Showing papers by "Tata Memorial Hospital published in 1998"
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TL;DR: HPV-16 infection may be vital in the early events associated with development of potentially malignant oral lesions, and the presence of the virus not essential in the progression of the oral lesion to frank malignancy is not essential.
141 citations
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TL;DR: In the one-fifth of cases where the tumour is over 2.5 cm from the areola, preserving the nipple and areola for reconstruction may be worthwhile and some other predictive test for nipple involvement would be necessary.
Abstract: Aims. To find a pre-operative test for nipple and areola involvement in breast cancer.Methods. Areola-tumour distance was measured in 140 consecutive patients (median age 45, range: 23-83) undergoing a mastectomy. We analysed whether nipple and areola correlated with areola-tumour distance, tumour size, nodal status, perinodal involvement and lymphatic embolization.Results. The nipple was involved in 22 (16%) cases and this correlated with tumour size, number of lymph nodes, perinodal extension and presence of lymphatic emboli. In all these 22 cases, the tumour was within 2.5 cm of the areola. Tumour size, however, could not predict nipple involvement in tumours within 2.5 cm of the areolar edge.Conclusions. In the one-fifth of cases where the tumour is over 2.5 cm from the areola, preserving the nipple and areola for reconstruction may be worthwhile. In remaining cases, some other predictive test for nipple involvement would be necessary.
116 citations
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TL;DR: A comparison of estimated ASRs for two two largest countries in Asia (China and India) showed differences in the pattern of cancer.
Abstract: Cancer incidence and eighteen site-specific age standardised rates in India were estimated for the year 1991. With the establishment of National Cancer Registry Programme, incidence rates per 100,000 are available from six metropolitan registries and one rural registry. Using population census data for India in 1991, about 609,000 new cancer cases were estimated to have been diagnosed in the country in 1991. The estimated age standardised rates per 100,000 were 96.4 for males and 88.2 for females. The five most common cancers were lung (10.6%) pharynx (9.1%), oesophagus (6.7%), tongue (6.6%) and stomach (5.7%) among males and cervix (23.5%), breast (19.3%), ovary (5.5%) oesophagus (4.4%), and mouth (3.9%) among females. A comparison of estimated ASRs for two two largest countries in Asia (China and India) showed differences in the pattern of cancer.
95 citations
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TL;DR: The available data on the epidemiology of HCC from India are summarized and HBV is indicated to be the single most important etiologic association, with HCV playing a lesser but important role.
Abstract: Liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth commonest cause of cancer deaths in the world. The condition is extremely common in Southeast Asia and Africa. In this report the available data on the epidemiology of HCC from India are summarized. We estimate that 12,750 new patients will be diagnosed to have HCC in India in the year 2001; this will comprise 1.6% of all incident cancers. Published studies from India and those involving Indian immigrants to other countries suggest that the prevalence of HCC is relatively lower in Indians than in most parts of the world. This contrasts with the widespread contamination of foods with aflatoxin and the moderately high prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) virus-related chronic liver disease in India. There are no studies available to explain this observation. There are several articles on HBV and HCC in India but there is a paucity of analytical epidemiological data on HCV and HCC from India. Published studies indicate HBV to be the single most important etiologic association, with HCV playing a lesser but important role. About 80% of Indian patients with HCC have hepatitis virus-associated liver disease. Multicenter epidemiological studies are needed to solve some of the enigmas and observations peculiar to India.
76 citations
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TL;DR: To better interpret pathogenesis and aid in the differentiation of GCTTS from other similar pathological processes, the literature was reviewed and the available information was analyzed.
Abstract: Background and Objectives: Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCTTS) is a lesion of uncertain etiology. To better interpret pathogenesis and aid in the differentiation of GCTTS from other similar pathological processes we reviewed the literature and analyzed the available information.
Methods
We retrospectively studied clinicopathologic findings in 28 cases of GCTTS on the basis of anatomic location and histologic appearance of the lesion.
Results
The GCTTS could be divided into those involving the common digits (20 cases) and larger joint group (8 cases) based on anatomic location. Grossly the digit tumors were small, multiple, surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule, and had a variegated appearance, while the large joint tumors were relatively large and covered by one or more layers of synovium. Microscopically both groups consisted of a mixture of round to polygonal histiocytes, foam cells, hemosiderin laden macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells. The giant cells seemed more abundant in the digit tumors, while the pseudoglandular spaces lined by synovial cells were more striking in the large joint group.
Conclusions
Local excision was the treatment of choice in the majority of the patients. Eight patients had local recurrence. J. Surg. Oncol. 1998;68:100–103. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
73 citations
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TL;DR: Subchronic oral toxicity of turmeric and ethanolic turmeric extract was studied in female Swiss mice and Wistar rats and they were found to be more vulnerable to turmeric-induced hepatotoxicity than rats.
67 citations
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TL;DR: It is suggested that these neoplasms arise from a primitive cell capable of organized divergent differentiation that is poorly differentiated carcinomas, sarcomas, and olfactory neuroblastoma.
64 citations
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TL;DR: Multi-center epidemiologic studies should be undertaken to solve some of the enigmas and observations peculiar to India on stomach cancer and GI lymphomas.
Abstract: The incidence of stomach cancer and GI lymphomas is low in most parts of India. There is paucity of analytical epidemiologic data on these from India. While the time trends for the incidence of gastric cancer are encouraging, most cancers are diagnosed in an advanced stage when long-term cure is only a remote possibility. Multi-center epidemiologic studies should be undertaken to solve some of the enigmas and observations peculiar to India.
63 citations
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TL;DR: The overall 5-year survival rate was in the range of 20-43% for oral cancer, 8-25% for pharyngeal cancers and 25-62% for laryngeAL cancer, more or less in agreement with the results published by the Eurocare study for head and neck cancers.
Abstract: This is a study of 5595 head and neck cancer patients treated during 1987-89 at TMH, Mumbai. The study included 1970 oral cancers (ICD 140-145), 1495 oropharyngeal cancers (ICD 1410, 1453, 146), 1255 hypopharyngeal cancers (ICD 148), 125 nasopharyngeal cancers (ICD 147) and 750 laryngeal cancers (ICD 161). The clinical extent of disease at presentation was based on TNM group staging (UICC 1978). For the majority of sites, patients attended the hospital during stage III and stage IV of the disease; the only exception was for cancers of the lower lip, anterior tongue and vocal cord when between 46.2% and 56.5% of patients with localized cancer (stage I and II) were seen. Generally, surgery either alone or with radiation has been administered for oral cancer patients whereas radiation either alone or in combination with chemotherapy was administered for other head and neck sites. The overall 5-year survival rate was in the range of 20-43% for oral cancer, 8-25% for pharyngeal cancers and 25-62% for laryngeal cancer. The 5-year relative survival rates were more or less in agreement with the results published by the Eurocare study for head and neck cancers. The importance of primary prevention in head and neck cancer is stressed.
57 citations
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TL;DR: Passive active prophylaxis with both vaccine and immunoglobulin may be a more effective alternative in these patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
48 citations
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TL;DR: The salient clinical and epidemiological characteristics of retinoblastoma (RB) in India is examined, thereby highlighting the problems encountered there and a possibility of difference in the biology of the tumor seen in these patients.
Abstract: This study examined the salient clinical and epidemiological characteristics of retinoblastoma (RB) in India, thereby highlighting the problems encountered there. The epidemiological characteristics of 296 patients with RB over 8 years were evaluated using hospital records and postal follow-ups. Unilateral disease was seen in 61.8% of patients. The overall median age at presentation was 3.5 years (3.5 years for unilateral RB and 1.0 years for bilateral RB). The male/female ratio was 1.4:1. The median duration of symptomatic disease was 8 months. Consanguineous marriage was seen in 17% and family history of RB was noted in 1.7% cases. Also, 2% had a history of other malignancy in the family. Associated congenital malformation was seen in 10.5% of cases. A second malignancy was seen in 0.67% of cases at a mean duration of 4.5 years after completion of therapy. A predominance of advanced-stage disease (74.5% had Reese-Ellsworth group IV and V disease) was seen in our series. Only 43.6% of patients had disease localized to the globe without any infiltration/invasion. The majority of cases had advanced-stage disease at presentation and came from the underprivileged class of society. Patients with bilateral RB presented much earlier than those with unilateral disease. In patients with unilateral RB, higher age at presentation as well as advanced disease may be related to much delay in seeking medical attention. In view of the advanced stage at presentation, there also exist a possibility of difference in the biology of the tumor seen in these patients.
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TL;DR: It is inferred that the monocyte function is impaired in CML patients, and the cytokine secretion is deficient, and serum IL‐6 levels may play an important role as a prognostic marker for CML.
Abstract: Interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), primarily monocyte-derived cytokines, form a group of proinflammatory cytokines with related and overlapping spectra of activities. The role of these cytokines in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has been investigated. A distinctive pattern of cytokine secretion has been found in chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP), in blastic crisis (CML-BC) and in normal subjects. Serum IL-6 levels in CML-CP and CML-BC were significantly raised compared with normal controls (p = 0.0026 for CML-CP and p = 0.0011 for CML-BC). IL-6 was significantly elevated in blastic crisis of CML (103.5 +/- 20.77 pg ml-1) compared with CML-CP (37.35 +/- 10.88 pg ml-1; p = 0.014). IL-6 serum levels were found to correlate significantly with peripheral blood monocyte counts and bone marrow blast and basophil counts. We have analysed monocyte/macrophage function with respect to their ability to produce IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, spontaneously as well as in response to LPS, in comparison with normal controls. A direct correlation of IL-6 levels in unstimulated and stimulated cultures with bone marrow blast and basophil counts has been observed. From these results it is inferred that the monocyte function is impaired in CML patients, and the cytokine secretion is deficient. Our limited data suggest that serum IL-6 levels may play an important role as a prognostic marker for CML.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report a new case, 12th in the literature, wherein multiple lung metastases appeared almost simultaneously with the primary lesion in the right talus bone.
Abstract: BACKGROUND
Metastasis of histologically benign chondroblastoma is a rare event. The authors report a new case, 12th in the literature, wherein multiple lung metastases appeared almost simultaneously with the primary lesion in the right talus bone.
METHODS
A histologic evaluation of the primary lesion in the talus and the pulmonary metastasis was performed, and an ultrastructural study of the latter was done. Published literature on metastasizing chondroblastoma was reviewed to identify any consistency in the pattern and the outcome.
RESULTS
Metastasis of chondroblastoma is uncommon but well known. Although radiologic and histologic aggressive features have been sought, they do not necessarily correlate with the outcome.
CONCLUSIONS
Metastasis in chondroblastoma has been insufficiently stressed in the literature, unlike metastasis in giant cell tumors. The purpose of this case report is not only to document this uncommon event (the 12th case of lung metastasis) but also to emphasize that patients with chondroblastoma may have metastasis at presentation. Hence, all patients need to be evaluated regularly from the onset for possible lung metastasis so that deposits can be detected early for total resection. Cancer 1998;82:675-8. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
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TL;DR: Close clinical monitoring of children for early diagnosis of this complication is recommended and Ultrasonography can be used as a corroborative investigation for diagnosis along with serum chemistries.
Abstract: A major complication of L-asparaginase therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is pancreatitis. Among the 915 cases of ALL seen over last 10 years, 19 (2%) developed pancreatitis. Median age was 5.5 years with a median duration of symptoms of 4 weeks. All cases had raised serum amylase and lipase. Pancreatitis was not related to the dose/duration of L-asparaginase therapy. Ultrasonography can be used as a corroborative investigation for diagnosis along with serum chemistries. Close clinical monitoring of children for early diagnosis of this complication is recommended.
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TL;DR: This randomized study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and toxicity of this regimen when either doxorubicin or epirubic in was used as the anthracycline drug.
Abstract: BACKGROUND
Combination chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone, and bleomycin (MACOP-B) has been frequently used for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This randomized study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and toxicity of this regimen when either doxorubicin or epirubicin was used as the anthracycline drug.
METHODS
Between April 1989 and December 1993, 211 previously untreated patients with intermediate grade and high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomized to receive either doxorubicin (n = 106) or epirubicin (n = 105) with the MACOP-B regimen. These patients were followed through December 1996. Numerous clinical features predictive of response and survival were analyzed. Cardiac and noncardiac toxicity in the two treatment arms were compared.
RESULTS
The median age of the patients was 48 years. Complete remission was experienced by 122 patients (58.3%); 62 patients (58.5%) achieved complete remission in the doxorubicin arm and 60 (58.1%) in the epirubicin arm. Response rates, time to treatment failure, relapse data, and overall survival were comparable between the two arms. Morbidity due to mucositis, vomiting, peripheral neuropathy, and cardiotoxicity were also comparable. The overall mortality was 10%. Mortality due to neutropenic sepsis was considerably higher among patients who received epirubicin (10 patients) than among those who received doxorubicin (5 patients). Cardiac evaluation revealed no difference in toxicity between the two arms.
CONCLUSIONS
Epirubicin was as effective as doxorubicin in terms of patients' responses to therapy. There was no difference in cardiotoxicity between the two treatment arms. However, in this study, the mortality due to neutropenic sepsis was significantly higher among patients treated with epirubicin. Cancer 1998;82:2282-2288. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
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TL;DR: The study brings out that the location of cancer has got a direct bearing with the type of tobacco use and other related habits and this inturn may provide meaningful interpretation of variations observed in the incidence of tongue cancer around the world.
Abstract: This is a retrospective case-control study of male tongue cancer patients seen at Tata memorial Hospital, Bombay, during the years 1980-84. The purpose of the study was to identify the association of tobacco, alcohol, diet and literacy status with respect to cancers of two sub sites of tongue namely anterior portion of the tongue (AT) (ICD 1411-1414) and base of the tongue (BT) (ICD 1410). There were 142 male AT patients and 495 BT patients interviewed during the period. 635 interviewed male patients who were free of any disease were considered as control. Bidi smoking was found to be a significant risk factor for BT patients and tobacco chewing for AT patients respectively. Alcohol drinkers showed about 45% to 79% excess risk for both sites of tongue cancer. Illiteracy and non vegetarian diet proved to be a significant factor for AT patients only. The study brings out that the location of cancer has got a direct bearing with the type of tobacco use and other related habits and this inturn may provide meaningful interpretation of variations observed in the incidence of tongue cancer around the world.
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TL;DR: Non-expression of CK 5 may be an early event occurring in tobacco-associated pathological changes in the BM, which was studied in buccal mucosa from chronic tobacco chewers and submucous fibrosis patients using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting.
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TL;DR: The presence of residual ovarian stroma in two of the patients (both of whom had breast cancer) suggests that metaplasia rather than a congenital anomaly is the cause, and elevated CA 125 levels are consistent with the endomyometriosis nature of the lesion.
Abstract: We describe three cases of a uteruslike mass of the ovary, a condition in which the ovary is replaced by a mass that grossly and microscopically resembles the uterus. The patients were 38, 43, and 39 years of age, and only the first was nulliparous. Two of them also had breast carcinomas. Two patients also had elevated CA 125 levels that gave rise to a clinical suspicion of ovarian malignancy. There were no anatomic abnormalities in any of the patients. The presence of residual ovarian stroma in two of the patients (both of whom had breast cancer) suggests that metaplasia rather than a congenital anomaly is the cause. Elevated CA 125 levels are consistent with the endomyometriosis nature of the lesion.
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TL;DR: In ICRC mice, EPME was inactive as a complete carcinogen, but effectively promoted the development of forestomach and esophageal papilloma and carcinoma in a concentration‐dependent manner.
Abstract: Pan masala, a dry powdered mixture of areca nut, catechu, lime, unspecified spices and flavoring agents, has gained widespread popularity as a chewing substitute in India. In this study, the carcinogenic and tumor-promoting potential of an ethanolic pan masala extract (EPME) was determined using skin of S/RVCri-ba mice and forestomach and esophagus of ICRC mice as the target tissues. Carcinogenic activity of pan masala was tested by painting the mouse skin for 40 weeks with EPME or by gavage feeding for 6 months. Following initiation with 9,10-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), carcinogenesis of mouse skin was promoted with different doses of EPME, while gastric- and esophageal-tumor-promoting activity was determined by administering EPME by gavage to animals initiated with diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The ability of EPME to effect progression of skin papilloma to carcinoma and cutaneous alterations after a single or multiple EPME treatment were also evaluated. EPME at 25 mg per dose promoted skin-papilloma formation between 30 and 40 weeks of treatment and enhanced the rate of conversion of papilloma to carcinoma. Induction of mild epidermal hyperplasia, dermal edema, increase in epidermal mitotic activity and the rate of epidermal and dermal DNA synthesis by EPME correlated well with its skin-tumor-promoting potential. In ICRC mice, EPME was inactive as a complete carcinogen, but effectively promoted the development of forestomach and esophageal papilloma and carcinoma in a concentration-dependent manner. The tumor incidence at 25 mg EPME per dose was comparable with that obtained in the 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate(TPA)-treated group. The findings indicate that habitual pan-masala use may exert carcinogenic and co-carcinogenic influence.
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TL;DR: It is shown that E‐cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule which plays a crucial role in cell—cell aggregation during development, is also present in the bone marrow stroma and its presence on a subset of CD34+cells leads to speculation on whether this CAM has a role in adherence of primitive stem cells to the marrowStroma.
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TL;DR: This work presents two cases of PNET of the parotid gland, a malignant small round cell tumour that exhibits neuroepithelial differentiation in visceral sites such as the kidney, uterus, ovary, testis, urinary bladder and pancreas.
Abstract: Aims
Primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) is a malignant small round cell tumour that exhibits neuroepithelial differentiation. Isolated cases of PNET have been reported in visceral sites such as the kidney, uterus, ovary, testis, urinary bladder and pancreas. We present two cases of PNET of the parotid gland.
Methods and results
The first case was a 60-year-old woman, who presented with a parotid swelling of 10 months duration. The second case was a 45-year-old man, who presented with a recurrent temporofacial swelling of 6 months duration. Histological evaluation, in conjunction with immunohistochemistry, confirmed the diagnosis of PNET.
Conclusions
This is the first documentation of PNET of the salivary gland. The probable origin is from the facial nerve.
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TL;DR: Significantly prolonged disease-free survival was seen in patients who received ATRA with chemotherapy, and ATRA was well-tolerated by these patients.
Abstract: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a distinct subtype of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). In this report, we present the clinical features, management, and outcome of pediatric patients with APL treated with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Of 52 newly diagnosed cases of APL between February 1992 and December 1996, 15 were in the pediatric age group (younger than 15 years). Four patients were treated with ATRA alone and 11 were allocated to receive ATRA followed by chemotherapy. Eighty-six percent of the patients achieved a complete response. The patients who received ATRA alone as maintenance therapy had relapses with a median duration of remission of 8 months (range 6-12). The patients who received ATRA, followed by consolidation chemotherapy, had a prolonged duration of remission, with a median of 20 months (range 13-28). In addition, rapid correction of coagulopathy was observed in these patients. The median duration for correction of coagulopathy was 7 days (range 5-11) and the median duration for recovery from neutropenia after chemotherapy was 10 days (range 7-20). Two major side effects of ATRA were hyperleukocytosis and retinoic acid syndrome. Significantly prolonged disease-free survival was seen in patients who received ATRA with chemotherapy. APL is not uncommon in the pediatric age group. ATRA was well-tolerated by these patients. Consolidation with chemotherapy helps in prolonging the disease-free survival in patients with APL in comparison to treatment with ATRA alone.
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TL;DR: The data suggest that patients receiving combination chemotherapy, especially those with high cumulative doses, run a risk of developing AVNB, and awareness of this complication is important in order to have an early diagnosis so as to limit disability.
Abstract: The purpose of the present paper was to report cases of avascular necrosis of bone (AVNB) arising as a complication of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). X-rays and 99mtechnicium-MDP bone scans were performed on patients with symptoms of bone pain, whereby five patients out of 850 patients were detected to have avascular necrosis of the femoral head. All had received aggressive chemotherapy with steroids. Two patients were still on therapy for the primary disease. In these patients further chemotherapy was continued without steroids. The median period from diagnosis of ALL to development of AVNB was 29 months. Three patients underwent corrective surgical procedures. To conclude, the data suggest that patients receiving combination chemotherapy, especially those with high cumulative doses, run a risk of developing AVNB. Awareness of this complication is important in order to have an early diagnosis so as to limit disability.
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TL;DR: Sarcomas are relatively rare tumors with an aggressive natural history associated with a high propensity for local recurrence following conservative surgery as mentioned in this paper, which accounts for 1.8% of all cancers seen at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
Abstract: Background
Soft tissue sarcomas are relatively rare tumors with an aggressive natural history associated with a high propensity for local recurrence following conservative surgery. It accounts for 1.8% of all cancers seen at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Organ preserving surgery and tumor bed brachytherapy have revolutionized the management of soft tissue sarcomas.
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TL;DR: The results indicate that individuals at high risk from familial breast cancer families with defective DNA repair capacity have a much higher risk of cancer as compared to persons exhibiting PSC and aneuploidy or DNA repair defects alone.
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TL;DR: There is no beneficial effect from administration of antibiotics for more than 24 hr. postoperatively in patients two undergo major flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer after extensive radical ablation surgery.
Abstract: Patients who undergo surgery of the head and neck cancer with major flap reconstruction, benefit from perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Head and neck surgery, especially ablative cancer surgery with major flap reconstruction is potentially contaminated iatrogenic wound, and the use of preoperative, perioperative and post operative chemoprophylaxis for infection is mandatory. This study is being done to determine if shorter course of antibiotic administration (Cefoperazone) would be more effective than conventional 5-day antibiotic administration (Cefotaxime). Patients who are identified as requiring major flap reconstruction after extensive ablative surgery for head and neck cancer, are considered as potential candidates for this study. The choice of ideal antibiotics and duration period are still under discussion. Patients were assigned randomly to receive Cefoperazone sodium for either 24 hr. (study group) or Cefotaxime sodium for 120 hr. (control group). A total of fifty patients were studied. The incidence of wound infection, flap death and major complications are evaluated. Out of the fifty patients studied, twenty-eight were assigned to 1-day prophylaxis. Incidence of failure of prophylaxis (F. P.) was 7.1% in this group. Twenty-two patients were assigned to 5-day prophylaxis, in whom F. P. rate was 9.8%. This study suggests that, there is no beneficial effect from administration of antibiotics for more than 24 hr. postoperatively in patients two undergo major flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer after extensive radical ablation surgery.
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TL;DR: A significantly lower NK cell activity is demonstrated in unaffected members from familial breast cancer families and differential sensitivity of NK and T lymphocyte function to the disease phenotype is revealed.
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TL;DR: Bulk reduction in tumour load can be brought about without use of viral vectors for gene transfer solely by the bystander effect.
Abstract: Background: Malignancies of the oral cavity and oropharynx account for 31% of all diagnosed cancers in India. In most cases, patients present with tumours that are clinically stage III/IV where surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have not been very effective. Hence, there is an urgent need for alternate treatment modalities. Gene therapy is a recent development shown to be effective in various malignancies. In this study we have attempted to cause bulk reduction in tumour volume using the HSVtk /ganciclovir strategy, solely on the basis of the 'bystander' effect. Methods: Nude mouse xenograft tumours of human head /neck cancer were engrafted with cells expressing viral thymidine kinase. After treatment with 8mM ganciclovir for 14 days, the treatment efficacy was monitored. A novel method has been devised to evaluate cell kill microscopically in the whole tumour. Results: Of the 11 mice included in the study, 9 showed a significant reduction in total tumour volume of treated versus control tumours (p=0.015). Conclusions: Bulk reduction in tumour load can be brought about without use of viral vectors for gene transfer solely by the bystander effect.
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TL;DR: SCD40L-mediated protection could not be attributed to reduction in surface Fas expression, increase in Bcl-2 levels or to increase in the levels of soluble Fas isoforms, but is likely to intervene in the early phases of the Fas signal transduction pathway.
Abstract: Modulation of Fas expression and function by CD40 ligation was investigated in the Fas-sensitive human Hodgkin's disease cell line HDLM2. The recombinant human trimeric soluble CD40L (sCD40L) protected this cell line from apoptosis induced by an agonistic Fas antibody at all concentrations tested. sCD40L also protected HDLM2 when added up to 2 h after Fas ligation. Apoptosis induced by a cell-permeable synthetic ceramide could not be prevented by sCD40L. Thus, CD40 ligation is likely to intervene in the early phases of the Fas signal transduction pathway. When CD40 ligation preceded Fas ligation, it rendered the cells refractory to Fas-induced apoptosis. sCD40L-mediated protection could not be attributed to reduction in surface Fas expression, increase in Bcl-2 levels or to increase in the levels of soluble Fas isoforms.