melphalan and Cystadenoma

We investigated the effect of pharmacological modulators on the cytotoxic activity of melphalan and cisplatin in human ovarian cystadenocarcinoma cells sensitive (OAW42) or resistant (OAW42MER) to bifunctional alkylating agents. By filter elution experiments we observed a reduced accumulation and a faster repair of melphalan-induced DNA interstrand cross-links in the OAW42MER resistant cells than in the OAW42 parental, sensitive cells. Moreover, resistant cells were characterized by an increased level of mRNA encoding enzymes involved in the nucleotide excision repair pathway, such as ERCC (excision repair cross complementing)1 and ERCC2. Among the modulators used, the topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan was able to increase melphalan cytotoxic activity in sensitive and resistant cell lines. Topotecan also positively modulated cisplatin activity, although to a variable extent in the two cell lines, as a function of treatment schedule. The energolytic compound lonidamine markedly enhanced the cytotoxicity of melphalan and cisplatin, with a potentiating effect in the OAW42MER resistant cells almost 2-fold that of in the OAW42 sensitive cells. No significant potentiation was observed by using calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil and nimodipine. Conversely, an increase in melphalan cytotoxic activity was determined by flunarizine in OAW42MER resistant cells and, to a lesser extent, in OAW42 sensitive cells. However, the calcium blocker failed to modulate cisplatin activity in both cell lines.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Blotting, Northern; Calcium Channel Blockers; Cell Survival; Cisplatin; Culture Media; Cystadenoma; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Female; Flunarizine; Humans; Melphalan; Nimodipine; Ovarian Neoplasms; RNA Probes; RNA, Neoplasm; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Verapamil

Topics: Bone Marrow; Cystadenoma; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Ovarian Neoplasms; Radiotherapy

We report the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 109 patients with ovarian cancer. Histology, degree of differentiation, and clinical stage influenced the incidence of positive CEA. Although CEA was significantly raised in patients with a variety of tumours, the highest incidence (77 per cent) was found in those with serious cystadenocarcinoma. Nearly all (94 per cent) of the poorly differentiated tumours were associated with a positive CEA result. Serial CEA levels provided a useful guide to management during cytotoxic chemotherapy, rapidly falling levels indicating a favourable tumour response which was reflected clinically. However, only two-thirds of tumours were associated with detectable CEA levels in serum, day-to-day variations in individual serum levels occurred, and CEA levels tended to fall paradoxically during terminal illness. The significance of persistently low levels in the apparent absence of disease was uncertain.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Cystadenocarcinoma; Cystadenoma; Dysgerminoma; Endometriosis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Granulosa Cell Tumor; Humans; Melphalan; Mesonephroma; Ovarian Neoplasms; Pregnancy

Topics: Cystadenoma; Female; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Peritoneal Neoplasms

Topics: Adult; Cyclophosphamide; Cystadenoma; Dysgerminoma; Female; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Ovarian Neoplasms; Teratoma; Thecoma; Thiotepa

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary; Cystadenoma; Female; Granulosa Cell Tumor; Humans; Melphalan; Neoplasm Metastasis; Ovarian Neoplasms

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma; Cystadenocarcinoma; Cystadenoma; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Ovarian Neoplasms

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Chromium Isotopes; Cobalt Isotopes; Cystadenoma; Dysgerminoma; Female; Gold Isotopes; Granulosa Cell Tumor; Humans; Melphalan; Ovarian Neoplasms; Phosphorus Isotopes; Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor; Teratoma; Time Factors