Bruno Fingerhut

Chemotherapy for bladder cancer

Abstract Systemic therapy for bladder neoplasms has thus far been ineffective and toxicity has outweighed benefits. Topical therapy by bladder instillations of Thiotepa and Epodyl has been effective for treatment of multiple superficial bladder tumors and appears to be helpful as a prophylactive measure to reduce recurrences of such tumors. Topical therapy is not recommended for invasive tumors. Careful attention to dosage regimens and adjustment of doses as indicated by white blood cell and platelet counts minimizes toxic effects from treatment.

Possible defect in rna metabolism in leukemic cells

Autoradiographic techniques were used to explore possible differences in RNA synthesis rates between leukemic and nonleukemic leukocytes. In the past, reports have dealt primarily with DNA synthesis employing tritiated thymidine. The present report deals primarily with differences in the quantities and distribution of labeled RNA in leukemic and normal leukocytes employing tritiated uridine and cytidine. One hundred adults were studied; 63 patients had acute or chronic lymphocytic, myelocytic or monocytic leukemia. Thirteen normal individuals also were studied. The results demonstrated the potential value of RNA‐labeling techniques in leukemia. The finding of increased intranuclear H3‐RNA and decreased cytoplasmic H3‐RNA is of particular interest and may be explained by an abnormality of RNA in leukemic cells.

Autoradiographic studies of oral lichen planus

3H cytidine autoradiographic labeling patterns have been categorized into those characteristic for neoplastic, preneoplastic, and normal cell types. Specific differences in the patterns of transcription (RNA synthesis) revealed that the histology of a particular lesion generally correlated with (1) the percentage of cells labeled with the isotope, (2) the number of grains per cell, and (3) their intracellular distribution. When these three criteria of labeling were applied to lesions of the oral mucosa, very interesting data were collected on cases of lichen planus. The benign histologic appearance of the oral lichen planus epithelium exhibited a preneoplastic-appearing autoradiogram, an observation which is of particular interest in view of the fact that a small number of patients with this disease develop intraoral squamous cell carcinoma.

Observations on Possible Autoimmune Therapeutic Effects in Experimentally Produced Rat Bladder Tumors

Autoimmune response to normal and tumor bladder tissues in Fisher/Furth rats were obtained. The reaction consisted mainly of severe pericystitis and hemorrhagic lesions. The cellular infiltrate was predominantly lymphocytic including also plasma cells and histiocytes. Serological tests indicated development of host immunological response. 15 of 33 rat bladder tumors involuted entirely in the course of the autoimmune reaction.

Testicular morphology and germ cell DNA synthesis in the testis of patients with prostatic carcinoma

Testes of 175 patients with histologically proved carcinoma of the prostate were biopsied and processed for conventional as well as radioautographic study. Satisfactory spermatogenesis was preserved in 40‐45% of the biopsied testis. In 35‐40%, spermatogenesis was active, but there was clear evidence of depletion in the maturation process. The remaining 20‐25% showed atrophy and hyalinization. Radioautographic study revealed that the number of DNA‐syn‐thesizing spermatogonia per cross‐sectioned tubule was reduced from what was previously observed in the healthy adult male. No correlation could be found between testicular morphology, DNA synthesis of the germ cells, serum testosterone levels, and total urinary gonadotropins. It appears that the pituitary‐gonadal axis in the prostatic carcinoma patient is altered. This alteration, however, is not clearly delineated by the laboratory methods presently available.