petri dishes. This improved plating efficiency was noted for nearly all of the histological tumor types examined. The improved plating efficiencies noted with the capillary system indicate that the Petri dish method may be too selective and not reflect the total number of clonogenic units in a human tumor. In addition, the higher plating efficiencies noted with the capillary system may be exploited to solve some of the problems noted with the conventional Petri dish method.

Cell Count