Case Report: Coexistence of Non-Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Follicular Lymphoma in Nasopharynx
Pages 93-96
Tao Xu, Weihong Wei, Zeli Huang and Weihan Hu

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2014.03.02.2

Published: 08 May 2014

Abstract: We report a very rare case of coexistence of non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma and follicular lymphoma in nasopharynx. A 52-year-old woman was admitted in our hospital because of painless enlarged bilateral cervical mass. Nasopharyngoscopy revealed a nasopharyngeal mass, and biopsy showed follicular lymphoma cells infiltrating non-keratinizing squamous carcinoma. The patient underwent combined treatment which targeted two tumors and was alive without any progression in one-year follow up.

Disease–Free Remission Exceeding 37 Years in Patients Treated as Children for Acute Leukemia (AL) with Immunotherapy Using Viable (Cryopreserved) Allogeneic Leukemic Cells
Pages 254-264
Tatiana I. Bulycheva, Svetlana A. Mayakova and Simon V. Skurkovich

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2013.02.04.4

Published: 31 October 2013

Abstract: At present time in spite of great achievements in modern chemotherapy of acute leukemia (AL) the issue of eradication of residual leukemic cells (MRD) is still relevant. Since 1971 we included specific immunotherapy in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission using viable cryopreserved allogeneic leukemic cells. 67 children in remission were divided into 2 groups: 27 constituted the control group (only continued standard-for-that-time chemotherapy) and 40 children – the treatment which received immunotherapy in addition to standard chemotherapy. In 3 years all children in the control group relapsed. The median length of remission was 15 months. In the treatment group we observed stabilization of remission only in children over 7 years of age when immunization was initiated after 6 or more months of remission and in children younger than 7 if it was initiated after 1-1,5 years of remission. The median length of remission was 60 months which significantly exceeded (4 times) that parameter in the control group of children. Cytotoxic antibodies against leukemic cells appeared in the serum of effectively immunized children at a higher titer than against donor lymphocytes. Intrathecal administration of this hyperimmune serum to patients with neuroleukemia resistant to chemotherapy led to a sharp decrease in the amount of leukemic cells in the spinal fluid. After 5 years of remission (and 3-5 years of immunotherapy) all treatment in these patients was stopped. Out of 19 patients who received immunotherapy on time, 8 patients (42%) have been in event-free remission for 37 to 41 years (median – 38 years) through the present time and enjoy high quality of life. Our results indicate that immunotherapy initiated during remission period of AL can lead to creation of anti-leukemic immunity with subsequent eradication of MRD and complete recovery.

Dietary Ascorbic Acid-Mediated Augmentation of Antitumor Activity and Protection Against Toxicities Induced by Cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum-(II) in Dalton’s Lymphoma-Bearing Mice
Pages 116-130
Amenla, Akalesh Kumar Verma and Surya Bali Prasad

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2013.02.02.6

Published: 30 April 2013 

Abstract: Cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum-(II) (CDDP) commonly known as cisplatin is considered as a major anticancer drug against a broad spectrum of malignancies. This study evaluates the modulatory effect of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) on the therapeutic efficacy of CDDP against murine ascites Dalton’s lymphoma (DL) and some tissue toxicities in tumor-bearing mice.

As compared to CDDP alone, the combination treatment with ascorbic acid (AA) plus CDDP showed better therapeutic efficacy against murine ascites Dalton’s lymphoma. DL cells treated with CDDP showed the appearance of apoptotic features involving fragmentation of nucleus into discrete masses and plasma membrane blebbing. As compared to CDDP alone, combination treatment caused an increase in the number of apoptotic DL cells. Reduced glutathione (GSH) level was noted to decrease in DL cells while it increased in kidney after combination treatment. Blood haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (eosinophils, basophils and lymphocytes) were also decreased after CDDP treatment while overall betterment in hematological parameters was noted after combination treatment. The analysis of renal function tests (RFT) and liver function tests (LFT) suggest an improvement against CDDP-induced liver and kidney toxicities after combination treatment.

The decrease in GSH levels particularly in DL cells and an increase in kidney and liver after combination treatment may have a role in the antitumor activity and decrease in CDDP-induced toxicity in the tumor-bearing host. Improvement in the LFT, RFT and hematological toxicities after combination treatment may have a beneficial effect in the improved survival of tumor-bearing mice.

EGCG Suppresses Melanoma Tumor Angiogenesis and Growth without Affecting Angiogenesis and VEGF Expression in the Heart and Skeletal Muscles in Mice
Pages 19-29
Kevan B. Tucker, Kristina L. Makey, Edmund Chinchar, Min Huang, Natale Sheehan, Srinivasan Vijayakumar and Jian-Wei Gu

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2014.03.01.3

Published: 31 January 2014

Abstract: Melanoma is a highly malignant cancer with a potent capacity to metastasize distantly and has a higher mortality. There is no effective therapy for high risk melanoma patients to prevent relapse or distant metastasis. Therefore effective chemoprevention strategies are needed. The present study mainly evaluates the effects of EGCG on melanoma angiogenesis, growth, and capillary density (CD) in the heart and skeletal muscles of mice. 5 x 10^5 B16F10 cells were inoculated into the right proximal dorsal of the back in the eight week old male mice (n=12). Then, 6 mice received EGCG at 50–100 mg/kg/d in drinking water for 4 weeks and 6 control mice received drinking water only. Tumor size was monitored using dial calipers. At the end of the experiment, blood samples, tumors, hearts, and limb muscles were collected and measured for VEGF expression using ELISA and capillary density (CD) using CD31 immunohistochemistry. Compared to the control, EGCG treatment significantly reduced tumor weight (2.9±0.5 vs. 5.9±1.1 g; P<0.01; n=6), melanoma CD (117±9 vs. 167±23; P<0.01), and melanoma VEGF expression (32±1.5 vs. 42±2 pg/mg; P < 0.01), respectively. Also EGCG had no effects on body weight, heart weight, angiogenesis or VEGF expression in the heart and skeletal muscle of mice. EGCG (20-50 µg/ml) significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, VEGF expression, and the activation of HIF-1α and NFκB in cultured B16F10 cells, respectively. These findings support the hypothesis that EGCG, a major green tea polyphenol, directly targets tumor cells and tumor vasculature, thereby inhibiting tumor growth, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of melanoma, and that the down-regulation of VEGF expression by EGCG is associated with the inhibition of HIF-1α and NFκB activation. EGCG has great potential as a chemopreventive agent because it has no effect on angiogenesis in normal tissue and has low toxicity.