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Biomedical subjects

M Volm

Publications and source records attributed to M Volm.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Association of resistance-related protein expression with poor vascularization and low levels of oxygen in human rectal cancer.

Rectal carcinomas of previously untreated patients were analyzed for oxygen status using a computerized polarographic needle electrode histograph. Microvessel density and expression of c-jun, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and several resistance-related proteins (glutathione S-transferase-pi, GST; thymidylate synthase, TS; metallothioneine, MT) were determined using immunohistochemistry. To examine whether a relationship exists between intratumoral vessel density and tumor oxygenation, microvessel counts were determined in a 400x field using factor-VIII-related antigen and were correlated with the corresponding pO2 values. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between vessel density and oxygenation status of the tumors. Expression of c-jun, VEGF and resistance-related proteins was correlated with microvessel counts and pO2 values. Significantly lower vessel counts were found in GST- and MT-positive tumors and in tumors with overexpression of c-jun and VEGF than in negative tumors. In addition, significantly lower pO2 values were found in c-jun- and VEGF-positive tumors as well as a tendency for pO2 values to be lower in tumors where MT, GST and TS were expressed. These data show that expression of c-jun, VEGF, and resistance-related proteins is linked with poor vascularization and low oxygenation status in rectal cancer.

Glutathione Transferase↗

[Vascular thickness and cytostatic-resistant bronchial carcinoma].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A new way of treatment of malignant tumours was suggested by blocking angiogenesis and thus creating subpopulations of cells which, due to their decreased oxygen content, react differently to treatment. The relationship between angiogenesis (vessel density) and resistance to cytostatic drugs was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Results were analysed retrospectively for 83 untreated patients (73 men, 10 women; mean age 60 [37-75] years) with non-small cell bronchial carcinoma. Vessel density and resistance proteins were determined immunohistochemically. Radioactive incorporation of nucleic acid precursors with and without doxorubicin was measured with the in vitro short-term test. RESULTS: There were significant differences between vessel density and various resistance proteins. With low vessel density (less than mean value) glutathione-S-transferase pi (P < 0.01), thymidylate synthase (P < 0.05) and metallothioneine (P < 0.05) were significantly increased. P-glycoprotein showed a corresponding relationship, but it was not statistically significant, while there was no relationship with topoisomerase II. Bronchial carcinoma with low vessel density was more frequently resistant in vitro to doxorubicin than carcinomas with higher vessel density (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Non-small cell bronchial carcinoma with low vessel density more frequently expresses resistance proteins and is more commonly resistant to doxorubicin. Blocking angiogenesis to improve the results of treatment is therefore problematic.

Adult↗

Expression of heat shock proteins, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and nephroblastoma.

In this study we analyzed the mRNA expression of the heat shock proteins 27 and 70, and the expression of the radical scavenging enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 54) and in nephroblastoma (n = 34). We found a significant positive correlation between both heat shock proteins and also between glutathione peroxidase and both heat shock proteins in ALL and nephroblastoma. There was also a significant correlation between catalase and glutathione peroxidase detectable. Furthermore, we investigated whether the expression of the heat shock proteins and the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and catalase have implications in the clinical outcome in ALL. However, we found no significant correlation between the expression of these proteins and relapse rate, the relapse free intervals or the overall survival.

Adolescent↗

Microvessel density, expression of proto-oncogenes, resistance-related proteins and incidence of metastases in primary ovarian carcinomas.

Relationships between the incidence of metastatic spread and microvessel density, expression of proto-oncogene products, or expression of resistance-related proteins were investigated in human ovarian carcinomas by immunohistochemistry. Ovarian carcinomas with a high microvessel density showed a significantly increased formation of metastases (P = 0.005). Tumors with positive immunoreactivity of c-jun and c-myc products had a higher metastatic spread; however, these results were not statistically significant. A marginally significant correlation existed between the expression of erbB1 (EGFR) and metastatic spread (P = 0.05). No significant relationship was found between the expression of the resistance-related proteins P-glycoprotein or glutathione S-transferase-pi and the incidence of metastases. Furthermore, no correlation was detected between expression of the heat shock protein 70 and the occurrence of metastases.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Association of vascular endothelial growth factor expression with intratumoral microvessel density and tumour cell proliferation in human epidermoid lung carcinoma.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, vascularisation and tumour cell proliferation were analysed in 91 human epidermoid lung carcinomas using immunohistochemistry. A polyclonal anti-VEGF antibody was used for VEGF expression, a polyclonal antibody directed against human von Willebrand factor (factor VIII) to identify blood vessels and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a marker for proliferating cells. Positive staining for VEGF was obtained in 54 out of 91 cases (59%), the number of blood vessels varied from zero to 64 counts (mean 9.4) and the proportion of PCNA-positive cells varied from 1.3% to 72.1% (mean 25.2%). The mean PCNA labelling index and mean microvessel count in VEGF-positive tumours were significantly higher than those in VEGF-negative tumours (Wilcoxon rank sum test, P<0.0001; p<0.05). In addition, PCNA labelling index significantly increased with increasing VEGF expression (Jonckheere test, P<0.0001). In contrast, no association was found between PCNA labelling index and tumour vascularity (r=0.07, P=0.48). The close correlation of VEGF expression with tumour cell proliferation and microvessel density suggests that VEGF acts both as an autocrine growth factor and as stimulator for angiogenesis. However, tumour cell proliferation and microvessel growth and/or density may be regulated by separate mechanisms.

Adult↗

Expression and prognostic value of the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor gene (RB-1) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

In a retrospective analysis, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) blast cells of 102 children were investigated for the expression of the retinoblastoma susceptibility (RB)-1 gene at mRNA level by dot blot hybridization and semiquantitative RT-PCR. 56 patients were analysed by dot blot hybridization and 35 representative patients out of this group by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Two additional groups of patients (23 patients with initial and 23 patients with relapsed ALL) were also investigated by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RB-1 gene expression was detectable in all investigated ALL at different levels. According to the relative mRNA expression the patients were discriminated by the median value in groups with low or high RB-1 expression. The Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that patients with low RB-1 expression had a lower probability of remaining in first remission (P = 0.03) and a significantly higher risk to succumb to their disease (P = 0.03). Furthermore, the comparison of the results between initial and relapsed ALL showed that the relapses had significantly lower RB-1 mRNA expression (P = 0.02). The overall survival of the patients was shorter in both groups when RB-1 gene expression was low. A multivariate analysis, including age, sex, immunological subtype, initial white blood cell count and RB-1 expression, identified RB-1 as an independent prognostic predictor (P = 0.017) in addition to the initial white blood cell count (P = 0.00001). In conclusion, low RB-1 expression is an unfavourable prognostic predictor in initial and relapsed childhood ALL. The RB-1 gene expression in relapsed ALL is significantly lower than in initial ALL.

Adolescent↗

Resistance mechanisms and their regulation in lung cancer.

Data obtained from multiple sources indicate that no single mechanism can explain the drug resistance and the poor prognosis of patients with lung cancer. The resistance-related proteins P-glycoprotein, glutathione-dependent enzymes, topoisomerase II, metallothioneins, O-6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase, thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase and heat shock proteins have been found in lung carcinomas, but these alone cannot explain the drug-resistant phenotype. Cell cycle-related proteins, angiogenic factors, protooncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes also play a role in the phenotype that is resistant lung cancer. A key future challenge involves determining the relative quantitative contributions of each of these mechanisms to overall resistance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Messenger RNA expression of resistance factors in human tumor cell lines after single exposure to radiation.

Resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs can not only be caused by treatment with antineoplastic agents but also by radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to analyze whether ionizing radiation can influence the mRNA expression of proteins which have been found to be involved in drug resistance of tumor cells. Human tumor cell lines (MCF-7, LXF and Sk-Mel) were treated with single doses of irradiation (5, 10 and 20 Gy). The expression of the resistance related proteins glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi), topoisomerase II alpha (Topo II), thymidylate synthase (TS), O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT), P-glycoprotein (Pgp), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and also of the heat-shock protein 70 (HSP 70) were determined at the mRNA level during the time interval from 1.5 to 72 h post-irradiation and compared with their corresponding controls. We also examined whether a relationship exists between these proteins and the proliferative activity (histone 3, Ki-67, statin) of the cells. We found that exposure of MCF-7, LXF and Sk-Mel cells to ionizing radiation increases the expression of the mRNA of GST-pi. Topo II, TS, HSP 70 and proliferation markers were also altered by exposure to ionizing radiation, but there was no common response of the three cell lines. No significant changes were observed in the expression of MGMT, Pgp, GPX and MRP after radiation treatment. Drug resistance tests revealed that irradiated MCF 7 cells were less sensitive to doxorubicin than non-irradiated control cells. Our results indicate that ionizing irradiation modifies the expression of some proteins involved in drug resistance and the response of MCF 7 cells to doxorubicin and may, therefore, play a role in clinical drug response.

Blotting, Northern↗

Expression of resistance-related proteins in nephroblastoma after chemotherapy.

Tumor tissues of untreated and cytostatic-agent-treated patients with nephroblastomas were investigated for expression of resistance-related proteins (P-glycoprotein, glutathione S-transferase-pi, glutathione peroxidase and topoisomerase II) to ascertain whether resistance proteins are changed after treatment. Tumor tissue was analyzed by means of mRNA. Twenty-three children were treated with actinomycin D and vincristine for 4 to 8 weeks. Eight children received no preoperative chemotherapy. In untreated patients, no expression of P-glycoprotein was seen, whereas, in the patients who were treated with actinomycin D and vincristine, 12 out of 23 tumors showed increased P-glycoprotein expression (> mean value). Although we found no difference between treated and untreated tumors for glutathione S-transferase-pi, we found significant differences in the expression of glutathione peroxidase. In the 8 untreated patients, 7 tumors showed low glutathione peroxidase (< mean value) and one high (> mean value) glutathione-peroxidase-mRNA content. With treatment, 11 tumors expressed low levels and 12 tumors high levels of mRNA. A significant positive correlation between P-glycoprotein and glutathione peroxidase was found. In addition, of the 8 untreated patients, 2 had low topoisomerase-II expression, and 6 high expression. With treatment, the expression was reduced in 18 tumors, and only 5 tumors had high levels of this protein. These results were confirmed by PCR and immunohistochemistry.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Heat shock (hsp70) and resistance proteins in non-small cell lung carcinomas.

The aim of the study was to prove whether or not an association exists between the heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) and drug resistance. Tumor samples of 90 patients with previously untreated non-small lung carcinomas were investigated immunohistochemically for expression of resistance related proteins. Additionally, resistance to doxorubicin was determined using a short term test. No association between resistance related proteins. Additionally, resistance to doxorubicin was determined using a short term test. No association between resistance to doxorubicin and hsp70 was found. Of 63 resistant tumors, 33 showed low and 30 high hsp70 expression. Of the 26 sensitive tumors, 11 had low and 16 had high hsp70 expression. No relationship could be found between P-glycoprotein which is related to multidrug resistance and hsp70 expression or between hsp70 expression and expression of topoisomerase II, thymidylate synthase and metallothionein. On the other hand, a trend was noted for tumors with high glutathione S-transferase-pi expression to show high hsp70 expression. In addition, there was a significant relationship between hsp70 and catalase positivity. These data indicate that heat shock and stress promote intracellular oxidative damage and catalase is necessary for protection.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Predictive value of statin, a G0-associated cell cycle protein, in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Blast cells of 71 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were examined with a novel monoclonal antibody (MAb), S-44, immunoreactive to statin, a nuclear protein specifically expressed in non-proliferating cells. The statin labeling index (LI) varied greatly from case to case and ranged from 0.3% to 86%, with a mean value of 10%. The degree of statin LI correlated inversely with the expression of Ki-67. When patients were subdivided according to whether the statin LI was higher or lower than the mean value, patients with higher statin LI did not respond to chemotherapy and survived for a shorter period of time. Our results suggest that labeling of statin with the S-44 MAb is a useful prognostic marker of the cytotoxic effects of anti-cancer drugs in patients with ALL.

Adolescent↗

Messenger RNA expression of resistance factors and their correlation to the proliferative activity in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In this report we analyzed the mRNA expression of the resistance-related enzymes DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II), thymidylate synthase (TS), glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) and glutathione peroxidase (GP) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and their correlation to the proliferative activity, determined by Ki-67. RNA of blast cells from 54 children with untreated ALL were examined by dot blot hybridization. We found a significant positive correlation between Topo II and TS and cell proliferation. No significant correlation was detected between the mRNA expression of the glutathione-dependent enzymes GST-pi or GP and Ki-67. The results were substantiated by a semiquantitative RT-PCR-assay and by immunocytochemistry.

Cell Division↗

Effects of single doses of irradiation on the expression of resistance-related proteins in murine NIH 3T3 and human lung carcinoma cells.

In this report the effects of single doses of ionizing radiation on the mRNA expression of several proteins involved in multiple drug resistance were analyzed. Murine NIH 3T3 cells treated with single doses of 5, 10 and 20 Gy during the time interval from 1.5 to 72 h after irradiation were compared with their corresponding controls at the same points of time. The glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST pi) level was elevated in cells treated with 10 or 20 Gy from 24 to 72 h after irradiation compared with the control. Topoisomerase II alpha and thymidylate synthase were decreased in irradiated cells 24-72 h after exposure. These down-regulations were associated with cellular proliferation, determined by mRNA expression of the proliferation marker histone 3. Irradiated cells exhibited no alteration in the P-glycoprotein or glutathione peroxidase mRNA content. The finding that GST pi mRNA was overexpressed after irradiation was validated by investigations on a human lung carcinoma cell line (LXF 289) on the mRNA and protein level. Thus, our results indicate that irradiation alters the expression of proteins involved in multidrug resistance and may, therefore, play a role in clinical drug response.

3T3 Cells↗

Up-regulation of resistance-related proteins in human lung tumors with poor vascularization.

Microvessel density was investigated by immunostaining endothelial cells for factor VIII antigen in 84 non-small cell lung carcinomas and compared with the expression of several resistance-related proteins. Glutathione S-transferase-pi, thymidylate synthase, metallothionein and, with limitations, P-glycoprotein were overexpressed in tumors with poor vascularization.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Resistance mechanisms in human lung cancer.

Drug resistance is an important problem in the treatment of lung cancer. Patients become resistant not only to the drugs used initially, but also to those to which they have not yet been exposed. Multiple mechanisms contribute to drug resistance in this disease, all or any combination of which may occur simultaneously within each cell, producing an overall drug-resistant phenotype. The limited success of hitherto applied strategies in their ability to circumvent drug resistance in lung cancer suggests that new approaches are required.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Determination of DNA topoisomerase II in newly diagnosed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR.

The expression of DNA-topoisomerase II was analysed at the protein level in newly diagnosed cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. Blast cells obtained from 81 children with untreated ALL were determined by means of immunocytochemistry. Of the ALL, 49 (60%) were positive for topoisomerase II and 32 (40%) negative. No significant correlation was found between the expression of topoisomerase II and the relapse rate or relapse-free intervals. These results were substantiated by determining the topoisomerase II mRNA expression in a collective of 21 patients by semiquantitative PCR. The PCR-assay and immunocytochemistry corresponded in 13 of 21 cases (62%).

Base Sequence↗