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Biomedical subjects

T Chou

Publications and source records attributed to T Chou.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Malignant lymphoma localized in the abdomen: detection of Ig gene rearrangement from the specimen obtained by percutaneous lymph node biopsy.

A 32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of lumbago and an abdominal mass revealed by abdominal ultrasonography. Abdominal CT scan and MRI revealed multiple para-aortic lymph node swelling involving several arteries and veins. As there was no superficial lymph node swelling, percutaneous lymph node biopsy was performed under ultrasonographic guide. Although non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diffuse, small cell type was suspected by light microscopic study, the monoclonality of the lymphocytes in the obtained specimen was not clear by the immunohistochemical study. Southern blot hybridization analysis of the biopsy specimen revealed the rearrangement of IgH and IgL (lambda) chain gene, indicating the existence of monoclonal proliferation of lymphoma cells. The DNA analysis appears useful for the differential diagnosis of lympho-proliferative diseases.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

[Treatment of CML with blastic crisis by the combination therapy of VP and low-dose Ara-C].

Forty-three-year-old man with schizophrenia, who had been diagnosed as chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and had been treated with hydroxyurea for 3 months, developed blastic crisis. The cytochemical study of the blastic cells showed POX (+), SBB (+) and TdT (+). The surface marker analysis revealed that the blastic cells expressed both myeloid (CD13, 33) and lymphoid (CD10, 19) markers. In the chromosomal analysis, additional chromosomal abnormality (11q+) was detected in all cells analysed (20/20) in addition to the standard type Ph1 chromosome. He was diagnosed as bi-phenotypic blastic crisis, and vincristine-prednisolone therapy was started. Initially, he responded to VP therapy well, but gradually became refractory to the therapy after 5 courses of VP. As many myeloblasts containing azurophilic granules were seen in the bone marrow after VP therapy, low dose Ara-C therapy was combined to VP. After 21 days of low dose Ara-C and VP, the percentage of the blast in the BM was significantly decreased and normal myeloid differentiation was observed after transient BM suppression. The chromosomal analysis showed the partial reappearance of standard Ph1 chromosome in 55% of the cells analyzed (11/20). Taken together, our data suggested that the combination of VP and low-dose Ara-C therapy might have some therapeutic benefit for the treatment of the CML with blastic crisis.

Adult↗

Wake up and smell the coffee. Caffeine, coffee, and the medical consequences.

Caffeine is a methylxanthine whose primary biologic effect is antagonism of the adenosine receptor. Its presence in coffee, tea, soda beverages, chocolate, and many prescription and over-the-counter drugs makes it the most commonly consumed stimulant drug. Initially caffeine increases blood pressure, plasma catecholamine levels, plasma renin activity, serum free fatty acid levels, urine production, and gastric acid secretion. Its long-term effects have been more difficult to substantiate. Most of the caffeine consumed in the United States is in coffee, which contains many other chemicals that may have other biologic actions. The consumption of coffee is a self-reinforcing behavior, and caffeine dependence and addiction are common. Coffee and caffeine intake have been linked to many illnesses, but definitive correlations have been difficult to substantiate. Initial trials showing coffee's association with coronary disease and myocardial infarction have been difficult to reproduce and have many confounding variables. Recent studies showing a larger effect over long follow-up periods and with heavy coffee consumption have again brought the question of the role of coffee in disease states to the fore. Caffeine in average dosages does not seem to increase the risk of arrhythmia. At present there is no convincing evidence that caffeine or coffee consumption increases the risk for any solid tumor. The intake of coffee and caffeine has clearly been decreasing in this country over the past two decades, largely brought about by the increasing health consciousness of Americans. Although there have been many studies that hint that the fears of increased disease with coffee drinking may be warranted, many questions have yet to be answered about the health effects of coffee and caffeine use.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Woodfordin D and oenothein A, trimeric hydrolyzable tannins of macro-ring structure with antitumor activity.

Two new antitumor trimeric hydrolyzable tannins, woodfordin D (5) and oenothein A (13), were isolated from the dried flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa, and their macrocyclic structures, which have a novel constituent unit (woodfordinoyl group) connecting the monomers, have been elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. Oenothein A (13) was also isolated from the leaves of Oenothera biennis.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

[Successful treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with consciousness disturbance due to hypercalcemia by the calcium-free hemodialysis and combined chemotherapy].

A 63 year-old male, who was first diagnosed as primary macroglobulinemia (IgM-kappa type) developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after 10 month clinical course. He had huge, multiple intrahepatic nodular lesions and had consciousness disturbance due to marked hypercalcemia. Since the treatment with gluco-corticoid and calcitonin was not effective for the improvement of patient's general condition, calcium-free hemodialysis was performed. After 2-hour dialysis, serum-Ca level was decreased from 15. 2mg/dl to 10.0mg/dl. Histology of the aspiration biopsy specimen obtained from the liver showed malignant lymphoma, diffuse, large cell type (B cell origin). Combined chemotherapy (CHOP) was started and was quite effective not only for the regression of the primary lesions but also for the normalization of the serum-Ca level. The existence of PTH-like substance produced by the tumor cell was suspected and may be related to the hypercalcemia in this case. Finally, our results demonstrated that calcium-free hemodialysis is safe and highly effective for the management of hypercalcemia caused by malignancy.

Calcium↗

Woodfordin C, a macro-ring hydrolyzable tannin dimer with antitumor activity, and accompanying dimers from Woodfordia fruticosa flowers.

Three new dimeric hydrolyzable tannins, woodfordins A, B and C, along with seven known hydrolyzable tannins, including oenothein B, a dimer exhibiting marked host-mediated antitumor activity, were isolated from an Indonesian crude drug, Sidowayah [dried flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz (Lythraceae)]. The structures of the new tannins were elucidated based on chemical and spectral evidence. Woodfordin C, having a macro-ring structure, was also found to exhibit a significant antitumor activity.

Animals↗

Lymphocytes generated by in vivo priming and in vitro sensitization demonstrate therapeutic efficacy against a murine tumor that lacks apparent immunogenicity.

The adoptive transfer of sensitized lymphocytes is an effective means to mediate the regression of established tumors. However, successful therapy can only be demonstrated in animal models where tumors are intrinsically immunogenic, capable of eliciting systemic immunity. To explore the potential of this therapeutic approach to tumors of less immunogenicity, we have selected and used a murine tumor, MCA 102, for the current study because all attempts to immunize syngeneic mice failed. We report here that inoculation of mice with a mixture of tumor cells and a bacterial adjuvant, Corynebacterium parvum led to the production of sensitized, but not fully functional, lymphocytes in the draining lymph nodes (LN). These cells, termed pre-effector cells, could nevertheless further differentiate to acquire full immunologic function by an established in vitro sensitization culture method. In adoptive immunotherapy experiments, transfer of as few as 1.5 X 10(7) in vitro sensitized cells not only reduced established pulmonary MCA 102 metastases but also prolonged survival and cured tumors in a majority of the treated animals. In order to elicit pre-effector cells in vivo, inoculation with both tumor cells and C. parvum was essential. Although a broad range of numbers of MCA 102 tumor cells appeared to be effective, generation of pre-effector cells was dependent on the dose of C. parvum. We have found that a C. parvum dose of 25 micrograms was optimal, whereas higher doses of the adjuvant had suppressive effects. Analysis of the kinetics of their appearance revealed that the generation of pre-effector cells was transient. They were detectable 7 days after in vivo priming followed by a rapid decline. Furthermore, pre-effector cells were detected only in the regional draining LN. No reactivity was demonstrable in the spleen, mesenteric LN, PBL, or bone marrow. Taken together, these results expand the scope of immunotherapy by demonstrating the feasibility of manipulating a limited and obscure immune response to the MCA 102 tumor for therapeutic efficacy.

Animals↗

Camelliin B and nobotanin I, macrocyclic ellagitannin dimers and related dimers, and their antitumor activity.

Camelliin B and nobotanin I, dimeric hydrolyzable tannins of a new class having macrocyclic structures, were isolated from Camellia japonica and Heterocentron roseum, respectively. Nobotanin G and H of the structures related to nobotanin I, were also obtained from H. roseum. Camelliin B and also woodfordin C, a macrocyclic dimer from Woodfordia fruticosa, exhibited marked host-mediated antitumor activities.

Animals↗

Adoptive immunotherapy of microscopic and advanced visceral metastases with in vitro sensitized lymphoid cells from mice bearing progressive tumors.

Lymphocytes from mice bearing the weakly immunogenic MCA 105 sarcoma contained pre-effector cells that could be sensitized and expanded in vitro to acquire anti-tumor reactivity. The in vitro sensitization (IVS) required antigenic stimulation by tumor cells and the presence of IL-2 for cellular proliferation. Recent work has also demonstrated that IVS cells could be generated in an IL-2 concentration as low as 2 U/ml. In the present study, we have evaluated therapeutic efficacy of IVS cells generated in different concentrations of IL-2 against advanced metastases established in the lung as well as in the liver. Treatment of microscopic or grossly visible pulmonary metastases established for 3 or 10 days by systemic transfer of IVS cells resulted in significant reductions of the numbers of metastases. On a per cell basis, IVS cells generated in 2 U/ml of IL-2 exhibited at least twofold greater reactivity than cells generated in 1000 U/ml of IL-2. In survival experiments, treatment of established microscopic (day 3) and visible (day 10) pulmonary metastases with 1.5 x 10(7) and 3 x 10(7) IVS cells generated in 2 U/ml of IL-2 resulted in prolongation of survival and cure of the disease in 60 and 30% of animals, respectively. The systemic anti-tumor effect of IVS cells was further investigated in mice with hepatic metastases. Treatment of day 3 microscopic hepatic metastases revealed that as little as 1.2 X 10(7) IVS cells generated in 2 U/ml of IL-2 reduced the mean number of metastases from more than 250 in various control groups to 32. Evaluation by survival demonstrated that transfer of 1.7 x 10(7) and 3.8 x 10(7) IVS cells was capable of prolonging the survival and curing 40 and 30% of mice bearing day 3 and day 9 hepatic metastases, respectively. Again, IVS cells generated in 2 U/ml of IL-2 were more effective therapeutically than cells generated in 1000 U/ml of IL-2. In all experiments, mice were also given IL-2 to enhance the in vivo reactivity of IVS cells. However, the doses of IL-2 alone had no therapeutic benefit. Taken together, our results show that adoptive immunotherapy with IVS cells generated from tumor-bearing mice was an effective means of eliminating advanced metastases in various visceral organs.

Animals↗

Cellular basis of immunologic interactions in adoptive T cell therapy of established metastases from a syngeneic murine sarcoma.

The adoptive transfer of specifically sensitized T lymphocytes can effectively mediate the regression of established local and metastatic tumors. Previous experiments using the weakly immunogenic MCA 105 sarcoma indicated that cellular interactions between transferred L3T4+ helper and Lyt-2+ cytotoxic immune T cells were necessary for mediating tumor regression. In this study, the kinetics of T-T cell interactions were analyzed by in vivo depletion of T cell subsets with mAb. The anti-tumor efficacy of transferred immune cells was abrogated by in vivo administration of either L3T4 or Lyt-2 mAb on the day of cellular therapy. However, if mAb were given 3 days after the transfer of immune cells, depletion of Lyt-2+ but not L3T4+ cells abrogated anti-tumor efficacy. T cell depletion on day 6 after transfer of immune cells had no adverse effect on tumor regression, indicating the period required for T cell reactivity in vivo. Furthermore, depletion of Ia+ cells by in vivo mAb treatment abrogated the anti-tumor efficacy of immune cells. It is thus hypothesized that there are two distinct but sequential phases of in vivo T cell interactions leading to the regression of established tumors after adoptive immunotherapy. An initial "helper/inducer" phase apparently requires the interaction of L3T4+ immune cells and the tumor Ag involving Ia+ cells. The inducement of L3T4+ cell activation is to provide helper function via the secretion of IL-2. The second phase designated as an "effector phase" involves differentiation of immune Lyt-2+ cells under the influence of IL-2 secreted during the helper/inducer phase for generation of mature Lyt-2+ effector cells. To further support the hypothesis of a two-phase process we have examined the phenotype and kinetics of tumor regression mediated by effector cells generated by secondary in vitro sensitization (IVS). Although the IVS cells were generated from fresh MCA 105 immune spleen cells, their anti-tumor efficacy was mediated solely by Lyt-2+ lymphocytes. Kinetic studies revealed that the in vivo requirement of IVS Lyt-2+ effector cells to mediate tumor regression was less than 3 days, and the anti-tumor reactivity of these cells was not affected by in vivo depletion of Ia+ cells. Thus, the IVS reaction is likely representative of the in vivo counterpart of the helper/inducer phase leading to the generation of mature Lyt-2+ immune effector cells. Tumor regression after transfer of Lyt-2+ cells generated in IVS therefore required a relatively shorter period of time than that required after the transfer of fresh noncultured MCA 105 immune spleen cells.

Animals↗

Generation of therapeutic T lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice by in vitro sensitization. Culture requirements and characterization of immunologic specificity.

We have previously established an in vitro sensitization (IVS) procedure with which lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice could be expanded and sensitized to acquire antitumor reactivity capable of mediating the regression of established pulmonary metastases from the weakly immunogenic MCA 105 murine sarcoma. Culture conditions required for the optimal generation of therapeutic effector cells were evaluated in the current study. Generation of effector cells by IVS required stimulation by intact tumor cells. Tumor cells killed by heat or disrupted by sonication were ineffective, but the antigenicity of tumor cells was not affected by gamma-irradiation. Long term established tumor cell lines could also serve as antigenic stimulator cells albeit with lower efficiency than fresh tumor cells. IL-2 was essential for cellular proliferation during IVS. The concentration of 1000 U/ml of IL-2 also induced nonspecific lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity. However, cytotoxic cells were generated during IVS in response to a broad range of IL-2 concentrations. At low IL-2 concentrations (2 to 10 U/ml), IVS cells were generated which displayed little or no LAK activity, had a greater therapeutic efficacy than those generated with high concentrations of IL-2 (100 to 1000 U/ml). Despite having high LAK activity, IVS cells, from cultures where IL-2 was added 3 or more days after initiation, had no therapeutic effect. Thus, the generation of therapeutic cells occurred independently of LAK cell production. Adoptive immunotherapy with IVS cells from MCA 105 tumor-bearing mice demonstrated cross-reactivity with the immunologically distinct MCA 106 but not the nonimmunogenic MCA 102 tumor. In contrast, IVS cells from MCA 106 tumor-bearing mice exhibited specific in vivo reactivity. In vitro cytotoxicity analyses revealed that IVS cells from MCA 105 and MCA 106 tumor-bearing mice were able to lyse both MCA 105 and MCA 106 target cells, but the reactivity toward inoculating tumors was highest. Considering previous findings that the MCA 105 and MCA 106 sarcomas possessed distinct tumor-specific transplantation Ag, the cross-reactivity observed in this study suggests that the immune response during progressive tumor growth may be different from that elicited in response to active immunization.

Animals↗

Cellular interactions and the role of interleukin 2 in the expression and induction of immunity against a syngeneic murine sarcoma.

We have previously demonstrated that following the adoptive transfer of immune cells, the regression of established pulmonary metastases from a weakly immunogenic sarcoma, MCA 105, required the collaboration of two T cell subsets. In this study, we found that the critical role played by L3T4+ immune cells was to provide a helper function since tumor regression proceeded in the absence of L3T4+ immune cells if exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2) was administered. To extend these observations, we analyzed the events leading to the induction and generation of L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ immune T cells after immunization of mice with viable tumor cells admixed with Corynebacterium parvum. The basic protocol involved immunization, surgical excision of the immunization site on day 7, and challenge with viable tumor cells on day 21. The ability of mice to reject tumor challenge provided a means to evaluate the occurrence of a systemic antitumor immunity. With the use of this experimental protocol, we have found that depletion of T cell subsets in vivo with either L3T4 or Lyt-2 monoclonal antibodies after active immunization abrogated the development of antitumor immunity. Mice immunized and depleted of L3T4+ but not Lyt-2+ T cells were able to reject tumor challenge if exogenous IL-2 was given for 7 days. However, the rejection of tumor challenge required 3 days of additional exogenous IL-2 administration. These results indicate that the induction of Lyt-2+ immune T cells depended on the helper function of L3T4+ T cells via the secretion of IL-2. In the absence of L3T4+ immune lymphocytes, the expression of antitumor immunity by Lyt-2+ immune cells could be facilitated by in vivo administration of exogenous IL-2. The induction of L3T4+ immune T cells, on the other hand, occurred independently of the Lyt-2+ T cell response because the transfer of spleen cells from Lyt-2+ cell-depleted, immunized animals was able to restore antitumor reactivity in L3T4+ cell-depleted, immunized mice. These results demonstrate the intricate cellular interactions leading to the induction as well as the expression of antitumor immunity.

Animals↗

Generation from tumor-bearing mice of lymphocytes with in vivo therapeutic efficacy.

Systemic transfer of sensitized lymphocytes can effectively mediate the regression of established tumors. However, virtually all prior experimental applications of this approach have utilized lymphocytes from animals that have been immunized to reject tumor challenge. A similar source of cells is not available in the human. With the use of a weakly immunogenic murine tumor, MCA 105, we demonstrate here that following in vitro sensitization (IVS) with viable tumor cells and interleukin 2, the nontherapeutic lymphoid cells from mice bearing a progressively growing tumor acquired antitumor reactivity capable of mediating the regression of established pulmonary metastases. Although the IVS system induced nonspecific lymphokine-activated killer-like cytotoxic activity from lymphoid cells of normal as well as tumor-bearing mice, therapeutically active cells could only be generated from cultures initiated with lymphoid cells from tumor-bearing animals, indicating that the IVS was a secondary in vitro immune response. Without other treatment, the IVS cells could mediate antitumor effects. However, low doses of exogenous interleukin 2 administration could enhance their therapeutic efficacy. By in vivo T cell subset depletion with monoclonal antibodies, the primary effector cells were identified as belonging to cytotoxic/suppressor T cell lineage expressing the Lyt-2 phenotype. In addition, these therapeutic effector cells could be further expanded in numbers in vitro with continuous stimulation by tumor cells in the presence of interleukin 2. Compared to the number of cells initiating the culture, as many as 126 times the number of cells were obtained after 9 days of IVS followed by in vitro expansion for an additional 5 days. Studies on the kinetics of the occurrence of the pre-effector lymphocytes during tumor growth revealed that they were readily obtained from draining lymph nodes of mice with a broad range of tumor burdens as well as durations of tumor growth. The ability to generate and expand, in vitro, therapeutically active lymphocytes from tumor-bearing hosts has important implications for cellular therapy of human cancers.

Animals↗

In vitro differentiation of T-cells capable of mediating the regression of established syngeneic tumors in mice.

Previous studies have shown that successful adoptive immunotherapy of a newly induced, weakly immunogenic murine sarcoma, MCA 105, can be achieved either with fresh noncultured immune spleen cells or with immune cells after in vitro stimulation and expansion. In this study, we utilized in vivo and in vitro depletions with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of T-cell subpopulations expressing the L3T4 or Lyt-2 antigens to investigate the phenotype of the T-cells that mediate in vivo tumor regression. The efficiency of depletion was assessed by flow microfluorometric analysis and by the ability of specifically treated spleen cell populations to generate allogeneic cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. The therapeutic efficacy of adoptively transferred fresh noncultured MCA 105 immune cells was abrogated by in vivo administration of either L3T4 or Lyt-2 mAb to mice bearing 3-day established pulmonary metastases. In vitro treatment of fresh noncultured MCA 105 immune cells with either L3T4 or Lyt-2 mAb and complement also abrogated their antitumor efficacy confirming the initial findings. However, mixing L3T4 and Lyt-2 mAb and complement-treated MCA 105 immune cells reconstituted the antitumor efficacy indicating that cellular cooperation between these two lymphoid subpopulations was essential for the regression of established tumors. Unlike fresh noncultured immune cells, the antitumor efficacy of in vitro sensitized and expanded immune cells was abrogated by in vivo treatment with Lyt-2 but not with L3T4 mAb indicating Lyt-2+ cells alone played a major role in mediating the regression of tumors. These findings provide evidence for an in vitro-induced differentiation of therapeutic T-lymphocytes. Our results thus suggest that the antitumor activities expressed by the two types of cells may represent T-cells at different stages of immunological differentiation.

Animals↗

In vitro sensitization and expansion with viable tumor cells and interleukin 2 in the generation of specific therapeutic effector cells.

We have investigated the efficacy and immunologic characteristics of immune effector cells generated from cultures containing large numbers of viable tumor cells and interleukin 2 (IL 2) in the adoptive immunotherapy of experimentally induced pulmonary metastases from the newly developed, weakly immunogenic MCA 105 sarcoma in mice. The current culture conditions allowed increases of either normal or MCA 105 immune spleen cells up to 94-fold in 15 days. The in vitro expanded normal and MCA 105 immune cells displayed nonspecific in vitro cytotoxicity against several syngeneic tumor targets. However, therapeutically effective cells could only be obtained from cultures initiated with MCA 105 immune spleen cells. Immunotherapy with expanded immune effector cells could lead to the reduction of established 3 day pulmonary metastases, prolongation of survival, and cure of tumor in the majority of animals. The generation and proliferation of therapeutic effector cells in vitro depended on the presence in cultures of specific tumor stimulator cells as well as the presence of IL 2. Although immunotherapy with either fresh noncultured or secondarily in vitro-sensitized (IVS) MCA 105 immune spleen cells was immunologically specific, the efficacy of the adoptive cellular therapy with cultured but not fresh immune cells could be improved by the administration to tumor-bearing hosts of exogenous IL 2. In addition to numerical expansion, the IVS immune cells, on a per cell basis, afforded an eightfold to 10-fold increase in therapeutic efficacy when compared with fresh noncultured MCA 105 immune cells. Our results indicate that the current culture procedure induced in vitro antigenic stimulation and expansion of tumor-specific immune effector cells that was otherwise not possible by conventional mixed lymphocyte-tumor cultures.

Animals↗

Adoptive immunotherapy of a syngeneic murine leukemia with a tumor-specific cytotoxic T cell clone and recombinant human interleukin 2: correlation with clonal IL 2 receptor expression.

The successful adoptive immunotherapy of the syngeneic Friend virus-induced murine leukemia FBL-3 was mediated by a proliferative MHC-restricted, tumor-specific CTL clone in combination with recombinant human IL 2. This clone was previously shown to express the L3T4-, Lyt-1+, Lyt-2+ surface phenotype. Activation of the clone for 48 hr in vitro with irradiated tumor cells induced the expression of IL 2 receptors and markedly increased clonal proliferation in response to recombinant IL 2. Intravenous injection of 2 X 10(7) 48 hr in vitro-activated cloned cells, followed by 6 days of systemic (i.p.) administration of IL 2 resulted in the complete regression of tumors and the cure of 50% of the treated mice. IL 2 alone had no effect on tumor growth, whereas the injection of nonactivated (resting) clone plus IL 2 or activated clone without IL 2 had small but insignificant effects on tumor growth and survival. These results indicated that the in vivo effector functions of cloned T cells may be markedly enhanced by the concurrent systemic administration of recombinant IL 2 and by the induction of optimal IL 2 receptor expression on the cloned T cells at the time of cell administration.

Animals↗