Antibody responses to galectin-8, TARP and TRAP1 in prostate cancer patients treated with a GM-CSF-secreting cellular immunotherapy

A critical factor in clinical development of cancer immunotherapies is the identification of tumor-associated antigens that may be related to immunotherapy potency. In this study, protein microarrays containing >8,000 human proteins were screened with serum from prostate cancer patients (N = 13) before and after treatment with a granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-secreting whole cell immunotherapy. Thirty-three proteins were identified that displayed significantly elevated (P ≤ 0.05) signals in post-treatment samples, including three proteins that have previously been associated with prostate carcinogenesis, galectin-8, T-cell alternative reading frame protein (TARP) and TNF-receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1). Expanded analysis of antibody induction in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients (N = 92) from two phase 1/2 trials of prostate cancer immunotherapy, G-9803 and G-0010, indicated a significant (P = 0.03) association of TARP antibody induction and median survival time (MST). Antibody induction to TARP was also significantly correlated (P = 0.036) with an increase in prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSADT) in patients with a biochemical (PSA) recurrence following prostatectomy or radiation therapy (N = 19) from in a previous phase 1/2 trial of prostate cancer immunotherapy, G-9802. RNA and protein encoding TARP and TRAP1 was up-regulated in prostate cancer tissue compared to matched normal controls. These preliminary findings suggest that antibody induction to TARP may represent a possible biomarker for treatment response to GM-CSF secreting cellular immunotherapy in prostate cancer patients and demonstrates the utility of using protein microarrays for the high-throughput screening of patient-derived antibody responses.     

Expression of Mitochondrial Regulators PGC1α and TFAM as Putative Markers of Subtype and Chemoresistance in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), the major cause of gynaecological cancer death, is a heterogeneous disease classified into five subtypes. Each subtype has distinct clinical characteristics and is associated with different genetic risk factors and molecular events, but all are treated with surgery and platinum/taxane regimes. Tumour progression and chemoresistance is generally associated with major metabolic alterations, notably altered mitochondrial function(s). Here, we report for the first time that the expression of the mitochondrial regulators PGC1α and TFAM varies between EOC subtypes; furthermore, we have identified a profile in clear-cell carcinoma consisting of undetectability of PGC1α/TFAM, and low ERα/Ki-67. By contrast, high-grade serous carcinomas were characterised by a converse state of PGC1α/TFAM, ERα positivity and a high Ki-67 index. Interestingly, loss of PGC1α/TFAM and ERα was found also in a non-clear cell EOC cell line made highly resistant to platinum in vitro. Similar to clear-cell carcinomas, these resistant cells also showed accumulation of glycogen. Altogether, our data provide mechanistic insights into the chemoresistant nature of ovarian clear-cell carcinomas. Furthermore, these findings corroborate the need to take into account the diversity of EOC and to develop subtype specific treatment strategies.     

Burn Injury Reduces Neutrophil Directional Migration Speed in Microfluidic Devices

Thermal injury triggers a fulminant inflammatory cascade that heralds shock, end-organ failure, and ultimately sepsis and death. Emerging evidence points to a critical role for the innate immune system, and several studies had documented concurrent impairment in neutrophil chemotaxis with these post-burn inflammatory changes. While a few studies suggest that a link between neutrophil motility and patient mortality might exist, so far, cumbersome assays have prohibited exploration of the prognostic and diagnostic significance of chemotaxis after burn injury. To address this need, we developed a microfluidic device that is simple to operate and allows for precise and robust measurements of chemotaxis speed and persistence characteristics at single-cell resolution. Using this assay, we established a reference set of migration speed values for neutrophils from healthy subjects. Comparisons with samples from burn patients revealed impaired directional migration speed starting as early as 24 hours after burn injury, reaching a minimum at 72–120 hours, correlated to the size of the burn injury and potentially serving as an early indicator for concurrent infections. Further characterization of neutrophil chemotaxis using this new assay may have important diagnostic implications not only for burn patients but also for patients afflicted by other diseases that compromise neutrophil functions.     

In vivo restriction. Sequence and structure of endonuclease II-dependent cleavage sites in bacteriophage T4 DNA.

Endonuclease II of bacteriophage T4 is required for in vivo restriction of cytosine-containing DNA from its host, Escherichia coli, (as well as from phage mutants lacking cytosine modification), normally the first step in the reutilization of host DNA nucleotides for synthesis of phage DNA in infected cells. The phage cytosine-DNA is fragmented incompletely to yield genetically defined fragments. This restriction is different from that of type I, II, or III restriction enzymes. We have located seven major endonuclease II-dependent restriction sites in the T4 genome, of which three were analyzed in detail; in addition, abundant sites were cleaved in less than or equal to 5% of all molecules. Sites I, II, and III shared the sequence 5'-CCGNNTTGGC-3' and were cleaved in about 25% (I and III) and 65% (II) of all molecules, predominantly staggered around the first or second of the central unspecified base pairs to yield fragments with one 5' base. The less frequently cleaved sites I and III deviated from site II in predicted helical structure when viewed from the consensus strand, and in sequence when viewed from the opposite strand. Thus, interaction with a particular helical structure as well as recognition of the bases in DNA appears important for efficient cleavage.     

Is group progressive relaxation training as effective with hyperactive children as individual EMG biofeedback treatment?

This study examined whether group progressive relaxation training was as effective as individual EMG biofeedback training in facilitating the academic achievement and self-control of 45 hyperactive elementary school children. Academic achievement was assessed with the Gates-MacGinities Reading Tests, and self-control was measured with the Nowicki-Strickland and the Teacher Rating scales. Eight sessions were scheduled at weekly intervals. Progressive relaxation was conducted in groups of seven or eight and was induced with a commercial audiocassette program. EMG training augmented frontalis biofeedback with those taped exercises. A placebo group listened to taped children's stories. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated no significant differences among the three contrast groups when all dependent variables were considered together. However, univariate F values and discriminant analysis disclosed locus of control to be significantly more internal for the progressive relaxation condition. Also, differences between the two relaxation and the placebo groups, though not statistically significant, were all in the expected direction. While the relative efficacy of group progressive relaxation could not be established conclusively, the data appeared sufficiently positive to warrant further investigation of this cost-effective prospective intervention.The opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of their respective institutions.     

Facile geometric isomerization of phenolic non-steroidal estrogens and antiestrogens: limitations to the interpretation of experiments characterizing the activity of individual isomers

In many estrogen responsive systems the isomers of tamoxifen are known to have different biological character-the trans isomer is generally an antagonist and the cis isomer an agonist. Attempts to similarly characterize the isomers of hydroxytamoxifen (which differ greatly in their affinity for the estrogen receptor) are shown to be complicated by their facile isomerization. This isomerization was studied in cultures of estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and monitored by HPLC under reversed phase conditions. Hydroxytamoxifen isomers that are initially 99% pure, undergo a time and temperature dependent isomerization, so that after 2 days in tissue culture medium at 37 degrees C they have isomerized to the extent of 20%. This isomerization occurs in the cell-free medium alone and cannot be attributed to a metabolic conversion by the cells. The isomerization occurs much more slowly at 4 than at 37 degrees C and can be reduced considerably by various antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol, retinoic acid and retinal); however, at concentrations that block isomerization, these antioxidants are toxic to the cells. Although the medium contains both the cis and trans isomers of hydroxytamoxifen, the MCF-7 cells preferentially accumulate the trans isomer and the material associated with the nuclear estrogen receptor is, in all cases, mainly the higher affinity trans isomer. A similar preference of the estrogen receptor for the trans isomer is seen with diethylstilbestrol, resulting again in almost exclusive accumulation of the trans isomer in the receptor binding site. These experiments indicate the importance of verifying the isomer compositions of easily isomerizable non-steroidal estrogens and antiestrogens, such as diethylstilbestrol and hydroxytamoxifen, both in stock solutions and in experimental samples (especially those derived from receptor-associated material), so as to ascertain that the activity of the individual isomers is being correctly assigned.