Nobuko Kumano

Mitogenic Effect of the Mannans from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on Mouse Spleen Lymphocytes

The DNA synthetic activities of mannans isolated from two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were examined in vitro using spleen cells obtained from normal or nude BALB/c strain mice. A highly branched mannan isolated from the S. cerevisiae wild type strain induced a greater increase in mitogenic activity than those displayed by the mannan of the S. cerevisiae X2180–1A‐5 mutant strain which possessed fewer branching moieties. Acid‐hydrolyzed wild type strain mannan with two‐thirds of the molecular weight of the parent intact mannan showed weak mitogenicity.

Prognostic Value of Nucleolar Protein p120 in Patients With Resected Lung Adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE In this study we investigated the prognostic significance of proliferation-associated nucleolar protein p120 in primary resected lung adenocarcinoma because it reflects tumor growth fractions in vitro. PATIENTS AND METHODS Expression levels of p120 in tumors were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 74 patients who underwent radical resection. With clinical follow-up data, the prognostic significance of p120 calculated by labeling indices was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS p120 protein was clearly detected in nucleoli of adenocarcinoma cells. Its expression levels widely varied in each sample from 8.5% to 67. 2%, with a mean +/- SD of 35.2% +/- 15.1%. No significant correlation was found between expression levels of p120 and clinicopathologic factors. However, the expression levels of p120 were negatively correlated with the tumor doubling time calculated with retrospective chest roentgenograms. Using a cutoff value of 35% in the labeling index of p120, patients with high expression of p120 experienced early recurrence and shorter survival compared with those who had low expression of p120. Multivariate analysis showed that p120 served as an independent, as well as the strongest, prognostic factor for resected lung adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION This report provides the first evidence that expression levels of p120 in tumor tissues can be used as an independent and powerful prognostic marker for resected lung adenocarcinoma.

Ultrastructure of the lewis lung carcinoma

ELectron microscopic observations were made on the Lewis lung carcinoma, which has frequently been used in various experiments. Although the tumor cells had desmosomes, interdigitation, microvilli and basement membranes which were of epithelial nature, they did not show either squamous or adenomatous differentiation. On the basis of microscopic and ultrastructural findings, this tumor falls into the category of large cell carcinomas. At the periphery of the tumor, sinusoidal clefts between the strands of tumor cells contained many red blood cells without fibrin. While perfect blood vessels were observed towards the center of the tumor, large necrotic areas were observed. Dilated large vessels possessed some endothelial fenestrations. Light endothelial cells were also observed, which were penetrated by red blood cells. Interstitial components were very scant and collagen fibres were frequently observed to be dissolved.

Conversion of Lewis Lung Carcinoma into Ascitic Form

Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL), which has been most frequently used for various investigations of cancer, was converted to an ascitic form designated 3LL-SA. Ascites tumor cells showed a mixed population of single cells and about 10% islands which were made up of 2 to about 50 cells. Transplantability was 100%. The biological and metastatic capacities were preserved in this line as shown by its ability to form hemorrhagic and necrotic tumors, and by its multiple lung metastases. Moreover, histological and ultrastructural characteristics of this tumor line were identical to those of the parental 3LL. Thus, it can be seen that 3LL-SA will be a useful tool for the study of cancer.

PRELIMINARY PHASE I STUDY OF BESTATIN IN LUNG CANCER CASES

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the preliminary phase I study of bestatin in lung cancer cases. A pilot study was carried out in 13 cases of lung cancer including one malignant lymphoma. The daily administration of bestatin at a 30-mg dose caused no appreciable side effect in any one of these cases, including a 22- and a 23-week-period of medication. Peak values of T-lymphocyte population were observable around 1 to 3 days post-bestatin, while in a case, a gradual increase up to day 8 was observed. Bestatin in one case exceptionally decreased an originally higher T-cell level of Case IV. The B-lymphocyte level increased instead in Case IV and decreased in Case II, while it also increased in Case I and stayed unchanged in Case III. On the other hand, however, total lymphocyte counts showed no substantial change because of bestatin. The results suggest that bestatin stimulates the surface event involved in E-rosette formation of the T-lymphocyte subpopulation.