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Biomedical subjects

D Fink

Publications and source records attributed to D Fink.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Loss of DNA mismatch repair: effects on the rate of mutation to drug resistance.

BACKGROUND: The loss of the ability of cells to repair mismatches in double-stranded DNA is a common finding in human tumors. This defect results in genomic instability and in increased resistance to several of the drugs used in cancer chemotherapy. The human colon cancer cell line HCT116 is deficient in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) because of a genetic defect in the hMLH1 gene, which is located on chromosome 3. In this study, we investigated whether MMR-deficient HCT116+chr2 cells (i.e., HCT116 cells into which chromosome 2 has been transferred [as a control]) have a higher rate of mutation to resistance to commonly used chemotherapeutic agents (i.e., cisplatin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel [Taxol], and etoposide) than MMR-proficient HCT116+chr3 cells (i.e., HCT116 cells into which chromosome 3 has been transferred to provide a wild-type copy of the hMLH1 gene). METHODS: Spontaneous mutation rates were calculated from measurements of the mutant fractions of cells before and after their expansion through a known number of generations (also known as the technique of maximum likelihood estimation). Aliquots of 500000 cells were expanded in culture over a period of 2 weeks, and the mutant fractions were determined both before and after expansion of secondary cultures (each also with an initial 500000 cells) in drug concentrations that produced survival fractions of 0.0002%. RESULTS: Mutation rates in MMR-proficient and MMR-deficient cells did not differ on exposure to cisplatin, doxorubicin, or paclitaxel; however, the relative mutation rate was 2.4-fold higher in MMR-deficient cells exposed to etoposide (P=.002). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that genes involved in the control of cellular sensitivity to etoposide are targets for mutation when the loss of MMR destabilizes the genome. Tumors containing large fractions of MMR-deficient cells may demonstrate more rapid emergence of clinical resistance to etoposide.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Differential induction of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and c-Abl kinase in DNA mismatch repair-proficient and -deficient cells exposed to cisplatin.

The c-Abl nonreceptor tyrosine kinase and the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK/stress-activated protein kinase) are activated during the injury response to the DNA-damaging agent cisplatin. Loss of DNA mismatch repair activity results in resistance to cisplatin in human cancer cells, suggesting that the mismatch repair proteins function as a detector for cisplatin DNA adducts. To identify signaling pathways activated by this detector, we investigated the effect of the loss of DNA mismatch repair function on the ability of cisplatin to activate the JNK and c-Abl kinases. The results demonstrate that cisplatin activates JNK kinase 3.8 +/- 0.2-fold more efficiently in DNA mismatch repair-proficient than repair-deficient cells, and that activation of c-Abl is completely absent in the DNA mismatch repair-deficient cells. Furthermore, the results show that cisplatin-induced activation of JNK occurs through a stress-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1-independent mechanism. We conclude that activation of JNK and c-Abl by cisplatin is in part dependent upon the integrity of DNA mismatch repair function, suggesting that these kinases are part of the signal transduction pathway activated when mismatch repair proteins recognize cisplatin adducts in DNA.

Adenocarcinoma↗

In vitro and in vivo resistance to cisplatin in cells that have lost DNA mismatch repair.

In vitro studies have shown that loss of DNA mismatch repair due to lack of either hMSH2 or hMLH1 activity results in low-level resistance to cisplatin but not to oxaliplatin, an analogue that produces a different type of DNA adduct. No information is currently available on whether this low-level resistance is sufficient to result in enrichment of mismatch repair-deficient cells during drug exposure in vitro or to account for clinical failure of treatment in vivo. Mixed populations of cells containing a minority of DNA mismatch repair-deficient cells constitutively expressing green fluorescence protein were exposed repeatedly in vitro to cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Treatment with cisplatin resulted in a gradual enrichment for DNA mismatch repair-deficient cells, whereas treatment with oxaliplatin did not. MSH2-/- and MSH2+/+ embryonic stem cells were established as xenografts in athymic nude mice. Animals were treated 48 h after tumor implantation with a single LD10 dose of either cisplatin or oxaliplatin. MSH2-/- tumors were significantly less responsive to cisplatin than MSH2+/+ tumors, whereas there was no difference in sensitivity to oxaliplatin. These results demonstrate that the degree of cisplatin resistance conferred by loss of DNA mismatch repair is sufficient to produce both enrichment of mismatch repair-deficient cells during treatment in vitro and a large difference in clinical responsiveness in vivo. The results identify loss of DNA mismatch repair as a mechanism of resistance to cisplatin but not oxaliplatin.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Down-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptors by nerve growth factor in PC12 cells is p140(trk)-, Ras-, and Src-dependent.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment causes a profound down-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptors during the differentiation of PC12 cells. This process is characterized by a progressive decrease in epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor level measured by 125I-EGF binding, tyrosine phosphorylation, and Western blotting. Treatment of the cells with NGF for 5 days produces a 95% reduction in the amount of [35S]methionine-labeled EGF receptors. This down-regulation does not occur in PC12nnr5 cells, which lack the p140(trk) NGF receptor. However, in PC12nnr5 cells stably transfected with p140(trk), the NGF-induced heterologous down-regulation of EGF receptors is reconstituted in part. NGF-induced heterologous down-regulation, but not EGF-induced homologous down-regulation of EGF receptors, is blocked in Ras- and Src-dominant-negative PC12 cells. Treatment with either pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) or staurosporine stimulates neurite outgrowth in PC12 cell variants, but neither induces down-regulation of EGF receptors. NGF treatment of PC12 cells in suspension induces down-regulation of EGF receptors in the absence of neurite outgrowth. These results strongly suggest a p140(trk)-, Ras- and Src-dependent mechanism of NGF-induced down-regulation of EGF receptors and separate this process from NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

Animals↗

Endometrioid ovarian carcinoma in a premenarchal girl: report of a case.

In children and adolescents, ovarian neoplasms are predominantly germ cell and sex cord stromal tumors. Carcinomas are quite rare, and, in particular, endometrioid adenocarcinomas are extremely rare in this age group. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl with FIGO stage I, grade I endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary. To our knowledge this is the first report of an endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary occuring in the premenarchal age group and only the second case reported before age 15. Our patient has been treated by conservative surgery without postoperative chemotherapy. Menarche occured 3 months after surgery. Twelve months after surgery she is free of disease.

Adolescent↗

Expression of the DNA mismatch repair proteins hMLH1 and hPMS2 in normal human tissues.

hMLH1 and hPMS2 are part of the DNA mismatch repair complex. Mutations in these genes have been linked to hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer; they also occur in a variety of sporadic cancers. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that hMLH1 and hPMS2 are widely expressed nuclear proteins with a distribution pattern very similar to that previously described for hMSH2. These observations showing similar localization of hMLH1 and hPMS2 with hMSH2 are consistent with the biochemical function of these proteins in DNA mismatch repair.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Discordance in p53 mutations when comparing ascites and solid tumors from patients with serous ovarian cancer.

We performed a mutational analysis of the p53 gene in matched samples of solid tumors and ascites from patients with ovarian cancer using the single-strand conformation polymorphism technique on exons 5-9 of the p53 gene on fresh and cultured material. We observed a discordance in the pattern of p53 mutations between the ascites and their solid tumor counterpart. In two cases, cancer cells from ascites carried a p53 mutation and the corresponding solid tumor cells retained the wild-type allele, while the opposite pattern was observed in two other patients samples. These results suggest that ovarian tumor cells within the ascites may not simply represent cells shed from the ovarian solid tumor and bear directly on gene therapy strategies in ovarian cancer.

Aged↗

Resistance to cytotoxic drugs in DNA mismatch repair-deficient cells.

Loss of DNA mismatch repair is a common finding in many types of sporadic human cancers as well as in tumors arising in patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer. The effect of the loss of DNA mismatch repair activity on sensitivity to a panel of commonly used chemotherapeutic agents was tested using one pair of cell lines proficient or deficient in mismatch repair due to loss of hMSH2 function and another due to loss of hMLH1 function. 6-Thioguanine and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, to which these cells are known to be resistant, were included in the panel as controls. The results were concordant in both pairs of cells. Loss of either hMSH2 or hMLH1 function was associated with low level resistance to cisplatin, carboplatin, and etoposide, but there was no resistance to melphalan, perfosfamide, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, or paclitaxel. The results are consistent with the concept that the DNA mismatch repair proteins function as a detector for adducts produced by 6-thioguanine, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, cisplatin, and carboplatin but not for melphalan and perfosfamide. They also suggest that these proteins play a role in detecting the DNA damage produced by the binding of etoposide to topoisomerase II and propagating signals that contribute to activation of apoptosis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

all-trans retinoic acid enhances cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human ovarian adenocarcinoma and in squamous head and neck cancer cells.

Cisplatin exerts its cytotoxicity by inducing apoptosis. Similarly, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) causes apoptosis in certain cells. We studied the interaction of cisplatin and ATRA in human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells 2008, in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells UMSCC10b, and in their respective cisplatin-resistant sub-lines. ATRA enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin. The interaction of the drugs was synergistic in combination index-isobologram analyses (combination index >0.5 at 50% cell survival) in all of the cell lines tested. ATRA inhibited the cellular accumulation of the cisplatin analogue [3H] cis-dichloroethylenediamineplatinum(II) by 22-33% in three of four cell lines tested but did not alter the cellular content of reduced glutathione. The expression of Bcl-2 relative to Bax decreased more after combined treatment with cisplatin and ATRA than after either drug alone. The apoptotic mechanism of cell death was confirmed by demonstrating cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase and by morphological analysis. The combined treatment with ATRA and cisplatin induced apoptosis in significantly more cells than either drug alone. We conclude that ATRA enhances the cytotoxicity of cisplatin by facilitating apoptosis in ovarian and head and neck carcinoma cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pharmacological basis for a novel therapeutic strategy based on the use of aquated cisplatin.

In pursuit of a strategy for increasing delivery of platinum drugs to tumors, we compared the cytotoxicity, extent of cellular uptake, and DNA platination of native cisplatin (DDP) and aquated cisplatin (aqDDP) in human head and neck carcinoma UMSCC10b cells. AqDDP was 1. 8-fold more toxic than DDP when tested against UMSCC10b cells in vitro. At high concentrations, aqDDP uptake was 3-fold more rapid than that of DDP; uptake of DDP and aqDDP was nonsaturable up to a concentration of 1600 micrometer. AqDDP produced 6.4-fold more platination of DNA than did DDP at the same concentration, suggesting that once inside the cell, aqDDP was 2-fold more effective at producing adducts in DNA than the native drug. Despite the paradox that aqDDP, which contains some charged species, entered the cell more rapidly than did neutral native DDP at high concentrations, studies on the effect of temperature, ATP depletion, and sulfhydryl group blockade did not provide evidence for uptake of aqDDP via a channel or transporter. AqDDP was more nephrotoxic to mice than DDP; however, s.c. administration of sodium thiosulfate protected against this toxicity and permitted a 7-fold escalation of aqDDP dose. These studies provide the preclinical basis for a novel therapeutic strategy based on the regional intraarterial or intracavitary administration of aqDDP in combination with a systemic neutralizing agent.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

In vitro antineoplastic activity of a novel lanthionine-containing peptide.

It has been a long-term goal to discover peptides that can kill tumor cells while sparing normal tissues. Lan-7 is a novel, chemically stable peptide structurally related to somatostatin that contains a lanthionine bridge between the two cysteines in the peptide; TT-232 is a less stable analogue containing a disulfide bridge. The antitumor activity of Lan-7 was examined, relative to that of TT-232 and the clinically used analogue octreotide, against a panel of malignant human tumor cell lines and normal human hematopoietic precursors. Lan-7 was cytotoxic to all four tumor cell lines, with IC50 values ranging over a 2-fold range from 16 to 36 microM. The potency of Lan-7 was comparable to that of TT-232, and both of these agents were two to three times more potent than octreotide. At concentrations that were highly cytotoxic to tumor cells, Lan-7 produced no significant toxicity to normal human hematopoietic precursors. Lan-7 induced apoptosis in human ovarian carcinoma 2008 cells over the same concentration range at which it produced cytotoxicity, but it did so without activating G1, S, or G2 checkpoints, given that it produced no perturbation of cell cycle phase distribution. Cells engineered to overexpress P-glycoprotein were not more resistant to Lan-7 than isogeneic cells not expressing the mdr1 gene. These results make Lan-7 of interest as a potential cancer chemotherapeutic agent.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

The role of DNA mismatch repair in platinum drug resistance.

Loss of DNA mismatch repair occurs in many types of tumors. The effect of the loss of DNA mismatch repair activity on sensitivity to cisplatin and a panel of analogues was tested using two pairs of cell lines proficient or deficient in this function. HCT116+ch2, a human colon cancer cell line deficient in hMLH1, was 2.1-fold resistant to cisplatin and 1.3-fold resistant to carboplatin when compared to a subline complemented with chromosome 3 expressing a wild-type copy of hMLH1. Likewise, the human endometrial cancer cell line HEC59, which is deficient in hMSH2, was 1.8-fold resistant to cisplatin and 1.5-fold resistant to carboplatin when compared to a subline complemented with chromosome 2 with a wild-type hMSH2. In contrast to cisplatin and carboplatin, which form the same types of adducts in DNA, there was no difference in sensitivity between the DNA mismatch repair-proficient and -deficient cell lines for oxaliplatin, tetraplatin, transplatin, JM335, or JM216. The formation of protein-DNA complexes that contained hMSH2 and hMLH1 was documented by mobility shift assay when nuclear extracts were incubated with DNA platinated with cisplatin but not with oxaliplatin. These results demonstrate a correlation between failure of the DNA mismatch repair proteins to recognize the platinum adduct and low-level resistance, suggesting a role for the DNA mismatch repair system in generating signals that contribute to the generation of apoptotic activity. They also identify the use of drugs whose adducts are not recognized as a strategy for circumventing resistance due to loss of DNA mismatch repair.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Loss of DNA mismatch repair in acquired resistance to cisplatin.

Selection of cells for resistance to cisplatin, a well-recognized mutagen, could result in mutations in genes involved in DNA mismatch repair and thereby to resistance to DNA-alkylating agents. Parental cells of the human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line 2008 expressed hMLH1 when analyzed with immunoblot. One subline selected for resistance to cisplatin (2008/A) expressed no hMLH1, whereas another (2008/C13*5.25) expressed parental levels. Microsatellite instability was readily demonstrated in 2008/A cells but not in 2008 and in 2008/C13*5.25 cells. In addition, the 2008/A cells were 2-fold resistant to methyl-nitro-nitrosoguanidine and had a 65-fold elevated mutation rate at the HPRT locus as compared to 2008 cells, both of which are consistent with the loss of DNA mismatch repair in these cells. To determine whether the loss of DNA mismatch repair itself contributes to cisplatin resistance, studies were carried out in isogenic pairs of cell lines proficient or defective in this function. HCT116, a human colon cancer cell line deficient in hMLH1 function, was 2-fold resistant to cisplatin when compared to a subline complemented with chromosome 3 and expressing hMLH1. Similarly, the human endometrial cancer cell line HEC59, which expresses no hMSH2, was 2-fold resistant to cisplatin when compared to a subline complemented with chromosome 2 that expresses hMSH2. Therefore, the selection of cells for resistance to cisplatin can result in the loss of DNA mismatch repair, and loss of DNA mismatch repair in turn contributes to resistance to cisplatin.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Coronary artery bypass surgery during pregnancy.

A 32-year-old woman, in the 22nd week of pregnancy, underwent emergency coronary artery bypass grafting to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). She had suffered an acute myocardial infarction 10 days previously, and continued to suffer from intractable angina pectoris afterwards. Cardiac catheterization revealed spontaneous dissection of the LAD. The left internal mammary artery was used to bypass the LAD, and the operation was performed on a beating heart without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient's recovery was uneventful, and ultrasound examination and pulse monitoring of the fetus were both normal. She subsequently gave birth to a healthy term baby. To our knowledge this is the second report of coronary artery bypass surgery performed successfully in a pregnant woman. We believe the unique surgical approach avoided the risk of cardiopulmonary bypass to the fetus and placenta.

Adult↗

[Comparison of gynecologic and perineal ultrasound examination of women with stress incontinence].

UNLABELLED: A COMPARISON AIM: To determine how well results of gynecological and perineal sonographic examinations of the urethrovesical junction correlate. METHOD: 186 women with urodynamically verified stress incontinence underwent a perineal ultrasound and then a gynecologic examination. Standardised procedures were used for both. The findings of the gynecological examination were compared with measurement values and morphological findings from perineal ultrasound. RESULTS: There was agreement on the cystocele grade in 69% of the cases. The position of the bladder neck as assessed by the ultrasound image revealed typical measurement values for this disorder. The expected bladder neck funneling was detected in 49% of these women. CONCLUSION: In stress-incontinent women there is good correlation between the findings of the gynecological and perineal sonographic examinations. Bladder neck funneling-a morphological sign of stress incontinence-can be detected with perineal ultrasound in nearly one-half of the cases.

Adult↗