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Purpose: Among the five breast cancer subtypes, basal-like breast cancers (BLBCs) have drawn much attention, because they are associated with poor clinicopathological features, lack of effective treatment targets, and have poor prognosis. We designed the experiment to test the hypothesis that significant mutational evolution of BLBCs might occur during chemotherapy. Methods: We performed exome sequencing (100-fold coverage) to examine the exomes of 11 paired BLBC samples (pretreatment tumor biopsies and posttreatment tumors). The molecular subtype of BLBC was proven by gene-expression profile as well as by immunohistochemistry assay. Firstly, we sequenced the tumor genomic DNA obtained before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and their matched normal breast tissues. After analyzing and comparing potential somatic single nucleotide variations (SNVs) and insertions & deletions (indels), we focused on the functional mutations in certain genes or pathways. Furthermore, after validation of the mutations by Sanger sequencing, we investigated their biological functions (e.g. drug-resistance, cell proliferation, etc.). Results: Compared with pretreatment biopsies, analysis of whole-exome sequence data identified and validated TEKT4 (tektin 4) — a constitutive protein of microtubules in cilia, flagella, basal bodies and centrioles — as a significantly mutated gene in posttreatment tumors with a mutation frequency of approximately 17.6% in an independent extension cohort of 84 paired BLBC samples. TEKT4 mutations are biologically relevant, as ectopic expression of mutant TEKT4 increased paclitaxel resistance of BLBC cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, compared with the normal breast tissues, 16 significantly mutated genes were identified and validated in the paired cancer samples, including TP53, ARID1A, BEND5, LCT, COL4A4, GAP43, COL6A6, LOC728369, STAP1, KCNK17, LZTS2, TST, IL9R, HDLBP, RASL11A and FAM22D. These genes have functions that could be broadly grouped into five biological classes: (i) MAPK signaling, (ii) PI3K/AKT signaling, (iii) cell cycle, (iv) metabolism and (v) loss of genome stability. Conclusion: Our data reveal the novel concept that significant evolution might occur during chemotherapy and mutational heterogeneity could be a property of BLBCs. In addition, the identification of somatic mutations as biomarkers for pCR (pathologic complete remission) prediction and prognosis might help us optimize choice for sequential therapy and improve patients' survival. Prospective clinical trials based on these findings might illustrate the drug-resistant mechanism and identify resistance pathways that can be exploited for therapeutic selection. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-06-07.

A humidification–dehumidification (HDH) solar desalination process with active and passive air circulation is proposed, in which the phase change material (PCM) is used to recover the latent heat of vapor condensation to increase the fresh water production. The experiments show that the cost of fresh water is 23.47 Yuan/t, the gain output ratio of the unit is 13.37, and the water production is increased by 84.4% compared with the dehumidifier without using PCM. The heat transfer between the heat pipe and the PCM (I) (paraffin) and the high thermal conductivity PCM (II) are tested and simulated. Keywords: humidification–dehumidification, solar desalination, PCM, numerical simulation

The intestinal fatty-acid-binding protein (IFABP) shows binding specificity for long-chain fatty acids and is proposed to be involved in the uptake of dietary fatty acids and their intracellular transport. In this study, the full-length cDNA of porcine I-FABP gene was obtained by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The nucleotide sequence and the predicted protein sequence share high sequence identity with its mammalian counterparts. Northern hybridization and semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that porcine I-FABP is expressed in all 12 tissues studied (heart, brain, kidney, skeletal muscle, testis, liver, skin, small intestine, fat, stomach, lymph and pituitary), but a transcript of approximate 620 bp is more abundant in small intestine than in other tissues. The full-length genomic DNA of the porcine I-FABP gene was amplified by PCR. The coding region of the pig IFABP gene is organized in four exons and spans an approximate 3.5-kb genomic region. Comparative sequencing of four pig breeds revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within exon 1 of which an A→G substitution at codon 21 changes a codon for lysine into a codon for arginine. The distribution of allele and genotype frequencies differed significantly between indigenous Chinese Zang, Dahe and Yanan breeds (higher frequencies of A and AA) and Western Large White breed (higher frequencies of G and GG, P < 0.01). The association analysis using five pig populations suggested that A21G polymorphism was associated with intramuscular fat content, indicating that the I-FABP gene A21G SNP can be a potential molecular marker for intramuscular fat content. Key words: Association analysis, cloning, gene expression, I-FABP gene, polymorphism, porcine

The primary energy dependecne and atomic-number dependence of backscattered electrons in Auger electron spectroscopy in the EN(E) mode have been investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A Monte Carlo simulation method with inclusion of cascade-secondary-electron production has been used to calculate the full energy distribution of backscattered electrons from the elastic peak down to the true-secondary-electron peak. The simulation model is based on the use of a dielectric function for describing inelastic scattering and secondary excitation, and on the use of Mott cross sections for elastic scattering. A systematic comparison between the calculated and experimental spectra measured with a cylindrical mirror analyzer has been made for Au, Ag, and Cu and for primary energies ranging from 0.5 to 5keV. Reasonable agreement was obtained for the backscattering background at primary energies in the keV region. A significant contribution of cascade-secondary electrons to the measured spectra on the lo...

HLA-B*40:01:47 differs from HLA-B*40:01:01 by one nucleotide exchange at position 420 in exon 3.

Energy calibration in an Auger electron analyser has been studied using elastically backscattered primary electrons (BPEs), with a feasibility of 15 meV(σ) for the kinetic energies of 10–1200 eV in which our improved cylindrical mirror analyser (CMA) has been used. An electron gun with a special tungsten cathode of reduced magnetic field and having unipotential was operated in constant emission current mode. This mode presents the well-defined characteristics of the BPEs. Thus, the energy distribution of the BPEs and the shape and the peak position would be kept constant irrespective of the acceleration voltage of the BPEs. An iteration method (between the higher and lower energies) was employed to obtain the transfer coefficient of the CMA, i.e. a self-consistent method with automatic corrections for the thermionic emission and the work functions. A convolution simulation of the CMA was examined to obtain the right peak position of the BPEs. It was found that the broader diameter of the BPE beams can be used in the calibration without any appreciable loss of accuracy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An iteration method in the energy calibration of AES has been developed by using elastically backscattered primary electrons with possibility of 15 meV (σ) for the energy range from 10 eV to 1200 eV, in which our improved novel prototype cylindrical mirror analyzer (CMA) has been used. For the true kinetic energy calibration, the relative work function of sample to CMA was investigated by changing sample bias to CMA at ground level. It can be obtained by observing the onset of secondary electrons (SE) since SE are believed to begin just above “0” of vacuum level, although it is hardly possible to obtain a true spectrum.

The feasibility of an absolute energy calibration in Auger electron spectroscopy has been studied by using elastically backscattered primary electrons with an accuracy of 15 meV(σ) for the energy range 10–1200 eV. Our novel prototype cylindrical mirror analyser (CMA) was further improved for this work. An electron gun with a special tungsten cathode should present well-defined characteristics of primary electrons of constant shape in the energy distribution, irrespective of the acceleration voltage. The effects caused by the Wehnelt bias, space charge and cathode temperatures were examined. Thus, for the proper setting of the Wehnelt bias and cathode temperature, an ‘iteration’ method (between higher and lower energies) using a precision calibrated primary accelerating power supply was employed to obtain the transfer coefficient of the CMA. This is a self-consistent method with automatic correction for work functions. Furthermore, a poor energy resolution of the CMA would shift the peak position in a spectrum as the result of a convolution of the actual spectrum with the analyser function, particularly for higher energies. Such peak shifts were simulated using an experimental spectrum. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This abstract was not presented at the symposium.

Both DNA and histone methylation are dysregulated in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Based on preliminary data we hypothesized that dysregulated interactions of KDM2B, let-7b and EZH2 signals lead to an aberrant epigenetic landscape. Gene expression in CD34+ cells from MDS marrows was analyzed by NanoString miR array and validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The functions of KDM2B, let-7b and EZH2 were characterized in myeloid cell lines and in primary MDS cells. Let-7b levels were significantly higher, and KDM2B and EZH2 expression was lower in primary CD34+ MDS marrow cells (n = 44) than in healthy controls (n = 21; p

To investigate mechanisms of stem cell graft rejection we studied the allo-stimulatory potential of G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC). CD34+ cells were purified (> 95%) in a two-step procedure using immunoaffinity columns for CD34 selection and T-depletion. The capacity of CD34+ cells to stimulate allogeneic T-cell responses was compared with other cells from the same individual. CD34+ cells induced potent proliferative responses at stimulator:responder ratios of 1:20, but were approximately 50-fold less efficient compared to dendritic cells. Furthermore, CD34+ cells primed responses from partially matched allogeneic T cells in bulk cultures. Dual-colour flow cytometry showed that the co-stimulatory molecules B7.1, CD40 and ICAM-1 were absent on resting CD34-positive progenitor cells, but were induced during incubation with allogeneic lymphocytes due to a cytokine-mediated effect. Up-regulation of accessory molecules on CD34+ cells was reproduced by incubation with interferon-γ or GM-CSF which enhanced the allo-stimulatory activity of CD34+ cells. Blocking studies with inhibitory antibodies suggested co-stimulatory functions for B7.2, ICAM-3, CD40 and LFA-3. CD34+ cells were more efficient in inducing allogeneic T-cell responses when compared to the unprocessed leukapheresis products. The reduced allo-stimulatory ability of G-CSF mobilized PBPC could be explained by the presence of CD3+4+ and CD3+8+ lymphocytes with suppressor activity. We conclude that current methods of stem cell selection for transplantation do not avoid allo-sensitization of the recipient and that further graft manipulation with add-back of lymphocytes or selection of subsets of CD34+ cells with reduced allo-stimulatory ability may reduce graft rejection.

New understanding of the alloresponse following bone marrow transplantation supports the possibility that the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) response can be separated from a favorable graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. We used chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells to generate 122 recipient-reactive T cell clones from a closely HLA-matched sibling responder. Clones were tested for their proliferative response to stimulator CML cells or PHA-transformed (non-leukemic) lymphoblasts. Of 78 clones tested, 32 recognized both leukemia cells and PHA blasts, 19 only CML and four only PHA blasts. The remainder were non-specific responders. This functional specificity corresponded to distinct patterns of T cell receptor (TCR) V beta usage: clones recognizing CML cells preferentially used V beta 5, V beta 6/7 while clones recognizing both CML and PHA blasts or only PHA blasts preferentially used V beta 3 and V beta 8. It may therefore be possible to identify in vitro-generated myeloid leukemia-restricted donor T cells by their pattern of V beta usage. TCR V beta antibodies could thus be used to select and expand leukemia-restricted donor T cells for transfusion after BMT to specifically enhance the GVL response.

We studied patients relapsing with myeloid leukemias following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for evidence of immune escape by clonal evolution of the leukemia. Relapsed cells from four out of five patients had a reduced ability to stimulate proliferation of lymphocytes from an HLA-mismatched responder. There was decreased susceptibility to lysis by CTL in three and reduced susceptibility to NK-mediated lysis in one. Relapsed leukemias had marked alterations in expression of critical surface molecules involved in immune responsiveness. Three had decreased expression of MHC class I and II, with no change or increase in CD54 (ICAM-1) or CD80 (B7.1). None of these responded to treatment with donor lymphocytes. Three patients showed no change, or increased expression of MHC with no change or decrease in ICAM-1 or B7.1. Two achieved remission - one in response to donor lymphocytes and one following withdrawal of cyclosporine. In one patient transplanted with myelodysplastic syndrome in transformation, interferon-gamma upregulated expression of MHC molecules in relapsed cells and increased their stimulatory capacity and target susceptibility to unmatched responder lymphocytes. These results suggest that immune escape through clonal evolution of the leukemia is a common occurrence in patients who relapse with myelogenous leukemias after BMT.

There is good evidence that T lymphocytes play an important role in the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for hematologic malignancies. However, the role of natural killer (NK) cells in GVL is less clear. To further investigate a possible association of NK cells with GVL we studied 15 patients undergoing BMT for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), correlating T-cell (CD4+ and CD8+) and NK-cell (CD16+ 56+) recovery with relapse and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Patients were studied on three occasions up to 9 months after BMT, for lymphocyte surface phenotype and for spontaneous and IL-2-stimulated (LAK cell) cytotoxic function. Circulating CD8+ and NK but not CD4+ cell numbers were significantly lower in five patients who relapsed compared with those remaining in remission after BMT (mean 0.03 vs 0.32 x 10(9)/l, p = 0.002 for CD8+ cells: mean 0.03 vs 0.11 x 10(9)/l, p = 0.002 for NK cells). There was no correlation of CD4+. CD8+, or NK cell numbers and development of grade-II or more acute GVHD. Spontaneous NK cytotoxic function rose to within the normal range in the first month after BMT. LAK function remained low during the study period. These results link NK cell recovery more closely with a GVL than with a GVH effect.

CD4+ T-cells have emerged as important cells in the initiation and delivery of the GVL response. Nevertheless it seems likely that they act in concert with other T-cells and NK cell effectors to produce the full in vivo effect of GVL. How they interact with other effectors is yet to be determined. Furthermore it is very likely that different hematological malignancies have different susceptibility to attack by various lymphocyte subsets, depending upon their MHC expression, nature of the antigens presented and other properties not yet defined. Here we specifically focus on the role of CD4+ T-cells in mediating GVL, particularly in chronic myeloid leukemia. Candidate antigens recognised by CD4+ cells are described and new approaches to GVL modulation in clinical bone marrow transplantation are discussed.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens on tumour cell surfaces have been shown to modulate target susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated lysis in some, although not all, systems investigated. MHC class II expression may also affect NK cell function, but the mechanism by which MHC class II antigen regulates NK cell activity has not been fully examined. In this study we induced HLA-DR1 expression by gene transfection into the classic NK-sensitive K562 cell line to study the interaction of NK cells with MHC class II molecules and the effect of brefeldin-A (BFA), an endogenous antigen-processing pathway blocker, on NK-target cell interaction. We demonstrated that the expression of HLA-DR1 on the cell surface reduced K562 cell susceptibility to NK lysis by peripheral blood monuclear cells and a NK cell line. The effect was demonstrable in prolonged (8 hr) cytotoxicity assays and was blocked by pretreatment of target cells with anti-HLA-DR antibody. Treatment of K562 DR transfectant with BFA abrogated the resistance of K562 transfectant to NK-mediated cytolysis. These findings indicate that HLA class II molecules regulate NK cell function and target recognition, and suggest that endogenous peptides presented through MHC molecules are responsible for regulating NK cytolysis.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous group of cancers with no effective therapeutic targets hitherto. Thus molecular subtyping is necessary to better identify molecular-based therapies. While some classifiers have been established, no one has integrated the expression profiles of long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) into such subtyping criterions. Considering the emerging important role of lncRNAs in gene regulation and other cellular processes, a novel classification integrating the transcriptome profiles of both messenger RNA (mRNA) and lncRNA would help us better understand the heterogeneity of TNBC and treat patients accordingly. Methods: Using human transcriptome microarray, we retrieved the transcriptome profiles of 165 consecutive TNBC samples. We used k-means clustering to classify the samples based on the most differentially expressed genes (standard deviation>0.65). Empirical cumulative distribution function was analyzed to determine the optimal number of subtypes. Then the new classifier was compared with the Lehmann/Pietenpol system, and survival analyses were performed to compare the recurrence-free survival (RFS) in different subtypes. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analyses were applied to determine the main function of the subtype-specific genes and pathways. We conducted co-expression network analysis to identify interactions between lncRNAs and mRNAs, and to predict possible functions of subtype specific lncRNAs. Results: All 165 TNBC tumors were classified into four distinct clusters, each displaying unique GOs and pathways. These include an immunomodulatory (IM) subtype, a luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype, a mesenchymal-like (MES) subtype and a basal-like and immune suppressed (BLIS) subtype, accounting for 17.0%, 17.6%, 33.3%, and 32.2% of the patients, respectively. The IM subtype had unique GOs and pathways involving immune cell process. The LAR subtype was highly enriched in hormonally regulated pathways. Enriched pathways in the MES subtype included ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, and processes linked to growth factor signaling pathways. The BLIS subtype was characterized by downregulation of immune response gene and activation of cell cycle and DNA repair, and patients in this subtype experienced worse RFS compared to other subtypes (log-rank test,P=0.045), which was in concordance with the highly proliferative and immune-suppressed nature of these tumors. When analyzing the distribution of the Lehmann/Pietenpol subtypes in our classification system, we found that the two classification systems were significantly correlated (P=0.039). However, our novel classification was more concise and significantly connected with survival outcome. Subtype-specific lncRNAs were identified and their possible functions were predicted using co-expression network analysis. Conclusions: We developed a novel TNBC classification system integrating the expression profiles of both mRNAs and lncRNAs, and determined subtype-specific lncRNAs that are potential biomarkers and targets of TNBC. If further validated in larger population, our novel classification system could facilitate patient counseling and individualize treatment of TNBC. Citation Format: Liu Y-R, Jiang Y-Z, Xu X-E, Zuo W-J, Yu K-D, Jin X, Hu X, Wu J, Liu G-Y, Di G-H, Shao Z-M. Comprehensive transcriptome analysis identifies novel molecular subtypes and subtype-specific lncRNAs of triple-negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-04-04.

Using $4\ensuremath{\pi}$ data from the Bevalac streamer chamber, we study azimuthal correlations for fragment pairs and higher-order multiplets. We point out that previous studies of sideward flow have not ruled out the possibility that the effect is dominated by a small number of correlated fragments in each event, as opposed to being a collective motion to which most or all fragments contribute. Based on a simulation, we infer that more than 70% of the forward-going fragments from collisions of Ar on Pb at 0.4A GeV carry a component of the collective motion.

We discuss the physical meaning of the spatial source parameters obtained from two-pion interferometry. We propose that the average radius 〈r〉 of the source is a suitable quantity to describe the spatial extent of the source under various assumptions about the source density distribution, and demonstrate that the average radius is more appropriate than the root-mean-square radius proposed by Bartke and Kowalski. The mean square radius 〈${\mathit{r}}^{2}$〉 of the source can be estimated using a correlation function for small relative momenta, and more detailed information about the source density distribution can be inferred from the value of k=〈${\mathit{r}}^{2}$〉/〈r${\mathrm{〉}}^{2}$. Studies of central collisions of 1.5A GeV Ar+KCl and 1.8A GeV Ar+Pb at the Bevalac streamer chamber show that the data are consistent with a phenomenological Gaussian model for the density distribution at the present level of experimental accuracy.

Abstract According to the traditional Induced Polarization (IP) logging method, the IP relaxation time spectrum can give much more information about a reservoir, such as the pore structure, permeability, formation water resistivity, and shaliness. In this paper, the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) algorithm is used to inverse the IP multi-relaxation data of the rock samples. The appropriate number of relaxation arrangement points in the relaxation data inversion is from 32 to 64. All of the relaxation spectra show a multi-peak shape. IP decay curve measurements have been performed on 30 samples from the Daqing Oil Field using the four-electrode technique. The effects of charging current, charging and discharging time, brine salinity, and water saturation on the relaxation spectra of the rock were analyzed qualitatively, so that we could develop a new IP spectra logging tool that could be used successfully in practice. When we discussed the effect of one parameter on the relaxation time spectra, the others remained fixed. The results show that the relaxation spectrum relates with the charging time, discharging time, and depends strongly on water saturation. The salinity of NaCl brine and the charging current density are shown to have a small influence on the relaxation spectra in the special ranges. Introduction Induced polarization (IP) phenomena were observed more than 80 years ago, which may be caused by metallic minerals or clay Content(1–8). The detection of IP in the time-domain is made by measuring both the maximum voltage during the charging period of a dc current flow, and the transient decay of the electrical potential as a function of time, after the current is turned off. IP logging is traditionally used to determine the formation water resistivity and shaliness parameter (Qv), which is defined as the cation exchange capacity of the shaly sands per unit pore volume(9–12). But up to now, no IP logging has successfully been used commercially to evaluate or locate petroleum reservoirs. The theory analysis shows that the IP relaxation characteristics relate to the pore structure of the rock and the IP decay curve is a superposition of signals coming from all pores with different sizes(13). So, the curve can be fitted with multi-exponential decay function and a relaxation spectrum can be obtained. The spectrum contains much more information than the traditional IP method. The IP spectra of full water-saturated rock gives a quick, easy, and nondestructive way to characterize the rock, such as the pore structure, permeability, and Qv. On the other hand, we can develop a new time-domain IP spectra logging tool. This kind of IP spectra logging can be also used to obtain the formation water resistivity and shaliness parameter, Qv, as the traditional time-domain IP logging tool. In order to transfer the lab results downhole, the borehole effects, such as rugosity and mud, should also be considered. This can be achieved by using focusing technology as well as technologies used in traditional lateral logging tools.

Purpose: The changed gene-expression profiles of breast cancer under neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) have been described. However, it remains unclear whether chemotherapy affects somatic mutation status in breast cancer. We investigated the influence of paclitaxel-based chemotherapy on somatic mutations in tumor tissues from patients with breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Samples were derived from two cohorts: first, 296 patients who underwent paclitaxel-based NCT with matched pre- and post-chemotherapy tumor tissues; second, 81 patients who underwent paclitaxel-based chemotherapy with pre-chemotherapy tumor tissues. First, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) to examine the exomes (100-fold coverage) of two paired basal-like breast cancer samples (pre-treatment tumor biopsies and post-treatment tumors). Shift in somatic mutation status was validated by Sanger sequencing and analyzed in an extension cohort of 296 patients. Furthermore, we performed microdissection and genetic heterogeneity analysis for samples from 81 patients who underwent paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. Somatic mutation status was determined to reveal potential impact of paclitaxel-based chemotherapy on mutation status. Results: Compared with post-treatment biopsies, the analysis of WES data identified and validated TP53 and PIK3CA — as significantly mutated genes in pre-treatment tumors with a mutation frequency of approximately 10% in an independent extension cohort of 296 paired samples of different molecular subtypes. Somatic mutations of TP53 or PIK3CA were detected in 24.3% of the pre-chemotherapy tumor samples (35 of 296 for TP53, 32 of 296 for PIK3CA, 5 of 296 for both genes, respectively) but in only 12.2% of the post-chemotherapy tumor samples (18 of 296 for TP53, 16 of 296 for PIK3CA, 2 of 296 for both genes, respectively). The decrease in mutation rate was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Patients with TP53/PIK3CA mutations switched from positive to negative after chemotherapy had better partial response than patients with no change or with a reverse change (P = .008). Furthermore, patients with TP53/PIK3CA mutations switched from positive to negative had improved disease-free survival (P = 0.018) and improved overall survival (P = 0.032) relative to patients with no change or with a reverse change. In the second cohort, 18.5% of the tumors (15 of 81) showed intratumoral heterogeneity of TP53 or PIK3CA somatic mutations, whereas 81.5% (66 of 81) were homogeneous, either with mutations of certain genes or not. Conclusion: Our data reveal the novel concept that significant evolution might occur during chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may reduce somatic mutation frequency in patients with breast cancer, likely the result of a preferential response of highly fit sub-clones without mutations of certain genes. In addition, the identification of somatic mutations of TP53 and PIK3CA as biomarkers for prediction of treatment response and prognosis might help us optimize choice for sequential therapy and improve patients’ survival. KEY WORDS: Exome sequencing; TP53; PIK3CA; neoadjuvant chemotherapy; breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr S4-05.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) comprises a spectrum of heterogeneous diseases. Most patients present with ineffective hematopoiesis. The pathophysiology involves immune-mediated effects, cytokine dysregulation, and apoptosis, among others. We treated 14 transfusion-requiring patients with MDS, 10 with refractory anemia (RA) and four with RA with excess blasts (RAEB) with a 4-day course of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) followed by intermittent etanercept for 4 months. Among 13 evaluable patients, five are red blood cell and platelet transfusion independent for intervals extending beyond 2 years, and two have normalized their peripheral blood parameters. One additional patient showed a transient rise of platelet and neutrophil counts, for an overall response rate of 46%. Responding patients showed striking improvements in marrow cell abnormalities as characterized by flow cytometry. These data show that a combination of ATG plus etanercept offers effective palliative therapy for unselected patients with MDS. Further trials incorporating these two agents are warranted.

A substantial proportion of patients undergoing allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation (BMT) develop moderate-to-severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Anti-recipient helper (interleukin-2-producing) T-lymphocyte precursors (HTLp) have an important role in the control and amplification of the alloreactive immune response that initiates GVH D. We used a limiting dilution assay to measure the frequency of HTLp in the blood of marrow donors for 25 patients undergoing genotypically HLA-identical BMT for chronic myeloid leukaemia (n = 20), acute myeloid leukaemia (4), or thalassaemia (1). HTLp frequencies in donor blood ranged from 1 in 18x10 3 to less than 1 in 500x10 3 ; they were significantly higher (p=0·02) in patients with grade II-IV acute GVHD than in those with grade 0-I GVHD. The HTLp assay seems sufficiently sensitive to detect clinically significant minor histocompatibility antigen differences between the donor and recipient. The assay should prove valuable in selecting the best donor/recipient combination and could indicate the need to intensify GVH D prophylaxis when the only available donor has a high HTLp frequency.

To investigate mechanisms of stem cell graft rejection we studied the allo-stimulatory potential of G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC). CD34+ cells were purified (95%) in a two-step procedure using immunoaffinity columns for CD34 selection and T-depletion. The capacity of CD34+ cells to stimulate allogeneic T-cell responses was compared with other cells from the same individual. CD34+ cells induced potent proliferative responses at stimulator:responder ratios of 1:20, but were approximately 50-fold less efficient compared to dendritic cells. Furthermore, CD34+ cells primed responses from partially matched allogeneic T cells in bulk cultures. Dual-colour flow cytometry showed that the co-stimulatory molecules B7.1, CD40 and ICAM-1 were absent on resting CD34-positive progenitor cells, but were induced during incubation with allogeneic lymphocytes due to a cytokine-mediated effect. Up-regulation of accessory molecules on CD34+ cells was reproduced by incubation with interferon-gamma or GM-CSF which enhanced the allo-stimulatory activity of CD34+ cells. Blocking studies with inhibitory antibodies suggested co-stimulatory functions for B7.2, ICAM-3, CD40 and LFA-3. CD34+ cells were more efficient in inducing allogeneic T-cell responses when compared to the unprocessed leukapheresis products. The reduced allo-stimulatory ability of G-CSF mobilized PBPC could be explained by the presence of CD3+ 4+ and CD3+ 8+ lymphocytes with suppressor activity. We conclude that current methods of stem cell selection for transplantation do not avoid allosensitization of the recipient and that further graft manipulation with add-back of lymphocytes or selection of subsets of CD34+ cells with reduced allo-stimulatory ability may reduce graft rejection.

Helper (HTLPf) and cytotoxic (CTLPf) lymphocyte precursor frequency assays are increasingly used in bone marrow stem cell and organ transplant compatibility testing. Current techniques require large cell numbers and radioisotopes. To improve the technique, we developed a miniaturized fluorescent read-out combined HTLPf/CTLPf limiting dilution assay. The assay requires only 5 x 10(6) stimulators, 2 x 10(6) responders and 0.24 x 10(6) target cells in Terasaki plates (40 microl/well). For the HTLPf, culture supernatants from each well were assayed for IL-2 production. The IL-2-dependent proliferation of the mouse 9.12 cell line was detected by a semi-automated fluorescent dye technique. After addition of rhIL-2 (recombinant human IL-2) on days 3 and 7, CTLPs were detected on day 10 by measuring the lysis of dye-labeled targets. Results were comparable to standard radioisotope-based techniques. The assay had a coefficient of variation of approximately 30%. The assay detected helper CD4 cells, pure cytotoxic CD8, helper CD8 cells and helper/cytotoxic CD8 cells. Discrimination was demonstrated between HLA-matched related and non-related pairs. The ease of testing and small cell numbers required should facilitate further evaluation of HTLPf and CTLPf for compatibility testing in unrelated donor transplantation and monitoring immune responses following adoptive transfer of lymphocytes.

We have demonstrated that 44% of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with cytopenia have a haematological response to antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Three ATG responders and two non-responders with refractory anaemia were further studied for lymphocyte-mediated inhibition of bone marrow using a standard CFU-GM assay. In responders, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) added at a 5:1 ratio suppressed CFU-GM by 54+/-9% (P=0.04) and was reversed by ATG treatment. Pre-treatment marrow depleted of CD3 lymphocytes, increased CFU-GM by 32% (P=0.02) in an ATG responder, but not in a non-responder. CD3 lymphocytes from 6-month post-treatment marrow did not inhibit pre-treatment CFU-GM, indicating ATG had affected the T cells. Pre-treatment marrow depleted of CD8 lymphocytes, increased CFU-GM by 60% (P=0.01) and 49% (P=0.03) in two ATG responders, but not in a non-responder. Inhibition required cell-cell interaction through MHCI. TCRVbeta families, analysed by SSCP, changed from clonal to polyclonal in one ATG responder after 6 months, but clones persisted in a non-responder. These results indicate patients with refractory anaemia who respond to ATG have CD8 T-cell clones that mediate MHCI-restricted suppression of CFU-GM which are replaced by polyclonal T cells that do not suppress CFU-GM after ATG treatment.

Accumulating evidence indicates that alloreactive donor T cells confer both graft-versus-host (GVH) and graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) reactivity following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. We have developed a method to deplete alloreactive donor T cells with an immunotoxin targeting the α chain of the IL-2 receptor. In patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia and their HLA-identical sibling donors, we measured donor helper T-lymphocyte precursor frequencies (HTLPf) against recipient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC; donor versus host), recipient leukaemia cells (donor versus leukaemia) and third-party PBMNC, before and after the depletion. In seven pairs there was a 4.3-fold reduction of donor-versus-host HTLPf (P = 0.017), without a significant change in the donor frequencies against third party (P = 0.96). In eight further donor–recipient pairs, immunotoxin-depleted donor versus patient PBMNC HTLPf 4.5-fold (mean 1/155 000 before and 1/839 000 after depletion, P = 0.007). There was a smaller non-significant 1.8-fold reduction in donor-versus-leukaemia HTLPf from 1/192 000 to 1/334 000 (P = 0.19). These results suggest that selective T-cell depletion can significantly deplete donor anti-host reactivity while conserving antileukaemia reactivity in HLA-matched donor–recipient pairs.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine that is central to the development of T helper 1-dependent cellular immunity. Although this cytokine has potential therapeutic application as an antineoplastic agent, the systemic infusion of IL-12 has led to toxic fatalities; hence, restriction of expression of IL-12 to the microenvironment of target tumor cells has obvious appeal. In this study, we examined whether tumor cells that were liposome-transfected with IL-12 could enhance the induction of cytolytic lymphocyte immunity to the native tumor. The plasmid expression vector that we used has several useful features including replication to high copy number as an episome and a polycistronic message enabling the production of both the p35 and p40 subunits of IL-12 without alternative splicing; up to 3 ng/mL/10(6)/48 hours of IL-12 was produced following transfection. Tumor cells transfected with IL-12 were superior to untransfected cells in the induction of lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis. IL-12 transfectants induced a heterogeneous population of natural killer, lymphokine activated killer, and cytolytic T lymphocytes, the latter of which exhibited tumor-specific activity. Our studies suggest that liposome-mediated transfection of tumor cells with an episomal, high copy number plasmid vector expressing both IL-12 subunits is a promising approach to cancer vaccination, a strategy that could be implemented ex vivo in treating malignancies such as metastatic ovarian cancer.

To understand the role of key molecules in determining the strength and nature of allogeneic T-cell response to leukemia, we transfected HLA-DR1 into the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-deficient, natural killer (NK)-cell sensitive K562 leukemia cell line. Untransfected K562 cells stimulated NK proliferation in vitro and formed subcutaneous tumors in severe combined immunodeficiency/non-obese diabetic (SCID/NOD) mice. Tumor growth was inhibited by adoptive intravenous transfer of fresh unprimed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In contrast, HLA-DR1 transfected cells stimulated CD4(+) T cells, but not NK-cell proliferation in vitro and formed tumors resistant to fresh PBMC in SCID/NOD mice. Tumors not expressing MHC were infiltrated with CD16(+)CD56(+) lymphocytes whereas nonregressing HLA-DR1 expressing tumors showed only a scanty infiltration with both T-cell and NK-cell subsets. The results indicate that MHC class II expression by leukemia cells can determine the effector cell type that it engages. In vivo MHC class II expression rendered K562 cell tumors resistant to NK-cell mediated antitumor reactivity.

Proteinase 3 is present in high concentration in the primary granules of acute and chronic myeloid leukemia blasts, and may represent a potential T-cell target antigen. We screened proteinase 3 against the binding motif of HLA-A2.1. Based on its high predicted binding, a 9-mer peptide, "PR-1," was synthesized and tested for binding to HLA-A2.1 using the T2 cell line. PR-1 at 100 micrograms/mL significantly increased expression of HLA-A2.1, with median channel of fluorescence increasing from 22 to 294. Binding half-life was determined to be 1,460 minutes by I125-labeled beta 2-microglobulin incorporation. HLA-A2.1+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a normal donor were used to generate a T-cell line specific for PR-1. The line demonstrated 85% PR-1-specific lysis at an E:T ratio of 50:1, compared with 20% lysis without PR-1, using T2 cells as targets. It also showed 79% specific lysis to fresh chronic myelogenous leukemia blasts, 54% to fresh acute myelogenous leukemia blasts, and only background lysis (20%) to HLA-A2.1+ normal allogeneic marrow cells. The amount of lysis of HLA-A2.1+ myeloid cells was proportional to cytoplasmic proteinase 3 expression. Thus, HLA-A2.1-restricted cytotoxic T cells, raised against a peptide contained in proteinase 3, preferentially lysed fresh human leukemic cells.

Haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is associated with a high risk of severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). While pan-T cell depletion of the graft is the most effective means of preventing severe GVHD, it is associated with delayed recovery of T cell function leading to fatal infections. We used two related Pseudomonas exotoxin-based immunotoxins, anti-Tac(Fv)-PE38 and anti-Tac(Fv)-PE38KDEL, that both target the IL-2 receptor on activated T cells, to specifically deplete alloreactive lymphocytes against haploidentical stimulators. The functional capacity of the remaining lymphocytes was tested in proliferative assays against the original haploidentical stimulator and pooled cells from other mismatched donors (third party). We varied the recombinant toxin concentration and schedule to determine the optimum conditions for selective depletion. In 10 experiments, the mean residual reactivity after depletion was 7.6 +/- 1.4% against the haploidentical stimulator and 64.2 +/- 5% against the third party, expressed as a percentage of the undepleted response to the same stimulators. Depletion was shown to be specific for mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC)-activated lymphocytes. The immunotoxin did not affect CFU-GM growth of normal BM cells. This selective depletion of haploidentical alloreactivity could be used to prevent GVHD while conserving immune recovery following haploidentical BMT.

Leukemia cells from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in accelerated phase were used to generate CD4+, CD8- T lymphocyte lines from an unrelated normal subject sharing HLA-A2 and DR4 with the patient. In chromium release cytotoxicity assays, lines showed specificity for patient cells and were unreactive against third-party CML and K562 cells. Cytotoxicity was blocked by anti HLA-DR on target cells. Some lines showed preferential cytotoxicity to PHA-induced lymphoblasts and some to CML cells. There was a broad correlation between cytotoxicity to CML cells by 51Cr release and CFU-CM inhibition. However, even weakly cytotoxic lines were inhibitory to CML CFU-GM. This effect was partly mediated by the T cell line supernatant: four of five supernatants tested inhibited the growth of CFU-GM. Antibody neutralization studies demonstrated the presence of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in these supernatants. There was a greater suppression of CML CFU-GM when compared with CFU-GM from normal individuals. One supernatant from a noncytotoxic T cell line stimulated CFU-GM and was demonstrated by antibody neutralization studies to contain interleukin-3 (IL-3) and GM-CSF. These data indicate that alloreacting CD4 cells exert both cytotoxic and cytokine-mediated antileukemia effects which may relate to the graft-vs.-leukemia (GVL) effect in CML following bone marrow transplantation.

Donor/recipient histocompatibility antigen differences initiate acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation. Frequency analysis, using limiting dilution techniques, of functionally defined (helper or cytotoxic) antirecipient T lymphocyte precursors in the peripheral blood of the donor has been shown to be an accurate predictor for the development of moderate-to-severe acute GVHD. Here, we describe a sensitive assay for measuring alloreactive helper (IL-2-producing) T lymphocyte precursor (HTLp) frequencies, and compare the ability of this assay and the cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor (CTLp) assay to detect HLA- class II and class I differences and to predict clinical outcome in a cohort of unrelated donor/recipient BMT pairs. Twenty-two pairs underwent unrelated donor BMT. Patients with high (1:100 x 10(3)) HTLp or CTLp frequencies had a higher incidence of moderate-to-severe (grades II-IV) acute GVHD (80% and 100%, respectively) than pairs with low (1:100 x 10(3)) frequencies (40% and 57%, respectively). Ten (45%) patients have died, but all patients with both a low HTLp and low CTLp frequency remain alive. The HTLp and CTLp assays provided similar predictive information for outcome. Given that the HTLp assay is more rapid and less labor intensive, it offers an additional or alternative functional method for donor selection in unrelated donor BMT.

Donor lymphocyte responses to minor histocompatibility antigen (mHA) differences are involved in allo-responses between HLA matched pairs causing GVHD and graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL). Since some mHA are tissue-restricted, GVHD and GVL responses may be separable. We studied donor lymphocyte responses to patients with CML in a series of 10 HLA-matched sibling and 10 unrelated donor-recipient pairs comparing proliferation to recipient PHA blasts and CML cells and attempting to selectively deplete responses to PHA blasts in vitro. Responses in counts per min (c.p.m) to CML cells and PHA blasts were, respectively, 2809 +/- 2205 (SD) and 7376 +/- 1877 in related and 12,107 +/- 7191 and 26,136 +/- 22,479 in unrelated pairs. Autologous responses to PHA blasts were significantly lower (mean 779 +/- 735) (p0.001). Results correlated with clinical outcome: higher responses to recipient cells correlated with transplant-related death (p = 0.02 for CML and p = 0.06 for PHA blasts). Higher responses to CML correlated with GVHD gradeor = II (p = 0.025). Donor lymphocytes exposed to recipient PHA blasts for 5 days and treated with a ricin-conjugated anti-CD25 antibody retained over 75% of their response to CML but10% to PHA blasts. Similarly, depletion of response to CML but not to PHA blasts occurred when CML was the primary challenge. These results indicate that distinct populations of donor T cells respond to recipient leukaemic and non-leukaemic cells, and provide the basis for a clinically applicable technique to selectively deplete donor GVHD reacting cells while conserving GVL.

Hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV-DNA) and surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum and liver specimens from 31 patients with advanced schistosomiasis were investigated. The patients have been followed up for six years. The presence of HBsAg and HBcAb in serum among patients with advanced schistosomiasis were significantly more frequent than that in the control group (P0.05), but the prevalence of HBV-DNA and HBeAg in the patients were not significantly different from that in the controls (P0.05). The positive rate of HBV-DNA and HBsAg in liver was 19.4% and 48.4% respectively, which were greater than that in serum. The presence of HBV-DNA in patients with advanced schistosomiasis was associated with high mortality and the cause of death was either hepatic failure or hepatocellular carcinoma. The results suggest that it is important to detect HBV-DNA both in surum and liver. Antiviral therapy for patients with advanced schistosomiasis who had detectable HBV-DNA may improve the prognosis.

Two patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia in cytogenetic relapse following T lymphocyte-depleted BMT were treated with transfusions of donor buffy coat leucocytes. In both patients the marrow reverted to a completely normal karyotype and was negative for the BCR-ABL fusion gene transcript by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Before buffy coat transfusion the cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor frequency against pre-BMT patient leukaemia cells (Lk-CTLP) was lower than that against pre-BMT patient PHA-transformed lymphocytes (Ly-CTLP) in both cases. At 2 weeks (case 1) and 8 weeks (case 2) after transfusion this ratio inverted so that Lk-CTLP predominated. Natural killer (NK) function fell initially and then recovered to exceed pre-transfusion values prior to normalization of the bone marrow karyotype. These changes in cytotoxic T lymphocytes and NK cells following donor buffy coat transfusions for patients with relapsed chronic myeloid leukaemia after marrow transplantation support the concept of a graft-versus-leukaemia effect mediated by both MHC restricted and non-restricted pathways.

The negative impact of donor marrow T lymphocyte depletion on relapse of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) following bone marrow transplantation strongly suggests that the leukaemia is particularly susceptible to immune regulation. The immune response to CML may be mediated by major histocompatibility (MHC) locus unrestricted natural killer and lymphokine activated killer cells, or by MHC-restricted CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes. Interaction with the leukaemia is both by direct cell-contact cytotoxicity, and indirectly via cytokines and growth factors. T4 and T8 lymphocytes recognize a spectrum of minor histocompatibility antigens on the leukaemia cell which may be non-specific, leading to graft-versus-leukaemia and graft-versus-host reactions, or present only on myeloid cells leading to a tissue restricted response. The possibility that the P210 protein derived from the BCR/ABL fusion gene on chromosome 22 leads to the presentation via MHC molecules of leukaemia-specific peptide antigens is currently under investigation. Developments in understanding the immune response to CML open up the possibility of developing leukaemia-specific immunotherapy strategies.

Using 4π data from the Bevalac streamer chamber, we compare the information contained in azimuthal correlations for fragment pairs (as in conventional flow analyses) and higher‐order (N≥3) multiplets. Our findings serve to quantify the ‘‘collectivity’’ of the azimuthal correlations. The magnitude of the flow correlation increases strongly with N, demonstrating that the phenomenon is indeed a collective effect.

The incidence of the two principle types of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma) in five different areas of Thailand was compared with the prevalence of exposure to the main risk factors in samples of the population. Cholangiocarcinoma showed striking variations in incidence, which correlated closely with markers of exposure to the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini. However, there was little geographic variation in incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma or in prevalence of the major risk factors (chronic carriage of hepatitis B virus and exposure to aflatoxin), and apparently there was little relationship between them.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor (CTLp) frequency assays were examined in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) using recipient lymphocytes or CML cells as targets in a 51Cr release cytotoxicity assay. Eighteen patients were studied; 11 received marrow from a fully HLA A, B and DR matched sibling donor, and six from matched unrelated donors or a partially matched sibling (one patient). Two of the unrelated donor transplant recipients received marrow depleted of T lymphocytes, and the remainder received unmanipulated marrow and cyclosporin with or without methotrexate as prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Donor cells tested before BMT did not generate CTL against the patients' leukaemia, but up to 9 months after BMT a low frequency of CTLp directed against the patients' CML cells (Lk-CTLp) was detected in all patients. The Lk-CTLp frequency was significantly lower than the frequency of CTLp directed against the recipients' PHA transformed pretransplant lymphocytes (Ly-CTLp) (p less than 0.05). Lk-CTLp showed MHC restricted cytotoxicity and did not demonstrate cytotoxicity in an NK assay. The Lk-CTLp frequency correlated with both GVHD severity and relapse: severe GVHD was only seen with Lk-CTLp frequencies greater than 1:400,000, while leukaemic relapse was only observed in two patients with Lk-CTLp frequencies less than 1:400,000. These results show that a low frequency of alloreactive cells of presumed donor origin with cytotoxic potential against residual leukaemia normally circulate after BMT. Their relationship with the graft-versus-leukaemia phenomenon and their cross-reaction with GVHD reacting cells remain to be determined.

We present a new type of flow analysis, based on a particle-pair correlation function, in which there is no need for an event-by-event determination of the reaction plane. Consequently, the need to correct for dispersion in an estimated reaction plane does not arise. Our method also offers the option to avoid any influence from particle misidentification. Using this method, streamer chamber data for collisions of Ar+KCl and Ar+${\mathrm{BaI}}_{2}$ at 1.2 GeV/nucleon are compared with predictions of a nuclear transport model.

Several laboratories have initiated studies to assess human exposure to aflatoxin at an individual level by measuring aflatoxin metabolites in the urine by immunoassay. The fact that the antibodies recognize a variety of metabolites, albeit with differing affinities, means that any environmental factor that modifies the pattern of urinary metabolites associated with a given exposure could affect quantification in immunoassay. We have examined two such possible effects: (i) the pattern of metabolites after a dose of 14C-aflatoxin B1 in rats and (ii) the pattern of metabolites in hamsters and humans with and without exposure to liver flukes. We found no dose-related effect on the pattern of urinary metabolites over a 250-fold range, but there was a significant increase in the proportion of water-soluble aflatoxin metabolites in hamsters infected with liver fluke over that in uninfected animals. In human urine samples, there also appeared to be a difference in the metabolites in individuals infected with liver fluke from those in uninfected persons. These observations are relevant to both mechanistic and monitoring aspects of research into aflatoxins.

Immunotherapy with recombinant human Interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) was given to nine patients in first complete remission from acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Five patients relapsed. The median time to relapse after commencing rhIL-2 was 26 weeks (range 2-44). Four patients were studied at relapse. The morphological and cytochemical features at relapse and presentation were similar. Cytogenetic analysis at relapse in patients 1 and 3 showed a normal karyotype. At relapse, patient 4 had the abnormality 46,XY, t(2;3). Patient 2 had the chromosomal abnormality t(8;21) at presentation and relapse. Patients 3 and 4 with M5 AML relapsed rapidly at 2 and 9 weeks after starting rhIL-2 treatment. Relapse leukaemia cells had features normally associated with lymphoid development. Patient 3 was TdT positive, with rearranged immunoglobulin genes, and a proportion of cells expressing the CD7 antigen; patient 4 also expressed the CD7 antigen. Relapse leukaemic cells from three of four patients expressed the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor as assessed by flow cytometry. After overnight incubation and removal of T-lymphocytes the proportion of cells from these patients expressing the alpha chain increased from 15% to 61% (P less than 0.01). Using tritiated thymidine uptake to assess cell proliferation, two of three patients who expressed the IL-2 receptor alpha chain proliferated in response to 1000 u/ml of rhIL-2 in vitro, with a stimulation index greater than 1.95 (P less than 0.05). Following rhIL-2 immunotherapy for AML, relapse cells may express an inducible form of the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor, which can mediate a proliferative response. It is possible that rhIL-2 when administered to AML patients in remission, may induce relapse. This may be a particular risk in patients with the M5 subtype.

Aflatoxin (AF) albumin adducts are found in peripheral blood after exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the measurement of these adducts is potentially a useful tool in the epidemiological study of the role of AFB1 in the etiology of liver cancer. Three complementary approaches to the quantitation of AF-albumin adducts are described: (a) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed directly on intact albumin (direct ELISA); (b) ELISA performed on an albumin hydrolysate (hydrolysis ELISA); (c) high-performance liquid chromatographic fluorescence detection of AF-lysine adduct after albumin hydrolysis and immunoaffinity purification. These techniques have been validated by direct comparison with rat albumin samples modified to a known extent. Detection limits of approximately 100, 5.0, and 5.0 pg AF/mg human albumin were determined for the three methods, respectively. Samples obtained from individuals from Thailand, The Gambia, Kenya, and France have been used to validate the measurement of AF-albumin adducts by these three methods. Levels of 7 to 338 pg AF/mg albumin were observed in the former two countries while no adducts were detected in samples from France. The relative properties of the three assays, with special regard to their application in epidemiological studies, are considered. A combination of the hydrolysis ELISA for large scale screening followed by confirmatory analyses in positive samples by high-performance liquid chromatographic fluorescence is suggested as an optimum methodology.

Four analogs of cephalotaxine esters (C1Z, C2E, C3E, C4E) were synthesized. The ratio of the Z, E isomers of the side chain alpha, beta-unsaturated ester carboxylic acids is reported. The Z isomer was easy to transform to the E isomer. Compound C1Z showed significant activity of inducing cancer cell HL-60 differentiation. It also showed inhibitory activity on Leukemia L1210.