ABSTRACT
Tumor tissue samples from 25 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon, twelve related samples of normal colons as well as five serum specimens from the same patients were analyzed for ferritin. The average ferritin content of the tumor tissue was 788 ng/mcp with a range of 47-1,745 ng/mcp. The average ferritin content of normal colon mucosa was 115 ng/mcp with a range of 32-230 ng/mcp. Two specimens of metastatic colon cancer taken from the retroperitoneal space and liver, respectively, contained 3,867 and 2,827 ng/mcp of ferritin. The ferritin content of the tumor tissue was higher than that of the normal colon in 8 of 9 patients who had specimens obtained from both sites. The amount of ferritin found in tumor tissue was independent of sex, age, and the site of the original tumor. This study shows that the ferritin content of colon neoplasms is elevated and indicates that the tumor tissue may be the direct source of elevated serum levels of ferritin previously observed in cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/analysis , Colon/analysis , Colonic Neoplasms/analysis , Ferritins/analysis , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Ferritins/blood , Humans , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Sixty-six patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with 5-fluorouracil, Mitomycin C, and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea. Fifty-seven patients were evaluable by completing 2 months of therapy. Nine patients (16.0%) achieved a complete remission (CR) with the above combination. A partial remission (PR) was seen in 9 patients. The response rate (CR + PR) was 32%. The average duration of response was 8.5 months. Mucositis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were the significant toxicities experienced in this study.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Rectal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Adult , Aged , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Drug Evaluation , Fluorouracil/administration & dosage , Fluorouracil/adverse effects , Humans , Leukopenia/chemically induced , Middle Aged , Mitomycin , Mitomycins/administration & dosage , Mitomycins/adverse effects , Mucous Membrane/drug effects , Semustine/administration & dosage , Semustine/adverse effects , Thrombocytopenia/chemically inducedABSTRACT
The effects of Dithiothreitol (DTT) on the estrogen receptor molecule were studied. DTT was evaluated for its potential abilities to preserve the integrity of the estrogen receptor. Storage at various extremes of pH was also considered for its possible adverse or positive effect. Cytosol was prepared utilizing rabbit uterus. Six aliquots of the cytosol were stored at 4 degrees C for 15 days. Two samples were adjusted to each pH, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0, and to one sample of each pH was added DTT, 0.154 mg/ml. Aliquots of stored cytosols were analyzed for estrogen receptor (ER) on day 1, 3, 7, and 15 after adjusting the aliquots to pH 7.4. There was degradation of ER with time; degradation was less with DTT. The degradation also increases with the lower pH. The cytosol stored at 4 degrees C and pH 8.0 with DTT was the best environment in these experiments for stability of ER.