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Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that regulates inducible expression of detoxifying enzymes, is critical in preventing N-nitrosobutyl(4-hydroxybutyl)amine (BBN)-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis. To explore whether Nrf2 and the tumor suppressor p53 cooperatively act in tumor prevention, we investigated the susceptibility of Nrf2-/-::p53+/- mice to BBN-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis. The incidence of BBN-induced urinary bladder carcinoma was 63.0% in Nrf2-/- mice (P = 0.115), 75.8% in p53+/- mice (P < 0.01) and 89.6% in Nrf2-/-::p53+/- mice (P < 0.01) compared with 37.9% in wild-type. Higher incidence of carcinoma was observed in Nrf2-/-::p53+/- mice when compared with either Nrf2-/- (P < 0.01) or p53+/- mice (P = 0.382). Similarly, muscular invasive carcinoma incidence was higher in Nrf2-/-::p53+/- mice (62.0%) than either wild-type (6.9%, P < 0.01), p53+/- (38.0%, P = 0.110) or Nrf2-/- mice (3.7%, P < 0.01). Furthermore, urinary concentrations of N-nitrosobutyl(3-carboxypropyl)amine, a proximate carcinogen of BBN, were only increased when Nrf2 but not p53 was disrupted. These results demonstrate that tumor susceptibility is synergistically exacerbated in Nrf2-/-::p53+/- mice due to poor detoxification and accelerated proliferation in comparison with either single mutant alone. BBN administration increased p53-mediated expression of p21, Mdm2 and Bax, and the inducible expression of p21 was significantly enhanced in Nrf2-/- mice. Conversely, modest increases in NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1) and uridine diphosphate (UDP) glucuronosyltransferase 1A6 (UGT1A6) expression were observed in p53+/- compared with those of wild-type mice after BBN exposure. These results thus reveal potential interactions between p53 and Nrf2 and their gene batteries, and indicate that both factors cooperatively contribute to tumor prevention.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays an important role in the growth, progression and angiogenesis of various tumors. It is reported that patients with urinary bladder cancer have elevated levels of HGF in urine and that bladder cancer tissue contains an increased amount of HGF. Thus, the data suggest a functional role of HGF in urinary bladder cancer. We evaluated the mechanistic role of HGF in urinary bladder carcinoma in vitro using the rat urothelial cell lines MYP3 (anchorage-dependent and non-tumorigenic in athymic nude mice), LMC19, MYU3L, T6 and AS-HTB1 (anchorage-independent and tumorigenic). The HGF receptor c-met was expressed by all of the cell lines, as determined by northern blot. In MYP3 cells, HGF strongly stimulated anchorage-dependent growth, but not migration, invasion or secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In LMC19, T6 and AS-HTB1 cells, HGF stimulated migration, invasion and secretion of MMPs. Anchorage-dependent growth stimulation was limited to AS-HTB1 cells. MYU3L cells were refractory to HGF in both growth and invasion assays. However, a neutralizing antibody and an anti-sense oligonucleotide to HGF partially inhibited the growth only of MYU3L cells, the finding being indicative of an autocrine stimulatory mechanism. HGF mRNA expression and protein synthesis were induced in bladder stromal cells by the conditioned medium of carcinoma cell lines, and IL-1beta and basic fibroblast growth factor were identified as cancer cell-derived HGF-releasing factors. These results suggest that HGF acts as a mitogen in a non-tumorigenic cell line, whereas in tumorigenic cell lines it acts as an invasion and migration factor by either a paracrine or an autocrine mechanism.

p53 mutation is commonly associated with high-grade, high-stage human urothelial carcinomas. Recent studies suggest that p53 mutation in low-grade, low-stage bladder carcinomas may be correlated with the progression of the disease. In the present study, we used antisense RNA methodology in vitro to evaluate the significance of the loss of p53 function at an early stage of urinary bladder carcinogenesis. An immortalized nontumorigenic rat urothelial cell line (MYP3) that strongly expresses wild-type (WT) p53 was transfected with a plasmid (pcDL-SR alpha-296) containing a rat WT p53 cDNA in antisense orientation. The transfection resulted in a significant reduction in p53 mRNA expression and protein synthesis, in stimulation of anchorage-dependent growth, and in acquisition of anchorage-independent growth potential. Three such clones, when tested in athymic nude mice, all formed muscle-invasive, high-grade transitional cell carcinomas at s.c. injection sites. When cells were inoculated into an orthotopic site (urinary bladder), one of two antisense transfectants tested formed bulky tumors in the bladder in all seven nude mice and metastases to lungs in three of the seven mice. Analysis of these cells revealed a decrease in the expression of p21 (WAF1, sdi1, or CIP1) and retinoblastoma (Rb) gene product. Phosphorylation of Rb protein was not inhibited when the cells were starved. No significant difference was observed in the expression of p16 protein. In cell cycle analysis, all antisense transfectants tested escaped from G1 arrest by starvation. Furthermore, secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 into culture medium was increased significantly. Treatment with anti-IL-6 antibody suppressed anchorage-dependent growth. This study directly demonstrates that the loss of p53 function at an early stage of urothelial carcinogenesis may result in acquisition of a malignant phenotype by regulating IL-6 production as well as cell cycle related genes.

Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) is a potent growth inhibitor for most cells, including neoplastic cells. However, there are several types of malignant cells that are resistant to its growth-inhibitory effect. LMC19, a highly malignant rat urothelial cell line, lacks TGFbeta1 receptor (TbetaRI) and is insensitive to the growth-suppresive effect of TGFbeta1. We transfected an expression vector containing human TbetaRI into this cell line. In control cells transfected with the neo gene alone, no inhibitory effect on growth was observed in vitro by the addition of anti-TGFbeta1 antibody or recombinant TGFbeta1 into serum-free medium. In contrast, the growth of all transfectants tested was inhibited significantly under serum-free conditions because of their endogenous TGFbeta synthesis. The growth was reduced further by the addition of recombinant TGFbeta1. This response pattern is consistent with TGFbeta1 mediating its effects by an autocrine and paracrine mechanism. The tumorigenicity of the cells was tested in a heterotopically transplanted urinary bladder system, which was generated as an orthotopic test site in athymic nude mice. All nine mice tested receiving control cells formed deeply invasive, undifferentiated-cell carcinomas and multiple metastatic foci in the lungs. In contrast, none of the mice receiving transfectants of TbetaRI formed bladder tumors or metastases. Taken together, these observations indicate that TbetaRI exhibits a potent tumor suppressor effect in bladder carcinoma.

The biological potential of tumor cells is best evaluated at the organ site orthotopic to the tumor cells. Recent studies have documented site-specific differences in the potential of tumor cell growth. However, orthotopic implantation of bladder cancer cells into bladders of nude mice only resulted in a low tumor yield. We have developed a new model that consists of a rat bladder transplanted into the retroperitoneal space and connected to a reservoir s.c. placed in a nude mouse. Rat malignant bladder cancer cells (MYU3L and LMC19) transfected with the human growth hormone (hGH) gene as a biomarker were introduced into the transplanted bladder by percutaneous puncture of the attached reservoir. Successful uptake was indicated by a progressive rise in the hGH level in the bladder aspirate. When examined at 6-16 weeks post transplantation, all mice that had received MYU3L (n = 6) or LMC19 (n = 6) cells were found to have invasive carcinomas. MYU3L was highly invasive, forming multiple peritoneal implants, but was not metastatic. LMC19 was deeply invasive and metastasized to the retroperitoneal and subclavian lymph nodes and the lungs (4/6). Of two human bladder cancer cell lines (RT4 and T24) tested, RT4 formed multiple minute papillary tumors in five of six bladders, two of which were minimally invasive to the muscle layer. T24 cells formed only one to two small tumors in three of six bladders, and these were confined to the lamina propria. This system appears promising for studies of the mechanism of tumor invasion and metastasis and for evaluation of antineoplastic agents.

The effect of orotic acid (OA) on the carcinogenicity of N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine (HPOP) in rats was evaluated. A group of 5 week old Sprague-Dawley male rats were placed on a synthetic 20% protein diet containing 1% OA. A second group was placed on a regular, OA-free diet of similar composition. Approximately 2 weeks later, animals from both groups grown to 100 g were treated with 400 mg/kg HPOP delivered continuously for 14 days via 2002 Alzet osmotic pumps implanted s.c. Rats fed the OA diet were kept under this diet for 13 weeks following initiation of HPOP treatment and subsequently were placed on the regular diet for another 12 weeks, at which time they were killed. In the absence of OA, HPOP-treated rats developed adenomas in the kidney and lungs at incidences of 5 and 33% respectively, while pancreas and liver were unaffected. On the other hand, rats fed the OA diet and treated with HPOP developed renal mesenchymal tumors and pulmonary adenomas at incidences of 70 and 65% respectively. In addition, HPOP induced cystic lesions in the pancreas of animals fed the OA diet. The enhancement of the tumorigenic effectiveness of HPOP was at least partly ascribed to the effect of OA treatment on the rate by which carcinogen-induced alkylation of DNA was repaired in various tissues. Accumulation of N7-methylguanine in kidney, lung and pancreas of rats fed the OA diet was 1.6, 1.9 and 2.4 times higher than in respective organs of animals fed the regular diet. Similarly, concentrations of the premutagenic O6-methylguanine (O6-MeG) were 3.0, 3.1 and 2 times greater in the kidney, lung and pancreas of rats fed the OA diet than in the respective organs of those fed the regular diet. Feeding an OA diet to HPOP-treated rats did not have an effect on either the resistance of the liver to this carcinogen or on the level of O6-MeG accumulation in the DNA of this tissue.

The present investigation was conducted to determine a single dose of the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) which remains subcarcinogenic in a heterotopically transplanted rat urinary bladder with a communicating reservoir (HTB) either in a urine-free or urine-existing environment. A single dose of MNU, either 0.1 mg or 0.025 mg, was instilled directly into the HTB, and was followed by weekly instillation of normal rat urine or 2.1% NaCl solution (equiosmolar to the urine) for up to 52 weeks. Bladder tumors observed were divided into 2 categories depending upon their location. Those arising at the hyperplastic foci which were induced by mechanical irritation by the connector tip were referred to as inflammatory polyp (IP)-related tumors and those arising in the region free from the IP changes were referred to as IP-unrelated tumors. The results indicated that both carcinogen levels fail to induce IP-related or IP-unrelated tumors in the urine-free environment. In the presence of urine, however, the high MNU dose (0.1 mg) was tumorigenic at both IP-related and IP-unrelated sites, whereas, the low MNU dose exhibited tumorigenicity only at the IP-related site. Physical irritation by the connector enhanced MNU-initiated tumorigenesis at the connector tip only in the presence of urine in bladder lumen. Physical irritation per se induced tumors at the connector tip even without prior carcinogen treatment provided urine was present in the HTBs.

The present investigation was conducted to determine (1) if hepatomegalic and mitogenic effects of selected hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators are associated with an elevation of hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) levels and (2) if induction of ODC is a specific event associated with the development of preneoplastic hepatocellular foci and the eventual formation of hepatomas. Following a single i.p. dose of Wy-14,643 (Wy), the hepatic ODC activity in rats rose sharply, reaching a peak at 8 h, and returned to the normal level by 24 h. Other peroxisome proliferators tested (methyl clofenapate, BR-931 and nafenopin) also increased the hepatic ODC activities significantly 8 h after i.p.. administration of a single dose. Continuous dietary administration of Wy, whether or not these animals were previously initiated with the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN), resulted in a sustained elevation of hepatic ODC activity. Although Wy exerted an enhancing effect on DEN-initiated tumorigenesis, there was no additional increase of ODC activity. There was no correlation between the level of ODC induction and the presence or absence of altered liver cell foci. These results suggest that induction of ODC by peroxisome proliferators is not a specific event associated with the development of preneoplastic foci and hepatocarcinogenesis, but is an event associated with the sustained maintenance of hepatomegaly and and increased liver cell proliferation.

The present investigation was conducted to establish a working model to evaluate the role of potential modifiers (promoters and inhibitors) of urinary bladder carcinogenesis. A single dose (0.25 mg) of the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) when instilled directly into heterotopically transplanted urinary bladder (HTB) induced a 9% (2 of 22) incidence of urinary bladder tumors by 30 weeks in the urine free HTB environment, whereas repeated instillation of urine into the HTB after MNU treatment resulted in a 61% (14 of 23) incidence of these tumors. Three doses of MNU (0.25 mg/dose once a week for 3 weeks) induced 33% (6 of 18) and 89% (16 of 18) incidence of tumors, respectively, in the absence and presence of urine in the HTB. These data confirm our previous observation that normal urine enhances urinary bladder carcinogenesis, and are consistent with the notion that normal urine exerts a tumor promoting effect.

N-butyl-N-(3-carboxypropyl)nitrosamine (BCPN) has been considered to be a carcinogenic urinary metabolite of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine. No tumor developed, however, in the heterotropically transplanted rat urinary bladders (HTBs) following repeated instillation of BCPN dissolved in physiological saline. In the present study, the possibility that BCPN dissolved in urine may induce tumors was explored using a short-term screening assay. When tested with the concanavalin A agglutination assay with which a close correlation between increase in cell agglutinability and carcinogenicity of test compounds has been well demonstrated, no significant increase in agglutinability attributable solely to BCPN was observed in HTB cells whether it was dissolved in saline or urine. Based on the current findings together with other available data, it is suggested that urothelial cells have a very limited capability to activate BCPN to the ultimate carcinogen, and require continuous contact with the carcinogen to respond with tumor formation.

The growth stimulating activity of a tumor-promoting rat urinary fraction (Fraction I), and its inhibition by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) were examined in vitro using a rat bladder carcinoma cell line, 804G cells. Cell growth was markedly stimulated by Fraction I when added to the basic medium containing 0.2% fetal calf serum (FCS). The increased proliferative activity was associated with an increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and intracellular polyamine content. DFMO effectively inhibited the growth of 804G cells stimulated by Fraction I or by 10% FCS, and the inhibition was associated with suppression of ODC activity and partial depletion of intracellular putrescine and spermidine. Growth inhibition was reversed by exogenous putrescine. These results show that (i) urinary Fraction I, both a tumor promoter in bladder carcinogenesis and an ODC inducer in 804G cells, has potent mitogenicity in 804G cells, and (ii) the mitogenicity is inhibited by DMFO, an irreversible inhibitor of ODC.