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Biomedical subjects

G Atassi

Publications and source records attributed to G Atassi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Influence of micrococcus, BCG and related polysaccharides on the proliferation of the L1210 leukaemia.

A comparative study of the effects of BCG, Micrococcus lysodeikticus, and a series of structurally related polysaccharides (complement triggers) on the non-specific and specific immune resistance against L1210 lymphoid leukaemia was carried out and commented on. In contrast with authors of earlier reports, we were unable to generate any effective non-specific or specific immunotherapy after the graft of 10(4) leukaemic cells to 8--10-week-old CDF1 mice. However, when mice were prevaccinated with irradiated (8 krad X-rays) cultured cells combined with 1 mg of bacterium or polysaccharide one month before grafting 10(4) cells, they were given an immunoprotection that was more pronounced with the i.p. than with the i.v. route. Prevaccinated mice were afforded a stronger immunoprotection when boosted repeatedly with 1mg injections of bacterium or polysaccharide after tumour challenge.

Animals

Potentiation of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea by amphotericin B in murine ependymoblastoma.

This paper reports the potentiation of the therapeutic effect of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) by amphotericin B (AMB) in s.c. transplanted murine ependymoblastoma 01B111. The rate of 2-month cures was 6% when tumors were treated 10 to 12 days after transplantation by a single 6 i.m. injection of 2.5 mg of CCNU per kg and reached 15% with 10 mg of CCNU per kg. When 25 mg of AMB per kg were given i.p. 10 hr prior to CCNU, the respective figures increased to 18 and 58%, the differences being significant at 5 and 1%. A single dose of 25 mg of AMB per kg given alone did not affect tumor growth. Radioactivity per g of tumor was measured 30, 60, and 120 min after injection of [14C]CCNU in total tissue, chloroform:methanol (2:1, v/v) extract, and CCNU isolated by thin-layer chromatography. No difference was found between animals treated with 25 mg of AMB per kg and controls. The inhibition of DNA synthesis, measured 24 hr after the administration of CCNU and 2 hr after the injection of [3H]thymidine, was almost optimal with 5 mg of CCNU per kg. The inhibition caused by 1 mg of CCNU per kg was not enhanced by AMB. Thus, the potentiation of CCNU by AMB does not seem attributable to an increased permeability of the tumor to CCNU or to an enhancement of the inhibition of DNA synthesis, at least in murine ependymoblastoma.

Amphotericin B

A new method for the purification of cytochrome-P450 from human liver microsomes.

A procedure for the solubilization and purification of cytochrome-P450 (cyt-P450) from human liver microsomes is described. Successive treatment of microsomes with protease XXVII and 3-(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammoniopropanesulphonic acid gave a solubilized cyt-P450 in more than 80% yield and with a three-fold increase in specific activity. With this treatment it was possible to eliminate 80% of cytochrome-b5 and 75% of NADPH cyt-P450 reductase. The solubilized cyt-P450 was filtered on a Sephacryl-200 column and then subjected to high performance liquid chromatography with a Mono-P column (chromatofocussing). The recovery of separated cyt-P450 was about 50% with a specific activity of 11.5 nmol cyt-P450/mg protein. Also with this technique it was possible to determine the isoelectric points of cyt-P450. These results allowed us to confirm the usefulness of our method, for the study the cyt-P450 from surgical biopsies.

Biopsy

Ineffectiveness of inicarone, a fibrinolytic agent, alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents on spontaneously metastasizing murine tumours.

The effect of inicarone (L7035), a potent fibrinolytic, alone or in combination, was investigated on spontaneously metastasizing Lewis lung carcinoma (implanted intramuscularly) to verify whether it could prevent the formation of metastases. After intraperitoneal and oral administration, inicarone did not show any cytotoxicity since the survival of animals was not prolonged. Its activity was compared to that of warfarin, an anticoagulant: both drugs were inactive when administered in curative treatment and inicarone even enhanced the number of lung metastases. When administered in combination with cyclophosphamide, an antiproliferative agent, inicarone did not induce any synergism or antagonism, but this combination did not inhibit tumour growth or metastasis spreading. Moreover, when inicarone was combined with a potent antimetastatic agent, Nocodazole, it was shown to be in competition with the latter agent and totally overshadowed its activity; since inicarone had no antimetastatic effect, the number of metastases rose dramatically.

Animals

Investigation of a new murine model of regional lymph node metastasis: characteristics of the model and applications.

The RC tumor, originally a renal adenocarcinoma very sensitive to different classes of chemotherapeutic agents, maintained in CDF 1 mice, was examined for its ability to metastasize. When inoculated into the foot (with 10(7) tumor cells), bulky metastases developed in the popliteal and para-aortic lymph nodes, in a constant and reproducible pattern, producing a massive microscopic invasion of the liver, the lungs and the spleen. The antigenicity tests demonstrated a low immunogenicity of the tumor. Chemotherapy assays showed that adriamycin and vincristine were effective against metastatic dissemination when administered early after tumor cell inoculation and principally when combined with excision of the tumor-bearing leg. The RC model appears to be suitable for the study of lymph node metastasis and could be used in chemotherapy trials of new drugs potentially effective against metastases of the lymphatic system.

Adenocarcinoma

A new algorithm for computing the parameters of linear compartment models in pharmacokinetics.

A new algorithm (FADHA) for computing pharmacokinetic parameter estimates has been developed. This technique is based on the simplex method which is used to minimize a nonlinear cost function. An important property of this program is that the convergence is ensured contrary to the well-known linear or nonlinear least-squares regression analysis which lead to a lack of convergence or to a false one. Two investigations of the comparative performances of FADHA program and other algorithms were undertaken (hexamethylmelamine and Piracetam pharmacokinetics). Least square analysis of data yielded biased estimates whereas FADHA estimates were unbiased and more precise. This new technique, takes into account all the possible observation errors and uses the concept of a weighting function rather than weights as such.

Altretamine

Pharmacokinetics of daunorubicin and daunorubicinol in plasma, P388 and B16 tumours. Comparison with in vitro cytotoxicity data.

The comparison of pharmacokinetics of DNR in mouse plasma, in the DNR naturally resistant B16 melanoma and in the DNR naturally sensitive P388 leukemia showed that there is no direct correlation between total concentrations of this drug in tumours and the sensitivity resistance of these tissues. A finding which demonstrates the inadequacy of distribution models to select new potential anticancer drugs. Cytotoxicity of DNR and its metabolites to B16 melanoma and P388 leukemia cell lines were determined in vitro. Calculated inhibitory concentrations 50 (IC50) were compared to maximal concentrations determined by pharmacokinetic studies. In all cases in vitro IC50 were lower than Cmax values. Moreover, resistant cells in vivo were found to be sensitive to DNR and metabolites when they are propagated in vitro. Tissue concentrations, as well as in vitro data, were fitted to appropriate models by an original program (FADHA) which uses the simplex method to minimize a non-linear cost function. Best fit models were chosen by statistical criteria.

Analysis of Variance