epidermal-growth-factor and Leukemia--Myeloid

Most drugs available for cancer chemotherapy exert their effects through cytodestruction. Although significant advances have been attained with these cytotoxic agents in several malignant diseases, response is often accompanied by significant morbidity and many common malignant tumours respond poorly to existing cytotoxic therapy. Development of chemotherapeutic agents with non-cytodestructive actions appears desirable. Considerable evidence exists which indicates that (a) the malignant state is not irreversible and represents a disease of altered maturation, and (b) some experimental tumour systems can be induced by chemical agents to differentiate to mature end-stage cells with no proliferative potential. Thus, it is conceivable that therapeutic agents can be developed which convert cancer cells to benign forms. To study the phenomenon of blocked maturation, squamous carcinoma SqCC/Y1 cells were employed in culture. Using this system it was possible to demonstrate that physiological levels of retinoic acid and epidermal growth factor were capable of preventing the differentiation of these malignant keratinocytes into a mature tissue-like structure. The terminal differentiation caused by certain antineoplastic agents was investigated in HL-60 promyelocytic leukaemia cells to provide information on the mechanism by which chemotherapeutic agents induce cells to by-pass a maturation block. The anthracyclines aclacinomycin A and marcellomycin were potent inhibitors of N-glycosidically linked glycoprotein biosynthesis and transferrin receptor activity, and active inducers of maturation; temporal studies suggested that the biochemical effects were associated with the differentiation process. 6-Thioguanine produced cytotoxicity in parental cells by forming analog nucleotide. In hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase negative HL-60 cells the 6-thiopurine initiated maturation; this action was due to the free base (and possibly the deoxyribonucleoside), a finding which separated termination of proliferation due to cytotoxicity from that caused by maturation.

Topics: Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Epidermal Growth Factor; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Models, Biological; Naphthacenes; Thioguanine; Tretinoin

The hematopoietic supporting abilities are known to be impaired in marrow stromal layers developed from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4), epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were studied to see whether these growth factors can modify the functional development of leukemic stromal layers. Adherent stromal layers from 13 patients with AML and from six non-leukemic controls were established with 3ng/ml of FGF-4, EGF or TGF-beta1. Established stromal layers were washed three times and irradiated, followed by recharge of allogenic peripheral CD34 positive cells as an indicator of supportive function. Progenitor-outputs into supernatant were evaluated at biweekly interval with colony-forming assay until 6 weeks. The results showed that both leukemic and non-leukemic stromal cells established with FGF-4, but not with EGF, showed significantly higher progenitor cell-outputs compared with control stromal cells. By contrast, stromal cells developed with TGF-beta1 showed significantly lower progenitor cell-outputs compared with control. These differences were significant at later than 4 weeks after the recharge of indicator cells, suggesting that the stromal layer developed with EGF or TGF-beta1 preferentially affected the primitive progenitors rather than committed ones. These results indicate that FGF-4 and TGF-beta1 differentially affect the functional development of leukemic as well as of normal stromal layers.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bone Marrow; Cell Communication; Cell Count; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Division; Coculture Techniques; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Growth Substances; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Middle Aged; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Stromal Cells; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is an EGF family member expressed by numerous cell types that binds to EGF receptor 1 (HER-1) or 4 (HER-4) inducing mitogenic and/or chemotactic activities. Membrane-bound HB-EGF retains growth activity and adhesion capabilities and the unique property of being the receptor for diphtheria toxin (DT). The interest in studying HB-EGF in acute leukemia stems from these mitogenic, chemotactic, and receptor functions. We analyzed the expression of HB-EGF in L428, Raji, Jurkat, Karpas 299, L540, 2C8, HL-60, U937, THP-1, ML-3, and K562 cell lines and in primary blasts from 12 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases, by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot and by the evaluation of sensitivity to DT. The release of functional HB-EGF was assessed by evaluation of its proliferative effects on the HB-EGF-sensitive Balb/c 3T3 cell line. HB-EGF was expressed by all myeloid and T, but not B (L428, Raji), lymphoid cell lines tested, as well as by the majority (8 of 12) of ex vivo AML blasts. Cell lines (except for the K562 cell line) and AML blasts expressing HB-EGF mRNA underwent apoptotic death following exposure to DT, thus demonstrating the presence of the HB-EGF molecule on their membrane. Leukemic cells also released a fully functional HB-EGF molecule that was mitogenic for the Balb/c 3T3 cell line. Factors relevant to the biology of leukemic growth, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), 1alpha,25-(OH)2D3, and especially all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), upregulated HB-EGF mRNA in HL-60 or ML-3 cells. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induced HB-EGF mRNA and acquisition of sensitivity to DT in one previously HB-EGF-negative leukemia case. Moreover, the U937 and Karpas 299 cell lines expressed HER-4 mRNA. This work shows that HB-EGF is a growth factor produced by primary leukemic cells and regulated by ATRA, 1alpha, 25-(OH)2D3, and GM-CSF.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Apoptosis; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Jurkat Cells; K562 Cells; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; U937 Cells

The MEN gene (also called ELL) encodes an RNA polymerase II elongation factor that has been implicated in t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) translocation in myeloid leukemias. The function of another elongation factor, elongin, is known to be inhibited by VHL tumor suppressor protein in vitro, suggesting the possible relationship of aberrant transcriptional elongation to oncogenesis. We overexpressed the MEN protein in Rat1 fibroblasts to evaluate its transforming activity. MEN-overexpressing cells acquired the capacity for anchorage-independent growth. In addition, the growth factor requirement was decreased in these cells. However, cells expressing a deletion mutant of MEN lacking the lysine-rich region did not exhibit such biological abilities. c-Fos protein expression and AP-1 activity were elevated in the MEN-expressing cells, which might be part of the mechanism responsible for the transformation. The c-fos mRNA, the expression of which is known to be regulated partly at the stage of transcriptional elongation, appeared earlier in the MEN-expressing cells than in cells transfected with an empty vector or the deletion mutant lacking the lysine-rich region after stimulation with epidermal growth factor. The RNA polymerase II elongation factor MEN may play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Animals; Cell Nucleus; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cells, Cultured; DNA-Binding Proteins; Epidermal Growth Factor; Fibroblasts; Gene Expression; Gene Transfer Techniques; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Lysine; Mice; Mutation; Neoplasm Proteins; Peptide Elongation Factors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Recombinant Proteins; Retroviridae; RNA Polymerase II; RNA, Messenger; Sequence Deletion; Transcription Factor AP-1; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptional Elongation Factors

We studied 18 patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia and 13 with relapsed APL. We found a significantly elevated EGF in acute leukaemia, especially in APL, being 418.59 +/- 19.2 micrograms in the 24-h urine that was much higher than that of the normal controls. When eight APL patients achieved complete remission by RA treatment, the EGF value decreased to 149.9 +/- 27.3 micrograms in the 24-h urine near to normal. In 13 patients with relapsed APL, EGF rose to 446.9 +/- 82.6 micrograms in the 24-h urine. Most interestingly, this elevated EGF could be detected before the relapse by 5 +/- 0.84 months in seven out of eight APL with relapse. We suggest that the unaccountably elevated EGF during remission period may be an indicator of the occurrence of relapse.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Base Sequence; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cell Differentiation; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Sequence Data; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm, Residual; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Remission Induction; Tretinoin

Previous studies have demonstrated quantitation of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) to be of prognostic significance in breast, bladder, esophageal and other neoplasms. However, the relatively large quantity of unfixed tissue required for epidermal growth factor radioligand binding assays (RLBA) has precluded its application to cytologic specimens and small biopsy specimens. For this reason we evaluated reverse transcription intron differential polymerase chain reaction (RTIDPCR) as an assay of EGFR gene expression. Squamous cell carcinoma (A431 and SiHa), transitional cell carcinoma (HT1376, T24, RT4), mammary (MCF7) and endocervical (HeLa) adenocarcinoma, and leukemia (K562) cell lines were used to compare RTIDPCR and RLBA. RTIDPCR involved reverse transcription of RNA and amplification of cDNA using primers for beta-actin and EGFR. Good agreement was observed between the RLBA and RTIDPCR results. RNA extracted from fresh cells, Diff-Quik-stained smears and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cell pellet sections yielded similar results. These data suggest that RTIDPCR may be useful in evaluating gene expression by cells processed as cytologic specimens.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Base Sequence; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Gene Expression; Genes, Neoplasm; Humans; Introns; Leukemia, Myeloid; Molecular Sequence Data; Neoplasms; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Neoplasm; Staining and Labeling; Tissue Embedding; Tissue Preservation; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Previous studies showed that factor-independent, late-passage HL60 acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) cells proliferated in response to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) after treatment with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or other agents inducing cellular differentiation. In the present studies, we examined mechanisms of this response. After treatment with DMSO, GM-CSF delayed expression of some HL60 differentiation programs (CD11b expression), but not others (nitro blue tetrazolium dye reduction), and delayed the exit of cells from the cell cycle. In the presence of DMSO, GM-CSF but not granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) increased expression of steady-state c-myc RNA. DMSO-treated HL60 cells expressing heterologous epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors also proliferated in response to EGF and showed increased c-myc expression. Nuclear transcription studies showed that GM-CSF did not alter c-myc transcription in DMSO-treated cells, and studies using actinomycin-D showed no increase in steady-state c-myc RNA half-life. These studies indicate that GM-CSF increases post-deterministic proliferation and alters the phenotype of differentiating HL60 cells, and post-transcriptional alterations in c-myc expression may be responsible for some of these changes. Heterologous EGF receptors mediate similar responses, suggesting that treating HL60 cells with DMSO may reveal a common pathway of growth factor gene regulation.

Topics: Blotting, Northern; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Dactinomycin; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; Genes, myc; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Phenotype; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; Transcription, Genetic

The chromosomal location of Evi-1, a common site of ecotropic viral integration in AKXD murine myelogenous leukemias, was determined by recombinant inbred and conventional backcross analyses. We mapped Evi-1 to a location approximately 15 cM distal to the carbonic anhydrase locus on murine Chromosome 3. The chromosomal location of the proto-oncogene Nras, and two growth factors, epidermal growth factor (Egf), and the beta subunit of nerve growth factor (Ngfb), which had previously been assigned to Chromosome 3 by somatic cell hybrid analysis, were also determined. The location of Evi-1 is distinct from these three loci and from all other proto-oncogenes, common sites of viral integration, or growth factor loci previously mapped in mouse chromosomes. These results suggest that Evi-1 represents a new locus involved in myeloid disease.

Topics: Animals; Chromosome Mapping; Crosses, Genetic; Epidermal Growth Factor; Leukemia, Experimental; Leukemia, Myeloid; Mice; Mice, Inbred A; Mice, Inbred AKR; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred DBA; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Proto-Oncogenes; Recombination, Genetic; Retroviridae

We have identified in a human cDNA library a clone (hp2F1) whose cognate RNA is growth-regulated. The insert has been sequenced and the nucleotide sequence shows a strong homology to the nucleotide sequences of the ADP/ATP carrier cDNA and gene, respectively, isolated from Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The putative amino acid sequence of hp2F1 shows an 87% homology to the amino acid sequence of the ADP/ATP carrier from beef heart mitochondria. We conclude that the insert of hp2F1 contains the full coding sequence of a human ADP/ATP carrier. The steady-state RNA levels of the ADP/ATP carrier are growth-regulated. They increase when quiescent cells are stimulated by serum, platelet-derived growth factor, or epidermal growth factor, but not by platelet-poor plasma or insulin. RNA levels of the ADP/ATP carrier decrease instead when growing HL-60 cells are induced to differentiate by either phorbol esters or retinoic acid.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Blood; Cattle; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cloning, Molecular; DNA; Epidermal Growth Factor; Growth Substances; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Mice; Mitochondria, Heart; Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases; Neurospora crassa; Nucleotidyltransferases; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; RNA, Messenger; Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The adherent or stromal cells in human long-term marrow cultures, a possible in vitro counterpart of the in vivo microenvironment, were investigated for responsiveness to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Many stromal cells from cultures derived from normal donors as well as from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, bore receptors to PDGF and were stimulated to incorporate [3H]-thymidine by highly purified PDGF and to a lesser extent by epidermal growth factor (EGF). These data suggest that PDGF and perhaps EGF may be involved in the regulation of the in vitro microenvironment and, therefore, of normal and possibly neoplastic hematopoiesis.

Topics: Autoradiography; Bone Marrow Cells; Culture Techniques; Epidermal Growth Factor; Fibroblasts; Hematopoiesis; Humans; Iodine Radioisotopes; Leukemia, Myeloid; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; Receptors, Cell Surface; Thymidine