摘要:

The bacterially fermented mistletoe preparation Iscador, used in cancer therapy for 30 years, and the recently prepared unfermented preparation, have been tested on rat hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells and human leukemia Molt 4 cells. As observed by phase-contrast microscopy, treatment of HTC cells with fermented or unfermented Iscador, at a concentration corresponding to 1 mg of fresh plant per milliliter culture, led to rapid lysis of cellular membranes. At a lower concentration, 0.1 mg/ml, unfermented Iscador led to the formation of polynucleated cells. On Molt 4 cells, fermented Iscador also produced cytolysis but after a longer time of action. Unfermented Iscador showed a much stronger cytotoxic effect on these cells than on HTC cells. Fermented Iscador was slightly more potent than unfermented Iscador in inhibiting the growth of HTC cells, but on Molt 4 cells fermented Iscador was less active than unfermented Iscador. DNA synthesis, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation in HTC and Molt 4 cells, was inhibited by fermented and unfermented Iscador with the same type of differences of action as on cell growth. Fermented Iscador contained a low amount of lectins, approximately 100 ng/ml, while unfermented Iscador contained about 10 times more. A purified mistletoe lectin produced effects on HTC and Molt 4 cells similar to those of unfermented preparations. HTC cells were 100 times less sensitive to this lectin than Molt 4 cells. These results are discussed in relation to the known biological effects of lectins.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226418

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We have previously examined the expression of the Harvey-ras (Ha-ras) oncogene related transcripts in human malignant breast tumors and in their respective normal tissue [Spandidos and Agnantis, Anticancer Res. 4: 269–272, 1984]. Our results revealed a significant elevation of Ha-ras transcripts in malignant compared to normal tissue. In the present follow-up study we have examined the relationship of Ha-ras oncogene expression to the various clinicopathological parameters of these tumors. Although elevated expression was observed in all breast tumors as compared to their respective normal breast tissue there was no correlation with the tumor stage as defined by the TNM system. However, several correlations between Ha-ras oncogene expression and histologic parameters were found and comparisons of the mean value of Ha-ras oncogene expression with the parameters examined showed the following: the stellate tumor margin and the larger tumor size had the lowest mean value; the infiltrating duct histologic type had the highest mean value; the mean value was lower in the presence of lymphocytic infiltration in the tumor; a higher mean value was obtained in cases with lymph node metastase

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226101

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Specimens of different urologic malignancies such as cancer of the bladder, renal pelvis, prostate, testis and renal cell carcinomas were sent to our laboratory for cultivation with the clonogenic assay. Of the 62 samples – biopsies, bladder barbotages and effusions – 48% were considered to be evaluable; the others had to be excluded from evaluation because of negative histologic/cytologic findings, insufficient cell viability, inadequate tumor material, or contamination. All test procedures were done using a slightly modified human tumor cloning assay originally described by Hamburger and Salmon [Science 197: 461–463, 1977]. Overall growth was seen in about one third of all tumors cultivated; the mean colony count being 13 ± 8, the mean cloning efficiency 0.0026%. About one third of bladder cancer specimens and half of the renal cell carcinomas showed colony growth. No correlation between tumor stage or grade and the overall colony growth rate in vitro was seen. Furthermore, it was impossible to correlate the growth rate in vitro and the overall survival of the patients included in the

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226102

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Detailed methods for in vitro/in vivo evaluation of anticancer drugs, with special reference to mistletoe extracts, have been reviewed. Mistletoe extracts have been shown to possess significant antitumor activity, in vivo, against murine tumors, Lewis lung carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma 38 and C3H mammary adenocarcinoma 16/C. Methods for the extraction of biologically active alkaloids from mistletoe and their anticancer activities are presented. The possible origin of alkaloids in mistletoe plants, and their contributions towards a mechanism of anticancer activities of mistletoe axtracts, are proposed.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226419

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In order to investigate the interactions of cytotoxic and other drugs, a cell culture assay was devised where changes in the ability of cytotoxic drugs to induce cytopathogenic effects can easily be visualized. A human mammary carcinoma cell line (BT 20) and a human hypernephroma cell line were used. Seventeen commonly used cytotoxic drugs were titrated in this assay. As an example of drug interactions the neutralization of nitrogen mustard, cis-dichlorodiammine-platinumll, and 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide by thiol-containing drugs shows that this assay is well suited to detect interactions of cytotoxic and other drugs.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226103

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The nitrate and nitrite levels of 75 gastric juice samples from young and healthy fasting volunteers were examined. For both parameters a dependence on the specific pH value of the secretion was detected. The rise of the nitrite level from normal 0.1 ppm in the acid to 1.4 ppm in the neutral range can be explained by the activity of the bacterial flora even in the healthy stomach, which has already been demonstrated earlier. The hitherto existing theory that nitrate originates exclusively from the salivary glands, and if not reduced to nitrite by bacteria in the mouth cavity, is brought into the stomach via swallowed saliva only, does not explain the observation that there is a rise in nitrate concentration in neutral juice, too. Further investigations have to be made to see whether there are other endogenous sources of nitrate except the salivary glands in the gastrointestinal tract. The environmental pollutant nitrate must be paid more attention to in future.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226104

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The immunomodulatory effects of Iscador (a mistletoe, Viscum album extract) were investigated. After a single intravenous infusion of Iscador several immunological parameters in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients were examined. Parallel with neutrophilia, and with an increase of juvenile neutrophils, a significant enhancement of phagocytic activity of granulocytes was shown. After short decreases during the first 24 h, significant increases in natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activities as well as augmented levels of large granular lymphocytes were observed. These NK/ADCC responses followed a kinetic pattern similar to that after treatment with α-interferon described by others. Further significant increases in mitogenic responses to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A were observed

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226420

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

This study was aimed at optimizing large-scale roller bottle culture conditions for CaSki human cervical carcinoma cells, to produce ectopic hCGβ-like material in quantities sufficient for subsequent characterization studies. Several cell culture techniques contributed to the achievement of this goal: (1) use of serum-free culture medium; (2) use of intermittent recovery periods in presence of serum; and (3) ultrafiltration of the serum-free medium pool for initial concentration of 100-fold

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226105

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We have studied the incorporation and cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in cultured rat C6 glioma cells grown as monolayers. Net incorporation was linear up to high extracellular concentrations of drug (10 μg/ml). Cytotoxicity was evaluated both by tritiated thymidine incorporation inhibition and cloning efficiency inhibition. For similar total drug exposures, cytotoxicity was very different according to the exposure time and the exposure dose; incubation with a low dose for a long time was much less cytotoxic than that performed with a high dose for a short period of time. We have obtained several clones of doxorubicin-resistant cells. As compared to the wild strain, these cells were characterized by a larger size, a slower growth, a reduced cloning efficiency and a differential sensitivity of 100–1,000 to doxorubicin. Net incorporation of doxorubicin was 5-fold reduced in these cells, due to an increased efflux of the drug. These cells provide an interesting model of doxorubicin-resistant solid tumor in cultu

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226106

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Over 160 cases of pleura carcinosis were treated systematically by local intrapleural instillation of Iscador, and the results were documented by cytomorphological examination of the punctate. The results show that, under these conditions, Iscador has two distinct activities, i.e. cytotoxic activity and immunostimulating activity.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226421

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1986

数据来源: Karger