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Studies on the mechanism of denaturation of cytochrome P-450 by cyclophosphamide and its metabolites.

Several lines of investigation were pursued to understand mechanisms involved in the in vivo depression of rat hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase by cyclophosphamide, an important anti-cancer and immunosuppressive agent. Essentially exclusive metabolism-dependent binding to microsomal proteins of 14C from [4-14C]cyclophosphamide, compared with 3H from [chloroethyl-3H]cyclophosphamide, suggests the binding of the metabolite acrolein. Of the various metabolites and analogs of cyclophosphamide tested (which did not contain a peroxy or a hydroperoxy group), only acrolein and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (which releases acrolein in solution) caused denaturation of microsomal cytochrome P-450 in vitro; this denaturation was identical with that produced by sulfhydryl reagents. Of the various chemicals tested, only those which contained either a free amino group (except lysine) and/or a free sulfhydryl group (e.g. semicarbazide, cysteine, glycine, glucosamine) effectively blocked (40-80%) the binding of 14C as well as protected against acrolein-induced denaturation of cytochrome P-450. These data further suggested interaction of cyclophosphamide metabolite with free amino and/or free sulfhydryl groups in proteins. However, comparison with [3H]aflatoxin B2a which interacts with free protein amino groups via the formation of Schiff bases, clearly attributed the preferential binding of 14C to cysteine sulfhydryl groups in these proteins. Studies on chemical models derived from reaction between acrolein and cysteine also supported this suggestion. When microsomes isolated from incubations metabolizing [4-14C]cyclophosphamide were subjected to gel electrophoresis, the major radioactive band detected by autoradiography was associated with a cytochrome P-450 band at 55,000 daltons, the major band induced by phenobarbital in the rat. All these results taken together strongly point to the possibility that acrolein is the cyclophosphamide metabolite responsible for the depression of the mixed function oxidase activities. Acrolein most likely produces this effect by alkylation of the sulfhydryl group(s) in the active site of cytochrome P-450.

Amino Acids↗

Variability in DNA distributions of human neuroblastomas after cyclophosphamide.

Major changes in DNA distributions of two human neuroblastoma cell lines growing in vitro and in athymic nude mice occurred after treatment with cyclophosphamide. Pulse treatment of LA-N-1 cells in vitro with liver S-9-activated cyclophosphamide (10 micrograms/ml) caused approximately 50% cytotoxicity; flow microfluorometric analysis of surviving cells demonstrated an increased proportion of G2 + M cells and a decreased proportion of G1 cells, particularly at 48 hrs. Even though LA-N-1 tumors in nude mice did not regress after one dose of cyclophosphamide (250 mg/kg), the percent of G2 + M cells increased and the percent of G1 cells decreased 4-6 days after treatment; the percent of cells in S increased at 2 and again at 8 days. SK-N-MC cells were affected differently by cyclophosphamide. Pulse treatment of these cells in vitro with liver S-9-activated cyclophosphamide caused greater than 85% cytotoxicity and nearly complete elimination of cells in G2 + M at 24 and 48 hrs. Likewise, SK-N-MC tumors in nude mice regressed greater than 50% after cyclophosphamide, and the proportion of G2 + M cells decreased markedly 2-6 days after therapy. We conclude that cyclophosphamide can have different cytotoxic and cytokinetic effects on neuroblastomas. In addition, marked cytokinetic effects may occur even though changes in tumor size are minimal or not detectable.

Animals↗

In vitro effect of cyclophosphamide on the binding of radiopharmaceuticals (99mTcO4- and 99mTc-MDP) to blood elements.

Sodium pertechnetate (99mTcO4-) and many 99mTc-products are the radiopharmaceuticals most frequently used in nuclear medicine. Using an in vitro model, we evaluated the effect of cyclophosphamide on percent radioactivity of 99mTcO4- and methylenediphosphonic acid (99mTc-MDP) bound to isolated blood elements. Blood samples were incubated with the two radiopharmaceuticals, plasma and blood cells were separated and precipitated, and soluble and insoluble fractions were separated. To evaluate the effect of cyclophosphamide, blood was incubated with this drug 1 h prior to the addition of the radiopharmaceuticals. The fraction of 99mTcO4- radioactivity was slightly higher in plasma (61.2 to 53.8%) than in blood cells (38.8 to 46.2%) up to 6 h and cyclophosphamide did not interfere with this distribution. The amount of 99mTc-MDP radioactivity was higher in plasma (91.1 to 87.2%) than in blood cells (8.9 to 12.8%) up to 24 h and cyclophosphamide did not modify it. The binding of 99mTcO4- to the insoluble fraction of plasma (4.9 to 6.1%) was low and cyclophosphamide did not interfere with it up to 6 h, but a small blockade (9.8 to 4.8%) was observed at 24 h. From 3 h on, cyclophosphamide slightly inhibited 99mTcO4- binding to blood cells (23.1 to 16.6%) and increased it at 24 h (31.2 to 14.3%). Cyclophosphamide did not alter 99mTc-MDP binding to the insoluble fraction of blood cells and slightly decreased 99mTc-MDP binding to the insoluble fraction of plasma (29.8 to 23.6%) up to 6 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkylating Agents↗

Modulation of glomerular structure and function in murine lupus nephritis by methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide.

The effects of methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide were examined in a murine model of lupus nephritis (MRL-1pr/1pr). Animals were assigned to four groups at 12 weeks of age. Mice in the control group received intraperitoneal saline solution either daily or weekly. Animals in the low-dose methylprednisolone (MPLD) group received 6 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal methylprednisolone; those in the high-dose methylprednisolone (MPHD) group received 12 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal methylprednisolone. Animals in the cyclophosphamide group received 50 mg/kg/wk intraperitoneal cyclophosphamide. Animals surviving to 24 weeks were examined. MPHD and cyclophosphamide treatments were associated with maintenance of normal glomerular filtration rates and the development of only minimal proteinuria. However, detailed morphometric evaluation of the glomerulus revealed glomerular enlargement and mesangial matrix expansion in both groups. Unlike MPHD-treated mice, cyclophosphamide-treated animals demonstrated a marked reduction in the number of osmophilic dense deposits along the glomerular capillary walls. MPLD had little effect on function, despite significant reductions in cell proliferation and anti-double-strand DNA antibodies. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were dramatically increased in plasma of control animals. Treatment with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide dramatically reduced TNF-alpha but not IL-6. Treatment also reduced renal IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta mRNA levels compared with untreated mice. Despite minimal serologic activity and preservation of renal function, neither cyclophosphamide nor methylprednisolone was able to completely suppress disease activity, as measured by increased cytokine production and glomerular structural injury. The inability of treatment to reduce IL-6 levels may explain the resistance to treatment in this model.

Animals↗

Lipoprotein lipase regulation in the cyclophosphamide-treated rabbit: dependence on nutritional status.

Cyclophosphamide injection into the fasted rabbit induces a hypertriglyceridemia (4.6 mM vs. 0.8 mM in controls) and a defect of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), as measured in post-heparin plasma (PHP). In contrast, administration of the drug into fed animals tends to increase PHP-LPL. The effects of cyclophosphamide on LPL activity and synthesis, depending on the nutritional state, were thus studied in two sites: periepididymal adipose tissue and heart. In adipose tissue, fasting decreased LPL activity to 45.2 mIU/g (P < 0.001) compared to 667.9 mIU/g in fed animals. PHP-LPL activity was also decreased by 45% upon starvation. These modulations appeared to be related to plasma insulin levels. The relative rate of synthesis of fat tissue LPL was decreased from 0.32% total protein synthesis in fed animals to 0.10% in fasted rabbits, concordant with a reduction in the expression of LPL specific mRNA. Cyclophosphamide administration to the fed rabbit led to decreases of LPL activity and synthesis in the adipose tissue, similar to those observed upon starvation. However, when injected into fasted animals, the drug did not further depress fat tissue LPL. Fasting did not change heart LPL activity (288.3 mIU/g vs. 239.3 in fed animals) nor its relative rate of synthesis (0.21% of total protein synthesis). However, cyclophosphamide induced opposite effects, depending on the nutritional state: after injection into fed animals, heart LPL activity increased up to 477.2 mIU/g (P < 0.01) with a concomitant increase in the LPL synthesis rate. Conversely, drug administration into fasted rabbits led to a decrease of heart LPL activity to 133.9 mIU/g. Similar qualitative variations were recorded in postheparin plasma. Hence, although insensitive to nutritional modulations, heart LPL responded differently to cyclophosphamide, depending on the nutritional state. In spite of those different modulations of heart and adipose tissue LPL, the enzyme isolated from these two sources displayed similar molecular mass, immunoreactivity, and catalytic properties. The effects of cyclophosphamide injection on very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-triacylglycerol (TG) synthesis were also investigated, as a possible determinant of hypertriglyceridemia. The drug stimulated TG synthesis in both nutritional states, and maximally by 45% in fed animals. Hence, a defect of heart and postheparin plasma LPL appears as a major determinant of hypertriglyceridemia in cyclophosphamide-treated fasted rabbits.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗

Induction of cyclophosphamide-resistance by aldehyde-dehydrogenase gene transfer.

The identification of genes inducing resistance to anticancer chemotherapeutic agents and their introduction into hematopoietic cells represents a promising approach to overcome bone marrow toxicity, the limiting factor for most high-dose chemotherapy regimens. Because resistance to cyclophosphamide has been correlated with increased levels of expression of the aldehyde-dehydrogenase (ALDH1) gene in tumor cell lines in vitro, we tested whether ALDH1 overexpression could directly induce cyclophosphamide resistance. We have cloned a full-length human ALDH1 cDNA and used retroviral vectors to transduce it into human (U937) and murine (L1210) hematopoietic cell lines that were then tested for resistance to maphosphamide, an active analogue of cyclophosphamide. Overexpression of the ALDH1 gene resulted in a significant increases in cyclophosphamide resistance in transduced L1210 and U937 cells (50% inhibition concentration [IC50], approximately 13 mumol/L). The resistant phenotype was specifically caused by ALDH1 overexpression as shown by its reversion by disulfiram, a specific ALDH1 inhibitor. ALDH1 transduction into peripheral blood human hematopoietic progenitor cells also led to significant increases (4- to 10-fold; IC50, approximately 3 to 4 mumol/L) in cyclophosphamide resistance in an in vitro colony-forming assay. These findings indicate that ALDH1 overexpression is sufficient to induce cyclophosphamide resistance in vitro and provide a basis for testing the efficacy of ALDH1 gene transduction to protect bone marrow cells from high-dose cyclophosphamide in vivo.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

Gene therapy for malignant gliomas using replication incompetent retroviral and adenoviral vectors encoding the cytochrome P450 2B1 gene together with cyclophosphamide.

Cyclophosphamide is an inactive prodrug which is converted by hepatic cytochrome P450 2B1 to cytotoxic metabolites which produce interstrand DNA cross-linking in a cell cycle-independent fashion. The limited ability of these metabolites to cross the blood-brain barrier contributes to the poor activity of cyclophosphamide against brain tumors. In this study we demonstrate that replication deficient retroviral and adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer of cytochrome P450 2B1 into 9L glioma cells significantly increases the sensitivity of these tumor cells to cyclophosphamide in vitro, and prolongs the survival of animals bearing intracerebral 9L tumors treated with cyclophosphamide in vivo. Attempts to improve the effectiveness of retrovirally mediated transduction of the P450 2B1 gene by increasing the concentration of cyclophosphamide delivered to the tumors using intracarotid and intratumoral injections did not prolong animal survival, although survival was increased when a second treatment with P450-expressing retroviral vectors and cyclophosphamide was administered. These results suggest that in situ transduction of tumor cells with the P450 2B1 gene using retroviral and adenoviral vectors increases their sensitivity to cyclophosphamide and may have a potential role in the therapy of malignant gliomas.

Adenoviridae↗

Involvement of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.

The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and the potential modulation of NO synthase (NOS) activity by platelet-activating factor were investigated in a rat model of cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. Male Wistar rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide, and cystitis was evaluated 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours later by determining the changes in bladder wet weight and plasma protein extravasation and the macro- and microscopic morphological alterations. In addition, NOS activity and NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry were studied in bladder tissues. Normal bladders showed extensive NADPH-diaphorase staining and a high level of constitutive NOS whereas the activity of inducible NOS was almost undetectable. Cyclophosphamide dose- and time-dependently increased the bladder wet weight and bladder plasma protein extravasation. These events were accompanied at a microscopic level by urothelial necrosis, sloughing, ulceration, hemorrhage, and leukocyte infiltration. Cyclophosphamide also increased the levels of inducible NOS but reduced those of constitutive NOS. The NOS inhibitors L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester and L-NG-nitroarginine significantly reduced the cyclophosphamide-induced plasma protein extravasation and urothelial damage. This reduction was completely reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. The administration of the platelet-activating factor antagonist BN 52021 decreased the cyclophosphamide-induced plasma protein extravasation as well as the rise in inducible NOS activity but had no effect on the fall in constitutive NOS activity. These results suggest that endogenous NO participates in the urothelial damage and in the inflammatory events leading to cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. Platelet-activating factor also seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of this condition, possibly by inducing NOS.

Animals↗

[Bladder neoplasms and cyclophosphamide. Apropos pf 3 cases amd review of the literature].

We report three new cases of bladder cancer occurring in patients treated by cyclophosphamide (Endoxan): two patients had Waldenström disease and were treated during 7.5 and 7 years respectively (total received dose of 220 and 190 g respectively). The third patient was treated for autoimmune erythroblastopenia and the bladder cancer occurred 5 years after treatment by cyclophosphamide (39 g during 3.3 years). Bladder cancers after cyclophosphamide treatment are generally transitional cell carcinomas. They are observed after an oral treatment, generally given for more than one year. A cumulative dose of more than 20 g is the principal risk factor, with a median interval from treatment to tumor of 7 years. No other risk factor has been identified (tobacco, age, sex, hemorrhagic cystitis). The relative risk of bladder cancer is estimated between 7 and 9, and seems proportional to the cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide. The first hypothesis to explain bladder cancer occurrence is a carcinogenic effect of one of the cyclophosphamide metabolites, acrolein, but the immunosuppressive effect of cyclophosphamide may play a role. The risk of secondary bladder cancer implies to limit the use of cyclophosphamide, particularly in non malignant disease, and to closely watch the patient especially by way of annual cystoscopy.

Aged↗

Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced impairment of wound healing.

Cyclophosphamide given systemically to rats leads to impaired wound healing, characterized by decreases in the inflammatory reaction, fibroplasia, neovascularization, reparative collagen accumulation, and wound breaking strength. In contrast, the local application of Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan at the time of wounding increases all of these processes in normal rats. Accordingly, we hypothesized that inoculation of S. aureus peptidoglycan into wounds of cyclophosphamide-treated rats would ameliorate the otherwise impaired healing. Dorsal bilateral skin incisions and subcutaneous implantation of polyvinyl alcohol sponges (two on each side) were performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving either saline or cyclophosphamide (24 mg/kg) intraperitoneally at the time of operation, on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 4 (for rats killed on postoperative day 7), and also on day 8 (for rats killed on postoperative day 14). The incisions on one side were inoculated at the time of closure with 0.2 ml of saline solution, and the incisions on the other side with 6 mg S. aureus peptidoglycan in 0.2 ml saline solution (860 microg/cm incision). The sponges were instilled with 0.1 ml saline solution on the saline solution-instilled incision side or with S. aureus peptidoglycan 0.5 mg/sponge) in 0.1 ml saline solution on the other side. In control rats receiving saline solution intraperitoneally, incisions treated with S. aureus peptidoglycan were significantly stronger than saline solution-treated incisions by a factor of 1.8 at 1 week (p < 0.001); at 2 weeks the increase was small and not significant. Cardiac blood leukocytes and platelets fell markedly (90%) in cyclophosphamide- treated rats, and there was a decrease in wound breaking strength of their saline-treated incisions at both 7 and 14 days compared with saline solution-treated incisions of control rats. S. aureus peptidoglycan treatment of the wounds completely prevented this effect at 7 days, and partially at 14 days. Polyvinyl alcohol sponge reparative tissue hydroxyproline, 7 days after surgery, was decreased in cyclophosphamide-treated rats; this was completely prevented by S. aureus peptidoglycan treatment of the sponges. Histologically, the inflammatory response to the wounding, influx of macrophages and fibroblasts, angiogenesis, and collagen accumulation were all reduced at day 7 and 14 after surgery in the sponge reparative tissue of cyclophosphamide- treated rats; this was prevented by S. aureus peptidoglycan treatment of the sponges. In conclusion, a single local application of S. aureus peptidoglycan ameliorates cyclophosphamide-impaired wound healing.

Journal Article↗

High-dose cyclophosphamide for moderate to severe refractory multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: High-dose cyclophosphamide is active in immune-mediated illnesses. OBJECTIVE: To describe the effects of high-dose cyclophosphamide on severe refractory multiple sclerosis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Patients with multiple sclerosis with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3.5 or higher after 2 or more Food and Drug Administration-approved disease-modifying therapy regimens were evaluated. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received 200 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide over 4 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients had brain magnetic resonance imaging and neuro-ophthalmologic evaluations every 6 months and quarterly EDSS and quality-of-life evaluations for 2 years. RESULTS: Twelve patients were evaluated for clinical response (median follow-up, 15.0 months; follow-up range, 6-24 months). During follow-up, no patients increased their baseline EDSS scores by more than 1.0. Five patients decreased their EDSS scores by 1.0 or more (EDSS score decrease range, 1.0-5.0). Two of 11 patients had a single enhancing lesion at baseline; these lesions resolved after high-dose cyclophosphamide treatment. At 12 months, 1 patient showed 1 new enhancing lesion without a corresponding high-intensity T2-weighted or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery signal. Patients reported improvement in all of the quality-of-life parameters measured. Neurologic improvement involved changes in gait, bladder control, and visual function. Treatment response was seen regardless of the baseline presence or absence of contrast lesion activity. Patient quality-of-life improvement occurred independently of EDSS score changes. In this small group of patients with treatment-refractory multiple sclerosis, high-dose cyclophosphamide was associated with minimal morbidity and improved clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose cyclophosphamide treatment in patients with severe refractory multiple sclerosis can result in disease stabilization, improved functionality, and improved quality of life. Further studies are necessary to determine the most appropriate patients for this treatment.

Adult↗

Successful treatment of childhood pilocytic astrocytomas metastatic to the leptomeninges with high-dose cyclophosphamide.

Leptomeningeal dissemination of childhood pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a rare event with little information available regarding therapy. We report here four children with disseminated PA whom we treated with high doses of cyclophosphamide with clinical benefit. The patients were aged 2.5 to 8 years. Three patients presented with PA localized in the posterior fossa, initially treated with surgical resection (n = 3) and radiotherapy (n = 1). Leptomeningeal dissemination occurred at 32, 44, and 8 months from diagnosis, respectively. The fourth patient presented with an optic pathway tumor with leptomeningeal dissemination at diagnosis. At commencement of cyclophosphamide therapy, disease was present in the subarachnoid space (intracranial, n = 2; spinal, n = 4), cerebral ventricles (n = 2), and primary site (n = 3). Histology was identical at diagnosis and recurrence in the two biopsied cases and cerebrospinal fluid was negative in all cases. Treatment was with cyclophosphamide 4-5 g/m2/cycle given every 4 weeks for a total of two cycles (n = 1) and four cycles (n = 3). One patient achieved disease stabilization (duration 27 months at the time of publication) and three patients experienced significant reductions in tumor burden. Subsequent intrathecal therapy was administered to two patients. Two patients developed disease progression at 10 and 9 months from cessation of chemotherapy. The one re-treated patient responded to further, lower dose, cyclophosphamide. This is the first report of the use of high dose cyclophosphamide for disseminated PA. The recurrence of disease in two cases with a further response to lower dose cyclophosphamide has implications for the optimal duration of therapy for these low grade, aggressive tumors.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗

Inhibitory effect of prolonged Corynebacterium parvum and cyclophosphamide administration on the growth of established tumors.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of prolonged administration of C. parvum alone and in combination with cyclophosphamide for the treatment of established, measurable C3H tumors. The continued weekly administration of C. parvum by itself provided a limited but significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth and significantly prolonged survival. Intraperitoneal and intravenous administration was found to be more effective than the subcutaneous route. When C. parvum was administered asynchronously in combination with cyclophosphamide at weekly intervals a tumor growth inhibitory effect was achieved which was greater than that resulting from either agent along. Such an effect was consistently obtained and was seemingly independent of the sequence of drug administration. When cyclophosphamide preceded the initial C. parvum administration, arrest in the rate of tumor growth occurred, resulting in infinite tumor doubling time for the duration of observation (greater than 90 days). The combination of C. parvum and cyclophosphamide produced a more effective inhibition of tumor growth than did BCG and cyclophosphamide similarly employed. The importance of these findings relative to clinical application is considered. While the significance and genesis of the marked desmoplastic reaction characterizing tumors from animals treated with C. parvum and cyclophosphamide is at present speculative, consideration is given to the possibility that this could signify a host response against tumor growth.

Animals↗

Invasive carcinoma of the renal pelvis following cyclophosphamide therapy for nonmalignant disease.

A 47-year-old woman with right hydroureteronephrosis due to ureterovesical junction obstruction had gross hematuria after being treated for five years wtih cyclophosphamide for cerebral vasculitis. A right nephroureterectomy was required for control of bleeding. The pathology specimen contained clinically occult invasive carcinoma of the renal pelvis. Although the ability of cyclophosphamide to cause hemorrhagic cystitis and urine cytologic abnormalities indistinguishable from high grade carcinoma is well known, it is less widely appreciated that it is also associated with carcinoma of the urinary tract. Twenty carcinomas of the urinary bladder and one carcinoma of the prostate have been reported in association with its use. The present case is the first carcinoma of the renal pelvis reported in association with cyclophosphamide treatment. It is the third urinary tract cancer reported in association with cyclophosphamide treatment for nonmalignant disease. The association of the tumor with preexisting hydroureteronephrosis suggests that stasis prolonged and intensified exposure of upper urinary tract epithelium to cyclophosphamide. Patients who are candidates for long-term cyclophosphamide treatment should be routinely evaluated for obstructive uropathy.

Cyclophosphamide↗

Glutathione monoethyl ester can selectively protect liver from high dose BCNU or cyclophosphamide.

Normal Swiss Webster mice were treated with monocrotaline or high doses of three antitumor alkylating agents (BCNU, cyclophosphamide, or mitomycin C), all of which have been connected with hepatic veno-occlusive disease at our clinic. Prior administration of WR-2721 did not improve the survival of monocrotaline-treated animals. Glutathione (GSH) improved the survival of these animals to a small degree. Glutathione monoethyl ester (GSHet) almost completely protected animals from the toxicity of monocrotaline. Pretreatment with WR-2721 produced moderate increases in survival at the highest doses of BCNU, and at the lower BCNU doses none of the animals pretreated with WR-2721 died before they were killed on day 150. Pretreatment with GSHet gave good protection from BCNU toxicity at the highest dose of the drug, and there were no deaths in the groups of animals treated with GSHet 1 hour before BCNU. On a multiple dose schedule, GSH provided some protection from cyclophosphamide toxicity; GSHet gave a very good level of protection from cyclophosphamide. In none of these treatment groups were lesions suggestive of hepatic or pulmonary venoocclusive disease identified. In all three experimental protocols (monocrotaline, BCNU, and cyclophosphamide), there was a consistent decrease in hepatic toxicity after GSHet pretreatment; this was not observed in GSH- or WR-2721-pretreated animals. There was no evidence of protection of the FSaIIC fibrosarcoma growing in C3H mice as assayed by tumor growth delay or tumor cell survival in groups treated with two different doses of GSHet 1 hour before each drug injection compared to those treated with the BCNU or cyclophosphamide alone, or BCNU with cyclophosphamide. Pretreatment with GSHet did not alter the toxicity of these drugs to bone marrow. GSHet appears to be an effective protector of critical normal tissue and does not appear to protect tumor.

Amifostine↗

Dose escalation of biweekly cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone using recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Several uncontrolled trials have suggested that dose intensity of chemotherapy is a crucial determinant of treatment outcome for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). To explore the possibility of increasing dose intensity, a dose-escalation study of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) using recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) was initiated. METHODS: First, the feasibility of standard dose CHOP (750 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide intravenously [i.v.] on Day 1;50 mg/m2 doxorubicin i.v. on Day 1; 1.4 mg/m2 vincristine i.v. on Day 1; and 100 mg/body prednisolone orally on Days 1-5) repeated biweekly at the original dose was assessed. rhG-CSF was given subcutaneously at doses of 2-5 micrograms/kg every day or every other day on Days 3-13. The safety of increasing the dose of cyclophosphamide during biweekly CHOP then was tested. Besides the standard dose (750 mg/m2), two dose levels of cyclophosphamide were set (1200 mg/m2 and 1500 mg/m2 in patients younger than 61 years of age, and 1200 mg/m2 in patients 61-75 years old). RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with NHL who had received minimal or no previous treatment were enrolled in this study. In the 750 mg/m2 group, 9 patients received 3-6 cycles of treatment (mean, 3.9 cycles), in the 1200 mg/m2 group, 10 patients received 3-6 cycles (mean, 4.8), and in the 1500 mg/m2 group, all 8 patients received 6 cycles. No significant differences among the groups were observed in the extent and the duration of neutropenia in each cycle, and a leukocyte count of more than 3000/microliters on Day 15 was achieved in all 131 cycles. Hemoglobin values and platelet counts, however, decreased in the later cycles in the 1500 mg/m2 group. Two patients were hepatitis-B virus carriers, one of whom died of fulminant hepatitis after completion of six cycles. Another patient developed a transient increase of transaminases after the second cycle. One other patient developed Grade 4 mucositis (World Health Organization scale). The numbers of patients who achieved complete and partial responses, respectively, were 4 (50%) and 2 (25%) in the 750 mg/m2 group, 8 (80%) and 2 (20%) in the 1200 mg/m2 group, and 8 (100%) and 0 (0%) in the 1500 mg/m2 group. CONCLUSIONS: The dose of cyclophosphamide in biweekly CHOP can be increased up to 1500 mg/m2 with no increase in the incidence of treatment-related early mortalities without any organ damage in younger patients. The efficacy of this dose intensification of CHOP currently is being investigated in a multicenter prospective randomized trial using three different dose levels of cyclophosphamide.

Adult↗

Selective suppression of autoantibody responses in NZB/NZW mice treated with long-term cyclophosphamide.

Autoimmune responses were assayed in 80 cyclophosphamide-treated and control NZB/NZW mice over a period of 1 year. Fluctuation between positive and negative immunofluorescent heterogeneous ANA tests and daily alterations of ANA titers were detected in young mice of both sexes. Although high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy (8 mg/kg/day) failed to prevent the spontaneous appearance of ANA, titered ANA values were partially suppressed in high-dose treated mice. This study permitted sequential comparisons between ANA titers and anti-DNA as useful indices of cyclophosphamide-induced suppression of autoimmune disease. ANA titers were relatively resistant to cyclophosphamide therapy. Antibodies directed specifically against DNA were suppressed mice receiving high-dose cyclophosphamide. In treated animals, decreased anti-DNA levels were associated with protection from severe glomerulonephritis and renal vasculitis. Treatment with low-dose cyclophosphamide (1 mg/kg/day) appeared paradoxically to stimulate autoantibody production and renal disease/vasculitis.

Animals↗

Accelerated appearance of neoplasms in female NZB/NZW mice treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide.

Prolonged immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide increases the prevalence of neoplasms in NZB/NZW mice, an animal model of systemic lupus erythematosus. The current study was designed to compare the oncogenic properties of high dose cyclophosphamide with a low dose therapeutic regimen. Female NZB/NZW mice received life-long therapy with "high dose" cyclophosphamide, 16 mg/kg/day, or "low-dose" cyclophosphamide, 5.7 mg/kg/day; control mice received saline. High dose therapy clearly accelerated appearance of neoplasms. Seventeen of 19 mice treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide developed neoplasms at the mean age of 61 weeks. Fifty-seven percent of these tumors were mammary carcinomas. Neoplasms appeared in all mice treated with low dose; mean longevity in this treatment group was 80 weeks (compared to high dose treated mice, P less than 0.001). Carcinomas, pulmonary adenomas, and lymphomas were the most common tumors in mice receiving low dose therapy. Positive tests for ANA were suppressed in high dose treated mice. AntiDNA antibody levels and glomerulonephritis were decreased significantly in both groups of cyclophosphamide-treated mice compared to controls. It was concluded that the high daily dose of immunosuppressive drug was related to early oncogenesis in autoimmune NZB/NZW mice.

Adenoma↗