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S C Linn

Publications and source records attributed to S C Linn.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Prognostic relevance of P-glycoprotein expression in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: P-glycoprotein (Pgp) expression has been reported to be associated with a poor prognosis in some malignancies such as neuroblastoma, soft tissue sarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia. The prognostic role of Pgp expression in breast cancer is still unclear. We investigated the expression of Pgp in primary and metastatic breast cancer tissues in relation to patient characteristics and treatment outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pgp expression was evaluated in 92 primary and 12 metastatic breast cancers by the use of immunohisto/cytochemistry with three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (JSB-1, C219, MRK16), and an RNAse protection assay. Follow-up information was available for 77 primary breast cancer patients (median follow-up 42 months; range 2-63 months). RESULTS: Concordance among the anti-Pgp MAbs varied, the highest being between JSB-1 and MRK16 (71%; p=0.002). Pgp expression was more frequent in metastatic disease (58%) than in primary breast cancer (29%) (JSB-1; p=0.055). Pgp expression as assessed with JSB-1 (univariate analysis; p<0.05) was associated with shorter overall survival (OS). Nineteen (21%) primary breast cancers had Pgp expression in fibroblasts in desmoplastic stroma and this did not correlate with Pgp expression in the tumor. The combination of Pgp-positive tumor cells and Pgp-expressing fibroblasts was the strongest prognostic factor for OS by multivariate analysis. Subgroup analysis suggested that Pgp expression was associated with a shorter OS in tamoxifen-treated patients, but not in those who received chemotherapy (most often CMF). CONCLUSIONS: Pgp expression in tumor cells, and especially when accompanied by Pgp expression in fibroblasts in desmoplastic stroma, has prognostic value in primary breast cancer patients and is likely to be a marker of a more malignant phenotype. Pgp expression of tumor cells might play a role in tamoxifen resistance. These findings may have important implications for teh treatment of breast cancer patients, and warrant further prospective investigation in a larger patient population.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Conservation of an AE3 Cl-/HCO3- exchanger cardiac-specific exon and promoter region and AE3 mRNA expression patterns in murine and human hearts.

A cardiac-specific variant of the rat AE3 Cl-/HCO3- exchanger mRNA is transcribed from a promoter located in the sixth intron of a larger transcription unit expressed in brain and other tissues. The cardiac mRNA contains an alternative first exon encoding a 73-amino acid NH2-terminal sequence that replaces the first 270 amino acids of the brain AE3 variant. The present study was conducted to determine whether the cardiac-specific promoter region and exon are conserved in other species and to examine the expression patterns of AE3 mRNAs in adult tissues and during development. Analysis of murine and human genomic clones showed that both contain counterparts of the rat alternative exon. The cardiac promoter region is highly conserved in all three species and contains several potential transcription factor binding sites, including consensus MCAT and E-box sequences. Tissue-specific and developmental patterns of AE3 gene expression were examined by Northern blot hybridization. Mouse and human, like the rat, express both the 3.6-kb cardiac-specific AE3 mRNA and a 4.4-kb AE3 transcript found in brain, heart, and other tissues. Levels of the cardiac-specific transcript in mouse heart increase 17-fold between the fetal and adult stages, while the amount of the longer AE3 mRNA in heart decreases substantially. Furthermore, although the cardiac-specific mRNA is expressed in both atria and ventricles of mouse heart, the longer transcript is confined to the atria. These results suggest that the two AE3 variants have distinct roles in cardiac function and that the mechanisms regulating their expression are different.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and physical and genetic mapping of the human anion exchanger isoform 3 (SLC2C) gene to chromosome 2q36.

A human clone corresponding to the gene encoding anion exchanger isoform 3 (AE3) (approved gene symbol SLC2C) has been isolated and partially sequenced. Oligonucleotide primers based on this sequence were used in a polymerase chain reaction to specifically amplify a segment of the human gene from a panel of human-rodent somatic cell hybrids, allowing the assignment of AE3 to chromosome 2. To map AE3 more precisely to a cytogenetic band on chromosome 2, the AE3 cosmid was used as a probe in fluorescence in situ hybridization to human metaphase chromosomes. Fractional length measurements were made, and AE3 mapped at high resolution to the cytogenetic band 2q36. A polymorphic dinucleotide (GT/CA)n repeat marker was developed from sequences in the AE3 cosmid and typed on a subset of the CEPH families. Multipoint linkage analysis placed the AE3 gene between D2S128 and D2S126 on a genetic map of chromosome 2, corroborating the chromosomal localization of AE3 obtained by physical mapping methods.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Clinical and pharmacologic study of multidrug resistance reversal with vinblastine and bepridil.

PURPOSE: To achieve an adequate plasma concentration of bepridil, a calcium channel blocker, which reverts multidrug resistance (MDR) in vitro, when administered in combination with vinblastine in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, a tumor characterized by high MDR1 gene expression. To study the pharmacokinetics of both drugs, tolerability and antitumor activity in relation to the MDR1 expression in tumor tissue. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen colorectal cancer patients entered the study. Bepridil was administered by central venous catheter as 5-mg/kg bolus over 30 minutes, followed by 12 mg/kg for 12 hours and 5 mg/kg for 24 hours. Vinblastine 5 mg/m2 was administered as an intravenous (i.v.) bolus 24.5 hours after the start of bepridil. MDR1/P-glycoprotein (Pgp) expression was assessed in 14 tumor samples by immunohistochemistry and RNase protection assay. RESULTS: The bepridil plasma level was greater than 2 mumol/L at the time of vinblastine administration in all patients investigated. At the dose used in the study, bepridil produced a QTc-prolongation more than 50 ms, which prevented further dose escalation. However, cardiac toxicity was asymptomatic in all treated patients, and other side effects were mild. MDR1/Pgp expression was positive in nine of 14 cases. Of fifteen patients assessable for response, one complete remission of 8 months' duration and 14 progressions were observed. The responding patient attained complete remission again when re-treated on progression with vinblastine alone. CONCLUSION: Bepridil plasma concentrations needed in vitro to modulate MDR could be achieved in this study with tolerable toxicity; however, despite most tumors being MDR1/Pgp-positive, no response was obtained that could be attributed to the drug combination. Mechanisms of drug resistance other than MDR are probably implicated in drug resistance of colorectal cancer.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

The predicted translation product of a cardiac AE3 mRNA contains an N terminus distinct from that of the brain AE3 Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. Cloning of a cardiac AE3 cDNA, organization of the AE3 gene, and identification of an alternative transcription initiation site.

We have isolated cDNAs encoding a cardiac variant of the AE3 Cl-/HCO3- exchanger from a rat heart library. The predicted cardiac AE3 polypeptide is 1030 amino acids in length, while the AE3 variant expressed in brain consists of 1227 amino acids. The C-terminal 957 amino acids of both polypeptides are identical, but the cardiac protein contains a unique N-terminal sequence of 73 amino acids which replaces the first 270 amino acids of the brain form. To determine the genetic basis for the differences between the cardiac and brain AE3 variants, we isolated and characterized the rat gene. Exons 1-6 contain the 5'-untranslated sequence and the first 270 codons of the brain mRNA, while exons 7-23 contain the coding and 3'-untranslated sequences which are common to the brain and cardiac mRNAs. The 5'-untranslated and unique N-terminal coding sequences of the cardiac mRNA are contained within a single exon, termed C1, which forms part of the intron between exons 6 and 7 of the brain transcription unit. Primer extension and S1 nuclease protection assays demonstrate that transcription of the cardiac AE3 mRNA precursor is intiaited within this intron. Therefore, alternative promoter and exon usage are involved in generation of the two AE3 mRNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

RNA polymerase II elongation complexes paused after the synthesis of 15- or 35-base transcripts have different structures.

We have purified specific RNA polymerase II elongation intermediates initiated at the adenovirus type 2 major late promoter and paused either 15 or 35 to 36 bases downstream of the transcription initiation site. Transcription was arrested at these two sites by combining modification of the promoter sequence with limitation of appropriate nucleotide concentrations in the in vitro reaction. The resultant complexes were remarkably stable and could be purified away from free DNA and contaminating protein-DNA complexes, without loss of activity, by the use of sucrose gradient sedimentation and low-ionic-strength polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The complexes were characterized by both DNase I and o-phenanthroline-copper ion nuclease protection assays. The DNase I footprints revealed that the structures of the 15- and 35- to 36-nucleotide transcription complexes differed from those previously reported for an adenovirus type 2 major late preinitiation complex and a subsequent intermediate formed upon addition of ATP. Furthermore, the 35- to 36-nucleotide complex protected a significantly smaller portion of the template than the 15-nucleotide species and migrated at a slightly higher rate in polyacrylamide gels. These observations suggest that changes in structural organization may continue to occur in transcription complexes which are already committed to elongation.

Base Sequence↗

MDR1/P-glycoprotein expression in colorectal cancer.

Drug resistance to multiple chemotherapeutic agents is considered a major cause of chemotherapy failure. An extensively studied and relatively well understood type of cellular drug resistance is P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR). Pgp acts as an energy-dependent drug efflux pump, thereby decreasing the intracellular drug concentration and causing drug resistance, in in vitro experiments. Colorectal cancer and colorectal mucosa generally express high levels of Pgp, and this may contribute to the general unresponsiveness of colorectal cancer to natural product, anticancer drugs. The controversies concerning the prognostic role of Pgp expression and its contribution to tumour aggressiveness, and possible reasons for the disappointing results of clinical MDR reversal trials in colorectal cancer are discussed.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗