Differential recovery of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, B and T cell subpopulations in the thymus, bone marrow, spleen and blood of mice following split-dose polychemotherapy.

In these studies, we examined the effect of a maximum-tolerated, split-dose chemotherapy protocol of cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea carmustine on neutrophil and lymphocyte, subpopulations in the peripheral blood (PBL), thymus, bone marrow and spleen. It was found that this protocol of polychemotherapy, modeled after the induction protocol used with autologous bone marrow transplantation for breast cancer, suppressed both B and T cell populations and T cell function at times when the absolute neutrophil count had returned to normal or supernormal numbers. In the peripheral blood, 7 days following initiation of chemotherapy, there was a twofold increase in the percentage of granulocytes as compared to the level in control animals on the basis of a differential count. The polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) frequency in the bone marrow was increased on day 14 and statistically identical to that in control mice on all other days analyzed. In contrast to the bone marrow cells and PBL on day 7, the frequency of PMN in the spleen and thymus was depressed. B cells (B220+) were depressed in the pBL, spleen and bone marrow and took 18-32 days to return to their normal frequency, while the frequency of B cells in the thymus was increased owing to a loss of immature T cells. The percentage of CD3+ cells in the thymus, spleen and bone marrow was significantly increased and required 10-18 days to return to normal levels, while the absolute number of CD3+ cells in the blood varied around the normal value. The ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ cells in all the organs studied varied only slightly owing to a similar reconstitution of CD4+ and CD8+ cells. In contrast to the phenotypic recovery of the CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells, the ability of the splenic lymphocytes to respond to concanavalin-A was depressed and remained depressed, despite the phenotypic reconstitution of the T cell subsets, on the basis of both percentage and absolute cell number. These results show a selective T and B cell depression following multi-drug, split-dose chemotherapy in tissue and blood leukocyte populations and a chronic depression in T cell function.

T-cell reconstitution by molecular, phenotypic, and functional analysis in the thymus, bone marrow, spleen, and blood following split-dose polychemotherapy and therapeutic activity for metastatic breast cancer in mice.

We examined the effect of a maximum tolerated, split-dose chemotherapy protocol of cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and 1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) on neutrophil and lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), thymus, bone marrow, and spleen. It was found that this protocol of polychemotherapy, modeled after the induction protocol used with autologous bone marrow transplantation (AuBMT) for breast cancer, suppressed both B- and T-cell populations and T-cell function at times when the absolute neutrophil count had returned to normal or supernormal numbers. We observed an organ- and phenotype-specific T- and B-cell recovery to normal levels following chemotherapy. However, despite normalization of cellularity and phenotype frequency, splenic lymphocytes remained unable to respond to normally concanavalin A (ConA). This polychemotherapy protocol in mice with an extensive experimental metastasis mammary tumor burden, was a dose lethal to 20% of the test group, which could be overcome with treatment by BMT and rHu interleukin (IL)-7. Furthermore, therapy with the T-cell augmenting agent rHu IL-7 had additive therapeutic activity and significantly prolonged survival beyond that of chemotherapy and BMT although it did not cure any mice with a heavy tumor burden. In summary, these studies demonstrate an organ-specific and selective polymorphonuclear neutrophil and T- and B-cell reconstitution following multidrug, split-dose chemotherapy on tissue and PBL populations, and a chronic depression in T-cell function, which when modified can result in significant therapeutic activity.

Sequencing analysis of Ha-, Ki-, and N-ras genes in rat urinary bladder tumors induced by N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) and sodium saccharin.

Male F344 rats were fed N[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) for up to 4 wk, then given the basal diet with or without 5% sodium saccharin for up to 100 wk. In a previous study, we demonstrated point mutations in codons 12 and 61 of Ha-ras gene among eleven transitional cell carcinomas (TCC), one undifferentiated carcinoma, and two sarcomas of the urinary bladder (Mol Carcinogen 3:210-215, 1990). In this study, Ha-ras, Ki-ras, and N-ras sequences were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing. The results confirm the point mutation in codon 61 (CAA to CGA in 5 TCCs and to CTA in one TCC) of the Ha-ras gene. Mutation at codon 12 was not confirmed. No mutation was found in the Ki-ras gene. Sequences of the N-ras gene exons 1 and 2 were determined, and no mutations was detected. These results suggest the involvement of activated Ha-ras gene, but not Ki-N or N-ras gene, in rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis induced by FANFT. Subsequent sodium saccharin administration did not affect the changes in Ha-ras gene.

In vitro transformation of rat bladder epithelium by 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole.

To establish a rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis model in vitro, primary rat bladder epithelial cells were grown in media containing 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (ANFT), the water-soluble metabolite of N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]-formamide (FANFT), for 4 weeks followed by long-term (4-7 months) exposure to control medium, sodium saccharin (NaS), or urea. Another set of cultures were exposed to ANFT, NaS and urea simultaneously. Several phenotypic changes were observed in the chemically exposed cell cultures, namely differences in cell morphology, increased growth rate and the ability to grow on plastic instead of rat-tail collagen support. All of the chemically exposed cultures were anchorage independent except one of those treated with NaS. The ANFT-treated cells followed by control medium or urea and cells treated with ANFT, NaS and urea were tumorigenic when transplanted to nude mice, whereas NaS or ANFT followed by NaS treatment were not. The tumors were carcinomas and their epithelial differentiation was verified by strong positive staining for cytokeratin. These studies demonstrate the urothelial transforming capability of ANFT in cell culture without the necessity for a long exposure to a secondary chemical.

Transformation of rat bladder epithelial cells by introduction of a single oncogene.

Malignant transformation of cells in vitro requires the action of cooperating oncogenes. However, the action of a single activated oncogene, if placed under a strong constitutive promoter, is sufficient to transform in vitro established cells. We have investigated the role of cooperating oncogenes in the transformation of normal rat bladder epithelial cells. Effects of polyoma middle T, v-Ha-ras or activated rat c-Ha-ras, independently or in combination with v-myc on in vitro and in vivo behavior of rat bladder epithelial cells were studied. Introduction of polyoma middle T alone, c-Ha-ras or in some cases v-myc into "normal" rat bladder epithelial cells was sufficient for full malignant transformation of these cells. In addition, introduction of polyoma middle T, activated c-Ha-ras or v-myc transformed cells into nude mice, resulted in development of highly invasive adenocarcinomas. These results indicate that full malignant transformation of normal rat bladder epithelial cells did not require the action of introduced cooperating oncogenes.