Fumihisa Miyauchi

Tumor antigen of human cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Correlation of circulating levels with disease progress

A double‐antibody radioimmunoassay method was used for serial determinations of a tumor‐antigen (TA‐4) of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, and the correlation of serum antigen levels with the disease progress was investigated in 23 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Ten cases with widespread metastases received radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Nine of these cases who showed progression of the disease had a corresponding increase in serum antigen levels, while one case who had regression of the disease showed a corresponding decrease in serum antigen levels. Thirteen patients received radical surgery, and in all of these, high pretreatment antigen levels declined to undetectable levels 1 or 2 weeks after surgery. A panel of coded sera from the NCI‐Mayo Clinic Serum Bank was also studied for evaluating the specificity of the assay. Thirteen of 25 patients (52%) with cervical squamous cell carcinoma showed positive serum antigen levels, while only one of 58 control cases (1.7%) showed false‐positive result. These results suggest that serial TA‐4 determinations may provide a useful method for evaluating regression or progression of the disease. Cancer 43:585–590, 1979.

Canine Cerebral Oxygen Consumption Studies Related to Electroencephalogram During Propanidid Anesthesia

The effects of propanidid (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) on the rate of cerebral oxygen consumption (CMRo2), the electroencephalogram (EEG) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were studied in ten dogs anesthetized with halothane (0.3%, inspired) and oxygen. In three additional dogs, the effects of the drug solvent (Micellophorr̀) on CMRo2 and CBF were studied. With 5 mg/kg propanidid, CMRo2 decreased maximally 11% within 1 min and returned to control at 11 min. With 10 mg/kg, CMRo2 decreased maximally 25% within 1 min and returned to control at 15 min. The mean CMRo2 reduction for the first 8 min following the 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg doses was 8% and 21%, respectively, and this difference was statistically significant. The changes in CMRo2 paralleled changes in slow wave activity of the EEG. Slower activity was accompanied by a more significant decrease in CMRo2. In both dose studies, CBF increased insignificantly at 1 to 2 min and thereafter decreased. CBF remained decreased with a concomitant decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) after CMRo2 had returned to control, and CBF thereafter gradually returned to control, paralleling changes in MAP. The magnitude of the reduction of CBF did not threaten cerebral oxygen delivery, as judged by the return of CMRo2, EEG and sagittal sinus blood oxygen level. The solvent proved to have no significant effect on CMRo2, but MAP decreased, possibly due to histamine release. It was concluded that propanidid was a potent and short‐acting cerebral metabolic depressant, and this metabolic response paralleled changes in the slow wave activity of the EEG.