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R D Cardiff

Publications and source records attributed to R D Cardiff.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Expression of the neu protooncogene in the mammary epithelium of transgenic mice induces metastatic disease.

Overexpression and amplification of the neu (c-erbB2, ERBB2) protooncogene have been implicated in the development of aggressive human breast cancer. To directly assess the effect of mammary gland-specific expression of the neu protooncogene, transgenic mice carrying unactivated neu under the transcriptional control of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter/enhancer were established. By contrast to the rapid tumor progression observed in several transgenic strains carrying the activated neu transgene, expression of unactivated neu in the mammary epithelium resulted in the development of focal mammary tumors after long latency. The majority of the mammary tumors analyzed expressed elevated levels of neu-encoded mRNA and protein. Overexpression of neu in the mammary tumors was also associated with elevated neu intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and the de novo tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins. Interestingly, many of the tumor-bearing transgenic mice developed secondary metastatic tumors in the lung. These observations suggest that overexpression of the unactivated neu protein can induce metastatic disease after long latency.

Animals↗

Int-2, an autocrine and/or ultra-short-range effector in transgenic mammary tissue transplants.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown associations between overexpression of int-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and murine mammary tumors and between amplification of the int-2 genomic locus and human breast cancers. The Int-2 protein (fibroblast growth factor 3) is a member of the heparin-binding growth factor family of proteins. The export of these growth factors from cells may depend on the presence of amino terminal sequences containing hydrophobic signal peptides. Although Int-2 has a putative signal sequence, it is not known whether or how this protein is secreted from cells. PURPOSE: Assuming that the Int-2 protein is secreted from mammary epithelial cells in a basolateral direction so that it is available to affect adjacent cells, we investigated whether it acts in a paracrine manner, exerting its effect externally on adjacent cells, or in an autocrine manner, exerting its effect internally within the same cell. METHODS: Using in situ hybridization with 35S-labeled RNA antisense probes that specifically detect mRNA coding for the Int-2 protein, we determined the cell-specific localization of int-2 mRNA expression in the mammary gland of transgenic FVB/N mice overexpressing int-2 mRNA. Then we transplanted pieces of mammary epithelial tissue expressing int-2 mRNA into the mammary fat-pad of wild-type, syngeneic animals. The mammary glands of host animals were examined as whole-mounts and as histologic sections 2-6 months after transplantation. In situ hybridization was used to confirm which cells continued to express int-2 mRNA following transplantation. RESULTS: Int-2 mRNA expression in transgenic mice was localized to the mammary epithelial cells. Transplants expressing int-2 mRNA were similar to wild-type transplants in that they had no observable effect on either the growth or the morphology of host mammary epithelium. Abnormal growth occurred only in transplanted tissue expressing int-2 mRNA but not in adjacent host mammary epithelium. CONCLUSION: Given the limitations of our experimental system and the limited information available to date on the secretion of Int-2 protein, these results suggest that, although the Int-2 protein contains a putative signal peptide, it may act primarily as an autocrine or as an ultra-short-range paracrine growth factor in mammary epithelium.

Animals↗

Induction of mammary tumors by expression of polyomavirus middle T oncogene: a transgenic mouse model for metastatic disease.

The effect of mammary gland-specific expression of the polyomavirus middle T antigen was examined by establishing lines of transgenic mice that carry the middle T oncogene under the transcriptional control of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter/enhancer. By contrast to most transgenic strains carrying activated oncogenes, expression of polyomavirus middle T antigen resulted in the widespread transformation of the mammary epithelium and the rapid production of multifocal mammary adenocarcinomas. Interestingly, the majority of the tumor-bearing transgenic mice developed secondary metastatic tumors in the lung. Taken together, these results suggest that middle T antigen acts as a potent oncogene in the mammary epithelium and that cells that express it possess an enhanced metastatic potential.

Animals↗

Brain tumours and lymphomas in transgenic mice that carry HTLV-I LTR/c-myc and Ig/tax genes.

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-I) is associated with adult CD4+ T-cell leukemia (ATL) and tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). In as much as only a small percentage of individuals infected with HTLV-I develop either disease, we set out to model a genetic partner for this virus in an effort to understand and possibly reproduce its pathophysiology. To this end we have developed a binary set of transgenic mice, one bearing the relatively inactive HTLV-I long terminal repeat (LTR) positioned to drive the c-myc oncogene and another bearing a fusion transgene consisting of the immunoglobulin promoter/enhancer driving the gene for the HTLV-I transcription activator, tax. Alone, the tax construct, though expressed in the thymus, spleen, lung and brain, has no deleterious effect. Alone, the HTLV-I LTR/c-myc construct is expressed at very low levels in lymphoid cells and occasionally induces lymphomas in older animals. When these two transgenic lines are mated, bigenic offspring harboring both transgenes exhibit dramatic tumor formation. As in the human, these animals develop CD4+ T-cell lymphomas, but they also develop central nervous system tumors by 25-90 days of age. The syndrome, which is 100% penetrant and lethal, provides an animal model for adult T-cell lymphoma and a source of cultured cells of neurogenic origin.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibody-porphyrin conjugate for head and neck cancer: the possible magic bullet.

Although photodynamic therapy in the treatment of large head and neck cancers showed some initial promise, the results in the final analysis have been somewhat disappointing. Lack of specificity and nonhomogeneous uptake of the porphyrin by the tumor are only some of the problems. The conjugation of a monoclonal antibody (UCD/AB 6.01) with hematoporphyrin derivative that preferentially binds to tumor cells offers promise as a therapeutic agent that will not only improve specificity, but vastly enhances tumor cell kill when exposed to light in its photodynamic range. The application of the monoclonal antibody-hematoporphyrin conjugate (AB:HPD) to A-431 squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro, followed by exposure to light in the 630 nm range, increases the kill ratio by a factor of 10(5) times. The active tumor cell binding site on the cell surface has been found to be on the microvilli, a site at which a 52 kDa protein that is very similar to keratin 8 is found. The clearance of the conjugate from nude mice who have grown an A-431 tumor shows a retention of AB:HPD of approximately 15% and less than 1% in skin and internal organs when measured at 48 hours. Direct application of AB:HPD to fresh pathology specimens containing human squamous cell carcinomas shows binding exclusively limited to the tumor.

Animals↗

Transgenic oncogene mice. Tumor phenotype predicts genotype.

The hypothesis that oncogenes influence tumor phenotype was tested by examining slides from 607 mammary tumors from 407 transgenic mice bearing the ras, myc, and/or neu oncogenes. Most tumors (91%) had patterns (phenotypes) that could not be classified by Dunn's standard nomenclature. The nonstandard tumors were described as eosinophilic small cell (SC), basophilic large cell (LC), or pale intermediate cell (IC). The SC tumor was associated with ras, the LC was associated with myc, and the IC was associated with neu, with specificities more than .90 and sensitivities ranging from .99 to .48. Thus, the tumor phenotype could be used to predict which oncogene was present in the animal. The presence of myc in combination with either ras or neu resulted in the predominance of LC tumors and accelerated tumorigenesis. The combination of ras and neu resulted in a decreased tumor incidence. Thus, knowledge of the oncogenes that were present could be used to predict the natural history of the disease.

Animals↗

Viral Ha-ras mediated mammary tumor progression.

An immortal mammary epithelial cell line, Comma 1D, and primary cultures of mammary epithelial cells were used to examine the effects of vHa-ras on mammary tumor development. In culture, Comma 1D and primary cells were morphologically indistinguishable. Infection with a replication defective vHa-ras retroviral vector (psi ras) did not alter their in vitro phenotype. Uninfected Comma 1D cells implanted into gland-cleared mammary fat pads gave rise to dysplastic outgrowths, while implants of primary cells gave rise to normal gland structures. After psi ras infection, implants of Comma 1D cells progressed to adenocarcinomas and those of primary cells resulted in initiated dysplastic outgrowths. High level infection of either cell type with replication competent HaMSV (psi ras plus helper virus) resulted in in vitro transformation and undifferentiated in vivo tumors. Thus, in vivo analysis was necessary to detect the observed correlation between tumorigenic stage and level of infection. In this system, expression of vHa-ras was vital but not sufficient for mammary tumor initiation and progression, which resulted from an accumulation of events that did not need to occur in a specific order.

Animals↗

v-Ha-ras transgene abrogates the initiation step in mouse skin tumorigenesis: effects of phorbol esters and retinoic acid.

Experimental carcinogenesis has led to a concept that defines two discrete stages in the development of skin tumors: (i) initiation, which is accomplished by using a mutagen that presumably activates a protooncogene, and (ii) promotion, which is a reversible process brought about most commonly by repeated application of phorbol esters. We have created a transgenic mouse strain that carries the activated v-Ha-ras oncogene fused to the promoter of the mouse embryonic alpha-like, zeta-globin gene. Unexpectedly, these animals developed papillomas at areas of epidermal abrasion and, because abrasion can also serve as a tumor-promoting event in mutagen-treated mouse skin, we tested these mice for their ability to respond to phorbol ester application. Within 6 weeks virtually all treated carrier mice had developed multiple papillomas, some of which went on to develop squamous cell carcinomas and, more frequently, underlying sarcomas. We conclude that the oncogene "preinitiates" carrier mice, replacing the initiation/mutagenesis step and immediately sensitizing them to the action of tumor promoters. In addition, treatment of the mice with retinoic acid dramatically delays, reduces, and often completely inhibits the appearance of promoter-induced papillomas. This strain has use in screening tumor promoters and for assessing antitumor and antiproliferative agents.

Animals↗

Insertion mutation of the int-1 and int-2 loci by mouse mammary tumor virus in premalignant and malignant neoplasms from the GR mouse strain.

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-induced mammary adenocarcinomas can develop from several different premalignant precursors common in GR mice. Insertion mutagenesis of the mammary protooncogenes int-1 and int-2 was studied in this multistep system by analyzing samples from various stages of neoplastic development for novel int-1 and int-2 restriction fragments generated by MMTV provirus integration. int-1 and int-2 insertion mutations were observed in both premalignant lesions and malignant tumors. Some of the tumors with insertion mutations were experimentally derived from insertion mutation-free premalignant precursors. Each class of neoplasm examined had a characteristic frequency of int-1 and int-2 insertion mutations; however, no correspondence was observed between neoplasm morphology and mutation of either gene. These results indicate that insertion mutation of the int-1 and int-2 loci by MMTV provirus can be involved in the earliest identifiable stages of neoplastic development as well as during progression of premalignant lesions to tumors. Insertion mutation of int-1 and int-2 is therefore not stage specific in this system.

Animals↗

Isolation of a pathogenic clone of mouse mammary tumor virus.

Exogenous mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) was cloned from a GR mammary tumor. Clone lambda GRT39 contained a full-length integrated MMTV(GR) provirus and both 5' and 3' host flanking DNA. The lambda GRT39 provirus had no apparent structural changes associated with cloning and retained the exogenous MMTV gag gene poison sequence. When introduced into rat mammary adenocarcinoma LA7 cells, the lambda GRT39 provirus was fully expressed. lambda GRT39-transfected LA7 cells made MMTV RNA, had gp52 SU protein on the cell surface, and produced B-type retrovirus particles characteristic of MMTV. Mammary tumors developed in hormone-stimulated BALB/c females injected with MMTV from lambda GRT39-transfected LA7 cells [MMTV (lambda GRT39)]. The tumors had new, clonally integrated copies of the MMTV(lambda GRT39) provirus and were expressing MMTV antigen. These data indicate that the lambda GRT39 provirus is biologically active and pathogenic.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Harvey-ras mediated neoplastic development in the mouse mammary gland.

The role of a Harvey-ras oncogene in mammary epithelial neoplasia was examined by infecting primary cultures of normal mouse mammary epithelial cells with either the Harvey murine sarcoma virus (psi 2HaMSV) alone or with HaMSV plus a helper virus. The biological effects of expression of the Ha-ras oncogene were determined by transplanting the infected cells into gland-cleared mammary fat pads of virgin Balb/c mice. Expression of the Ha-ras oncogene was correlated with the development of mammary epithelial neoplasms. Cells infected with replication-defective HaMSV alone formed dysplastic, non-invasive mammary outgrowths. Cells infected with HaMSV plus a helper virus developed poorly-differentiated, invasive mammary epithelial tumors. Uninfected cells and cells infected with only the helper virus formed normal mammary trees. Expression of the mutant viral Ha-ras p21 was detected in dysplastic outgrowths and tumors but not in normal mammary outgrowths. Use of this transgenic organ system to genetically alter epithelium of the mouse mammary gland has permitted correlation of expression of a Ha-ras oncogene with development of mouse mammary neoplasia.

Animals↗

Characterization of urinary keratin number 18 using a new assay.

The levels of the low-molecular weight keratin 18 appearing in the voided urine of 130 healthy volunteers was studied using a new immunoradiometric assay for keratin 18 (IRMAK-18). Keratin 18 was detected in 79 urines with an average level of 2.5 +/- 4.7 ng./ml. The assay does not detect complex epidermal keratins or non-keratin intermediate filaments. Only 50% of the purified keratin added to urine could be recovered. The recovered keratin had the same molecular weight as the input molecules, implying that substances in the urine physically inhibited the assay rather than destroyed the keratin. The independent variables of cell count, dead cells, and protein concentration were not found to be important in evaluating the results. However, the urine concentration, as measured by creatinine, might be an important consideration for assessing the levels of keratin detected.

Adult↗

Quantitative analysis of keratin 18 in the urine of patients with bladder cancer.

The level of urinary keratin was compared in patients with and without bladder cancer using the newly developed IRMAK-18. Patients with bladder cancer had higher levels of keratin (74.6 +/- 146.9) than normals (2.5 +/- 4.7). When the upper limit of normal was set at keratin less than 20 ng./ml., the test was highly specific (98%) for bladder cancer but had a sensitivity of only 46%. Adjusting to keratin less than 10 ng./ml. increased the sensitivity to 57% but decreased the specificity to 91%. Elevated keratins were associated with stage and grade, aneuploidy and disease history. The IRMAK-18 assay for keratin may be useful for monitoring the clinical progress of some patients.

Adult↗

Characterization of two monoclonal antibodies in an immunohistochemical study of keratin 8 and 18 expression.

Two monoclonal antibodies, UCD/AB 6.11 and UCD/PR 10.11, were evaluated for their patterns of immunohistochemical reactivity in a survey of paraffin-embedded human tissues by the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique. By two-dimensional immunoblotting, UCD/AB 6.11 reacts with keratin number 18 and UCD/PR 10.11 identifies both keratin numbers 8 and 18, the major keratins found in human simple epithelial cells. Both antibodies have excellent signal-to-noise ratios, and specifically react with simple epithelia, transitional epithelia, mesothelia and tumors derived from such tissues, making them superior immunological reagents. They do not react with neural, muscle, hematopoietic, connective or most epidermal tissues. However, within a given tissue or cell type, differences in the distributions of the antigens recognized by these two antibodies can be observed, raising the possibility of differential expression, modification, or masking of the keratin epitopes revealed by UCD/AB 6.11 and UCD/PR 10.11.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

c-H-ras-1 expression in 7,12-dimethyl benzanthracene-induced Balb/c mouse mammary hyperplasias and their tumors.

Dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)-induced mouse mammary tumors characteristically contain an activated c-H-ras-1 gene with an A----T transversion in the 61st codon which is expressed as a rapidly migrating p21 c-H-ras. The role of the activated c-H-ras-1 locus in the initiation of mammary neoplasia was analysed by studying seven transplantable, DMBA-induced Balb/c premalignant mammary hyperplasias. The DNAs from these hyperplasias had no evidence of activation of the c-H-ras-1 gene. One of the fifteen tumors arising from untreated hyperplastic outgrowths had a 61st codon mutation. In contrast, 67% of the tumors developing in DMBA-treated hyperplasias had the characteristic 61 codon mutation. All of the tumors with the characteristic mutation expressed the corresponding rapid p21 c-H-ras. These data suggest that although c-H-ras-1 activation may play an important role in neoplastic progression, it had no definable role in the initiation or the maintenance of the mammary hyperplasias studied here.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Proteins antigenically related to peptides encoded by the mouse mammary tumour virus long terminal repeat sequence are associated with intracytoplasmic A particles.

Intracytoplasmic A particles (CAP), previously identified as cytoplasmic nucleocapsid precursors to mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV), reacted strongly in immunodiffusion tests with polyclonal antibodies raised against synthetic oligopeptides derived from the open reading frame (ORF) in the long terminal repeat (LTR) of MMTV. In Western blots, several CAP proteins (p80, p72-68, p36, p32, p18-12) were reactive with polyclonal antibodies raised against three separate LTR ORF synthetic peptides. Disrupted MMTV virions did not react with the anti-LTR ORF peptides suggesting that ORF proteins were excluded from mature virions during maturation. Serial dilution of anti-LTR ORF antibody demonstrated that the most reactive CAP proteins in Western blots migrated as a doublet band with estimated molecular weights of 68,000 and 72,000. Reactivity of anti-LTR ORF serum with these and other CAP proteins was removed upon preincubation with free synthetic peptide. Absorption with LTR synthetic peptides did not affect the reactivity of antibodies directed against MMTV gag proteins with similarly sized CAP polyproteins. LTR ORF-related proteins with molecular weights similar to those associated with CAP were also detectable in Western blots of total cytoplasmic extracts of MMTV-infected mammary tumour cells.

Animals↗

Survey of int region DNA rearrangements in C3H and BALB/cfC3H mouse mammary tumor system.

Rearrangement of the int-1 and int-2 regions of mouse chromosomes was compared in the C3H and BALB/cfC3H hyperplastic alveolar nodule and its hyperplastic outgrowth (HPO) model systems by examining the DNA of the different stages of the neoplastic progression, with use of the Southern blot technique. Rearrangement of int region DNAs associated with proviral amplification occurred more frequently in spontaneous tumors (19 of 27) than in tumors from HPOs (7 of 37) and rarely occurred in HPOs (1 of 29). However, the int-1 rearrangement maintained in 1 BALB/cfC3H HPO line through 11 transplant generations suggests that the int-1 rearrangement is neither sufficient nor necessary for progression to mouse mammary carcinoma.

Animals↗