Melanoma: Li Z

Fu M, Wang C, Li Z, Sakamaki T, Pestell RG. · Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057-1468, USA. · Endocrinology. · Pubmed #15331580 links to  free full text

Abstract: Cyclin D1 encodes the regulatory subunit of a holoenzyme that phosphorylates and inactivates the retinoblastoma protein and promotes progression through the G1-S phase of the cell cycle. Amplification or overexpression of cyclin D1 plays pivotal roles in the development of a subset of human cancers including parathyroid adenoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, and prostate cancer. Of the three D-type cyclins, each of which binds cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), it is cyclin D1 overexpression that is predominantly associated with human tumorigenesis and cellular metastases. In recent years accumulating evidence suggests that in addition to its original description as a CDK-dependent regulator of the cell cycle, cyclin D1 also conveys cell cycle or CDK-independent functions. Cyclin D1 associates with, and regulates activity of, transcription factors, coactivators and corepressors that govern histone acetylation and chromatin remodeling proteins. The recent findings that cyclin D1 regulates cellular metabolism, fat cell differentiation and cellular migration have refocused attention on novel functions of cyclin D1 and their possible role in tumorigenesis. In this review, both the classic and novel functions of cyclin D1 are discussed with emphasis on the CDK-independent functions of cyclin D1.

Yeh S, Karne NK, Kerkar SP, Heller CK, Palmer DC, Johnson LA, Li Z, Bishop RJ, Wong WT, Sherry RM, Yang JC, Dudley ME, Restifo NP, Rosenberg SA, Nussenblatt RB. · National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. · Ophthalmology. · Pubmed #19410956 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe the ophthalmic and systemic autoimmune findings after successful adoptive cell transfer of ex vivo expanded, autologous tumor-reactive tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) for metastatic melanoma. DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional case report. PARTICIPANT: A 35-year-old man who underwent immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma with adoptive cell transfer of tumor-reactive TIL. METHODS: A 35-year-old man with metastatic melanoma was treated with TIL plus interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy after a lymphodepleting regimen of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine for metastatic melanoma, which led to a complete and durable remission. Bilateral panuveitis, hearing loss, vitiligo, poliosis, and alopecia developed in the patient, requiring local ophthalmic immunosuppressive therapy. The clinical course, diagnostic testing, and therapeutic interventions over a 2-year period are reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity, anterior chamber and vitreous inflammation, optical coherence tomography findings, serial electro-oculograms (EOGs), microperimetry (MP-1) testing, flow cytometric analysis of cells derived from the aqueous humor, and aqueous humor cytokine profiles were evaluated. RESULTS: After melanoma immunotherapy, complete tumor regression was achieved at 5 months after treatment with a durable, ongoing, complete remission at 24 months. Early in the treatment course, a high fever, a diffuse rash, hearing loss, and bilateral anterior uveitis developed acutely in the patient. Late autoimmune sequelae included the development of alopecia, vitiligo, poliosis, and bilateral panuveitis with diffuse retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) hypopigmentation, reminiscent of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome. Bilateral cystoid macular edema also developed that was responsive to acetazolamide. Serial EOGs showed alterations in RPE standing potentials in dark conditions, and MP-1 testing revealed diminished foveal and perifoveal sensitivity. An aqueous humor aspirate revealed a high concentration of melanoma tumor antigen-reactive T cells compared with that of peripheral blood samples, as well as a proinflammatory aqueous cytokine profile. At the time of cataract surgery 22 months after immunotherapy, a repeat aqueous humor sample showed the disappearance of the previously seen melanoma differentiation antigen-reactive lymphocytes, but the proinflammatory cytokine profile persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular and systemic autoimmune sequelae resembling VKH may develop after successful melanoma immunotherapy. This report provides insight into the pathogenesis of VKH disease. The patient's clinical course illustrates the fine balance between tumor-specific immunity and loss of self-tolerance. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Lee H, Herrmann A, Deng JH, Kujawski M, Niu G, Li Z, Forman S, Jove R, Pardoll DM, Yu H. · Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. · Cancer Cell. · Pubmed #19345327 No free full text.

Abstract: NF-kappaB (RelA) is constitutively active in many cancers, where it upregulates antiapoptotic and other oncogenic genes. While proinflammatory stimulus-induced NF-kappaB activation involves IKK-dependent nuclear translocation, mechanisms for maintaining constitutive NF-kappaB activity in tumors have not been elucidated. We show here that maintenance of NF-kappaB activity in tumors requires Stat3, which is also frequently constitutively activated in cancer. Stat3 prolongs NF-kappaB nuclear retention through acetyltransferase p300-mediated RelA acetylation, thereby interfering with NF-kappaB nuclear export. Stat3-mediated maintenance of NF-kappaB activity occurs in both cancer cells and tumor-associated hematopoietic cells. Both murine and human cancers display highly acetylated RelA, which is associated with Stat3 activity. This Stat3/NF-kappaB interaction is thus central to both the transformed and nontransformed elements in tumors.

Li D, Zhu Y, Tang Q, Lu H, Li H, Yang Y, Li Z, Tong S. · Department of Biochemistry, Kunming Medical University, 191 West Renmin Road, Kunming, People's Republic of China. · Cancer Biother Radiopharm. · Pubmed #19243250 No free full text.

Abstract: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) has been implicated in the regulation of cellular antioxidative mechanisms. Tumor cells often lose the balance of oxidation and antioxidation, but the role of G6PD in such an imbalance is still largely unknown. To investigate the related function of G6PD in tumor cells, we established a stable line of A375 human melanoma cells with G6PD gene knockdown by a shRNA lentiviral cloning and expression system. The A375-G6PDDelta cells displayed the stable GFP coexpression after repeated freeze-thaw cycles and multiple passages, accompanied by an 88.83% suppression of the endogenous G6PD expression and a 78.47% decrease in G6PD activity. In comparison with the A375-WT cells, they were characterized by a reduced proliferation with the MTT proliferation assay, a 25% decrease in colony-forming efficiency, and an up to 40% increase of apoptotic rate with flow cytometry analysis. When further challenged by diamide-induced oxidative stress, these cells showed that a median lethal dose (LD(50)) of 1.2 mM decreased from that of the A375-WT cells (1.8 mM), and levels of NADPH and GSH decreased by 2.4-, 8.8-fold, respectively, with a 7.3-fold increase of H(2)O(2), as those of A375-WT cells. These results demonstrated that A375-G6PDDelta is a new, stable G6PD-deficient human tumor cell line, and that silencing G6PD expression decreased tumor-cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis. In addition, G6PD gene knockdown rendered tumor cells more susceptible to diamide-induced oxidative stress. Together, our data support the important functions of G6PD in the regulation of cell growth and antioxidative capacity of tumor cells.

Pan M, Geng S, Xiao S, Ren J, Liu Y, Li X, Li Z, Peng Z. · Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College, 16 Jiangsu Road, 266003, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China. · Arch Dermatol Res. · Pubmed #18936944 No free full text.

Abstract: Human malignant melanoma is notoriously resistant to currently available pharmacological modulation. Our aim was to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of a novel synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carbo-xylic acid (CD437) on melanoma cell line A375. Analysis of cell morphology showed that CD437 promoted marked apoptosis in A375 cells. To explore the mechanisms of CD437-induced apoptosis, an NF-kappaB-luciferase reporter assay was performed, demonstrating that apoptosis induction by CD437 required activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB. Importantly, based on the findings that RIG-I (retinoic acid inducible gene I) can be induced by retinotic acid and can activate NF-kappaB through a CARD-containing adaptor protein VISA, we proposed a hypothesis that RIG-I was involved in the signal pathway of NF-kappaB activation induced by CD437 through the adaptor protein VISA. By specially cleaving VISA with hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural (NS)3/4A, the RIG-I pathway was blocked, with subsequent simultaneous inhibition of CD437-induced NF-kappaB activation and cell apoptosis in A375 cells. These results support our hypothesis and suggest that RIG-I may be a useful intermediate biologic marker for retinoid chemoprevention and treatment studies.

Liu H, Xiong X, Li Z, Xin J, Tao X, Hu Y. · Department of Respiratory Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. · J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci. · Pubmed #18480980 No free full text.

Abstract: To compare the difference in tumor immunity and autoimmunity elicited by adenovirus (Ad) encoding human or murine tyrosinase-related protein 2 (AdhTRP2 or AdmTRP2), and to find the most effective way to induce immunity by AdhTRP2 or AdmTRP2, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with AdhTRP2 or AdmTRP2 intramuscularly at different doses of 10(5), 10(6), 10(7) and 10(8) separately (10 mice for each dose). Two weeks after the immunization, in vivo CTL assay and intracellular staining (ICS) of IFN-gamma were carried out to analyze the dose-effect relationship. Tumor growth and vitiligo (as an sign of autoimmunity) were observed until 3 months after challenge with 10(5) B16F10 tumor cells. The results showed that Ad encoding AdmTrp2 induced weak tumor immune response. Similar immunization with AdhTrp-2 elicited stronger protective immunity. CTL activity and IFN-gamma-produced CD8+T cells were directly proportional to dose of AdhTrp2 or AdmTrp2. Moreover, AdhTrp2 group showed tumor rejection in 100% of challenged mice till the end of 3rd month while 60% of mice immunized with AdmTrp2 were protected against tumor. In the whole process of this experiment, no vitiligo was observed in mice immunized either with AdhTrp2 or AdmTrp2. It is concluded that anti-melanoma responses induced by genetic vaccination expressing xenoantigens breaks immune tolerance effectively and is able to elicit strong antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell response without vitiligo.

Zhang Z, Ramirez NE, Yankeelov TE, Li Z, Ford LE, Qi Y, Pozzi A, Zutter MM. · Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-2561, USA. · Blood. · Pubmed #18042800 links to  free full text

Abstract: To define the role of the alpha2beta1 integrin in pathologic angiogenesis, we investigated tumor-associated growth and angiogenesis in wild-type and alpha2-null mice. Our findings reveal that the alpha2beta1 integrin plays an important role in angiogenesis via regulation of VEGFR1 expression. When challenged with B16F10 melanoma cells, mice lacking alpha2beta1 integrin ex-pression exhibit increased tumor angiogenesis associated with up-regulated VEGFR1 expression. In contrast, there was no alpha2beta1 integrin-dependent difference in the angiogenic response to Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. Interestingly, whereas B16F10 cells secrete high levels of placental growth factor (PLGF), LLC cells produce high levels of VEGF, but low levels of PLGF. The alpha2beta1 integrin-dependent difference in angiogenesis was restored to LLC cells by expression of PLGF, strongly suggesting that the angiogenic phenotype and tumor growth in the alpha2-null host is dependent on specific interactions between the tumor cell and the genetically defined integrin repertoire of the host microenvironment. Thus integrin alpha2-null mice represent an example of genetic alterations of "the soil" determining response to the "seed."

Hong J, Zhao Y, Li Z, Huang W. · Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China. · Biochem Biophys Res Commun. · Pubmed #17658462 No free full text.

Abstract: Knockdown of c-myc expression via RNAi is expected to be an efficient approach to suppress tumor growth. In our preliminary study, we intraperitoneally injected different doses of c-myc-directed esiRNA (esic-MYC, c-myc-directed Escherichia coli expressed and enzyme digested siRNA) into C57BL6/6J mice with bearing B16 melanoma to investigate the inhibitory effect of esic-MYC on tumor growth. However, in high dose esic-MYC treatment groups, the tumor growth inhibition was less efficient than that of low dose treatment groups. Considering the negative regulation roles of eri-1 and adar-1 genes in RNA interference, we downregulated either/both of the two genes with c-myc gene by RNAi. Our results showed esiMERI-1 (esiRNA of mouse eri-1 gene) and esiMADAR-1 (esiRNA of mouse adar-1 gene) could rescue the tumor growth suppression in the high dose esic-MYC treatment groups obviously. The data strongly suggest that silencing of eri-1 and adar-1 homologs of human being should be concerned for cancer therapy by RNAi approach.

Wang Y, Cen Y, Li Z. · Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, P. R. China. · Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi. · Pubmed #17305002 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of operation with large-dose of Roferon-A for cutaneous malignant melanoma. METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2005, thirty-three patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma were treated. There were 20 males and 13 females, aging 17-79 years. The disease course was 2 months to 7 years. In 33 patients, nine patients identified as clinical-stage I received singly enlarged-resection to the primary lesion and performed split-thickness skin graft dermoplasty or adjacent skin flap repair; twenty-three patients identified as clinical-stage II received enlarged-resection to the primary lesion and performed proximal lymphaden scavenge as well as received split-thickness skin graft dermoplasty; and one patient identified as clinical-stage III received palliative resection to the primary lesion. All patients received large dose of, Roferon-A after operation. RESULTS: There are no recidivation in the 9 patients of clinical-stage I. There are 1 recidivation and 1 quit in all the 23 patients of clinical-stage II. One patient of clinical-stage III died after 18 months of operation. CONCLUSION: The operation combined with large-dose of Roferon-A after operation was a more effective way to treat cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Zheng LM, Li Z, Liu L, Song BL, King I. · Vion Pharmaceutical, Inc., 4 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. · Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. · Pubmed #17256135 No free full text.

Abstract: Cloretazine (VNP40101M), a new sulfonylhydrazine alkylating agent, has demonstrated broad-spectrum anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies. In this study, Cloretazine was evaluated both as a monotherapy and in combination with fludarabine in murine tumor and human tumor xenograft models. Cloretazine significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneously implanted tumors, including B16F10 murine melanoma in C57BL/6 mice, and H460 human lung carcinoma and WiDr human colon carcinoma in athymic nude CD1 mice. The inhibition of tumor growth by Cloretazine was dose dependent, increasing from 42.2 to 87% as the dose escalated from 100 to 150 mg/kg. Cloretazine showed equivalent efficacy but lower toxicity compared to cyclophosphamide in these models. The combination therapy, consisting of a single dose of 10 mg/kg Cloretazine plus five doses of 70 mg/kg fludarabine, given every other day intraperitoneally, significantly increased the long-term survival of BDF1 mice bearing the L1210 murine leukemia. On Day 65 post-tumor implantation, the combination therapy yielded a 90% survival rate compared to 40% for Cloretazine alone and 0% for fludarabine alone.

Li Z, Metze D, Nashan D, Müller-Tidow C, Serve HL, Poremba C, Luger TA, Böhm M. · Department of Dermatology and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cell Biology and Immunobiology of the Skin, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. · J Invest Dermatol. · Pubmed #15373779 links to  free full text

Abstract: Cytokine resistance is a well-established feature of melanoma cell progression and represents also a major obstacle in immunotherapy of patients with metastatic melanoma. To check whether suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) play a role in cytokine resistance and tumor progression of melanoma, we investigated the expression and regulation of SOCS-1, an established negative regulator of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon (IFN) signalling. In vitro SOCS-1 transcripts were detectable by RT-PCR in 8 out of 8 human melanoma cell lines derived from different tumor stages. Normal human melanocytes also expressed SOCS-1 mRNA in the presence or absence of artificial growth factors. Both IL-6 and alpha-IFN induced rapid and transient SOCS-1 mRNA expression in WM35 and WM9 melanoma cells. At the protein level, SOCS-1 was undetectable in normal human melanocytes whereas uniformly expressed in all tested melanoma cell lines. The aberrant SOCS-1 protein expression in melanoma cells was recapitalized in situ as shown by immunohistochemical analysis. SOCS-1 immunoreactivity was closely related to tumor invasion (Clark level), tumor thickness according to Breslow, and stage of the disease. In contrast, melanocytes in normal skin or melanocytic nevi lacked SOCS-1 protein expression. Our findings show that melanoma cells express a member of the SOCS family, SOCS-1, in vitro and in situ. SOCS-1 is a progression marker of human melanoma and may downregulate biological responses by endogenous and/or therapeutically administered cytokines.

Xia HC, Li F, Li Z, Zhang ZC. · Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China. · Cell Res. · Pubmed #14672560 links to  free full text

Abstract: A novel ribosome-inactivating protein designated Moschatin from the mature seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) has been successively purified to homogeneity, using ammonium sulfate precipitation, CM-cellulose 52 column chromatography, Blue Sepharose CL-6B Affinity column chromatography and FPLC size-exclusion column chromatography. Moschatin is a type 1 RIP with a pI of 9.4 and molecular weight of approximately 29 kD. It is a rRNA N-glycosidase and potently blocked the protein synthesis in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate with a IC50 of 0.26 nM. Using the anti-human melanoma McAb Ng76, a novel immunotoxin Moschatin-Ng76 was prepared successfully and it efficiently inhibited the growth of targeted melanoma cells M21 with a IC50 of 0.04 nM, 1500 times lower than that of free Moschatin. The results implied that Moschatin could be used as a new potential anticancer agent.

Zhang H, Li Z, Viklund EK, Strömblad S. · Karolinska Institutet, Department of Microbiology, Pathology, and Immunology, SE-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden. · J Cell Biol. · Pubmed #12356872 links to  free full text

Abstract: p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) can affect cell migration (Price et al., 1998; del Pozo et al., 2000) and modulate myosin light chain kinase and LIM kinase, which are components of the cellular motility machinery (Edwards, D.C., L.C. Sanders, G.M. Bokoch, and G.N. Gill. 1999. Nature Cell Biol. 1:253-259; Sanders, L.C., F. Matsumura, G.M. Bokoch, and P. de Lanerolle. 1999. SCIENCE: 283:2083-2085). We here present a novel cell motility pathway by demonstrating that PAK4 directly interacts with an integrin intracellular domain and regulates carcinoma cell motility in an integrin-specific manner. Yeast two-hybrid screening identified PAK4 binding to the cytoplasmic domain of the integrin beta 5 subunit, an association that was also found in mammalian cells between endogenous PAK4 and integrin alpha v beta 5. Furthermore, we mapped the PAK4 binding to the membrane-proximal region of integrin beta 5, and identified an integrin-binding domain at aa 505-530 in the COOH terminus of PAK4. Importantly, engagement of integrin alpha v beta 5 by cell attachment to vitronectin led to a redistribution of PAK4 from the cytosol to dynamic lamellipodial structures where PAK4 colocalized with integrin alpha v beta 5. Functionally, PAK4 induced integrin alpha v beta 5-mediated, but not beta1-mediated, human breast carcinoma cell migration, while no changes in integrin cell surface expression levels were observed. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that PAK4 interacts with integrin alpha v beta 5 and selectively promotes integrin alpha v beta 5-mediated cell migration.

Barazi HO, Li Z, Cashel JA, Krutzsch HC, Annis DS, Mosher DF, Roberts DD. · Laboratory of Pathology, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. · J Biol Chem. · Pubmed #12218055 links to  free full text

Abstract: We examined the regulation of alpha4beta1 integrin function in melanoma cells and T cells by ligands of CD47. A CD47 antibody (B6H12) that inhibited alphavbeta3-mediated adhesion of melanoma cells induced by CD47-binding peptides from thrombospondin-1 directly stimulated alpha4beta1-mediated adhesion of the same cells to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and N-terminal regions of thrombospondin-1 or thrombospondin-2. B6H12 also stimulated alpha4beta1- as well as alpha2beta1- and alpha5beta1-mediated adhesion of CD47-expressing T cells but not of CD47-deficient T cells. alpha4beta1 and CD47 co-purified as a detergent-stable complex on a CD47 antibody affinity column. CD47-binding peptides based on C-terminal sequences of thrombospondin-1 also specifically enhanced adhesion of melanoma cells and T cells to alpha4beta1 ligands. Unexpectedly, activation of alpha4beta1 function by the thrombospondin-1 CD47-binding peptides also occurred in CD47-deficient T cells. CD47-independent activation of alpha4beta1 required the Val-Val-Met (VVM) motif of the peptides and was sensitive to inhibition by pertussis toxin. These results indicate that activation of alpha4beta1 by the CD47 antibody B6H12 and by VVM peptides occurs by different mechanisms. The antibody directly activates a CD47-alpha4beta1 complex, whereas VVM peptides may target an unidentified Gi-linked receptor that regulates alpha4beta1.

Folpe AL, McKenney JK, Li Z, Smith SJ, Weiss SW. · Department of Pathology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. · Am J Surg Pathol. · Pubmed #12023589 No free full text.

Abstract: The clear cell myomelanocytic tumor (CCMMT) is a recently reported and very rare member of the perivascular epithelioid cell family of tumors (PEComa). All CCMMTs reported to date have occurred in or immediately adjacent to the falciform ligament/ligamentum teres. We report a case of CCMMT that occurred in the right thigh of a 43-year-old woman. Histologic examination showed the classic features of CCMMT, and immunohistochemical studies confirmed co-expression of smooth muscle actin, HMB-45, and microphthalmia transcription factor.

Luo X, Li Z, Lin S, Le T, Ittensohn M, Bermudes D, Runyab JD, Shen SY, Chen J, King IC, Zheng LM. · Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New Haven, CT 06511, USA. · Oncol Res. · Pubmed #11939414 No free full text.

Abstract: VNP20009, a genetically modified strain of Salmonella typhimurium with deletions in the msbB and purI loci, exhibited antitumor activities when given systemically to tumor-bearing mice. VNP20009 inhibited the growth of subcutaneously implanted B16F10 murine melanoma, and the human tumor xenografts Lox, DLD-1, A549, WiDr, HTB177, and MDA-MB-231. A single intravenous injection of VNP20009, at doses ranging from 1 x 10(4) to 3 x 10(6) cfu/mouse, produced tumor growth inhibitions of 57-95%. Tumor volume doubling time, another indicator for tumor growth inhibition, also significantly increased in mice treated with VNP20009. Using mice with immune system deficiencies, we also demonstrated that the antitumor effects of VNP20009 did not depend on the presence of T and B cells. In addition, VNP20009, given intravenously, inhibited the growth of lung metastases in mice. Only live bacteria showed the antitumor effect.

Zheng LM, Luo X, Feng M, Li Z, Le T, Ittensohn M, Trailsmith M, Bermudes D, Lin SL, King IC. · Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New Haven, CT 06511, USA. · Oncol Res. · Pubmed #11216671 No free full text.

Abstract: Attenuated strains of Salmonella typhimurium, VNP20009 and YS7212, when injected systemically to tumor-bearing mice, accumulated preferentially in tumors at levels at least 200-fold and, more commonly, 1000-fold greater than in other normal tissues. This selectivity occurred in subcutaneously implanted murine tumors, including B16F10 melanoma, M27 lung carcinoma, and colon 38 carcinoma. The preferential accumulation was also manifested in animals bearing human tumor xenografts, including Lox, C8186, DLD1, SW620, HCT116, HTB177, DU145, MDA-MB-231, and Caki. Four to five days after a single IV injection of 1 x 10(6) colony-forming unit (cfu)/mouse, we routinely detected VNP20009 proliferation and accumulation at levels ranging from 1 x 10(8) to 2 x 10(9) cfu/g tumor. The amount of VNP20009 accumulated in the liver ranged from 3 x 10(4) to 2 x 10(6) cfu/g. The distribution of Salmonella in tumors was homogenous; YS7212 could be detected from the periphery to the interior portion of the tumors. Using mice with various immunodeficiencies, we also discovered the same preferential accumulation of Salmonella in tumors implanted in these mice. The use of Salmonella as a protein delivery vector was shown by IV administration of the bacteria expressing either green fluorescent protein (GFP) or cytosine deaminase (CD) into tumor-bearing mice. GFP and CD were detected in tumors, but not in livers, taken from mice inoculated with Salmonella carrying these genes. Bacteria accumulation and CD expression persisted in the tumors for up to 14 days after a single bolus IV administration of bacteria to tumor-bearing mice.

Li Z, Xia F, Zhang Y. · Department of Histology and Embryology, the Fourth Military Medical University, 17 Changle West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China. · FASEB J. · Pubmed #18198213 links to  free full text

Abstract: The release of regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) from CD8+ lymphocytes has been shown to be dependent on T-cell receptor triggering by major histocompatability complex class I/peptide complex engagement. We characterized the secretion of RANTES by human leukocyte antigen-A2-restricted tyrosinase-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) in the context of human melanoma cell killing. CTL contact with tumor cell targets elicited a vectorial release of the chemokine RANTES resulting in the selective deposition of RANTES on target cells but not on nontarget bystander cells or the CTL. RANTES on the surface of apoptotic cells enhanced their phagocytosis by murine macrophages. This effect appeared unique to RANTES as the related chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) -1alpha, MIP-1beta, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 did not significantly affect uptake and were mediated through chemokine receptor CCR1. Oligomerization of RANTES, at least at the level of a tetramer, was required for the enhanced phagocytosis. These results suggest that the role of RANTES in inflammatory disorders might not be restricted to inducing leukocyte infiltration but could also extend to potent macrophage modulation, directly regulating inflammation.