Previous studies have shown that some human melanoma cells express transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA and are growth inhibited by exogenous TGF-beta, suggesting a possible negative autocrine role for this melanoma-derived growth factor. To better understand the role of endogenous TGF-beta in the development of melanoma, we investigated patterns of TGF-beta protein production and responsiveness of human melanoma cells as compared to normal melanocytes. Both cultured melanoma cells and normal melanocytes secreted biologically inactive, latent TGF-beta protein which, upon acid treatment, became biologically active. In melanoma cells, TGF-beta production occurred constitutively, i.e., in the absence of exogenous polypeptide growth factors. By contrast, in melanocytes, TGF-beta production depended on stimulation by exogenous growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor I. Exogenous, bioactive TGF-beta 1 at picomolar concentrations inhibited tritiated thymidine uptake of normal melanocytes, whereas melanoma cells demonstrated various degrees of resistance to TGF-beta-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis. Five of six cell lines were less sensitive than any of the melanocyte lines tested, and one cell line was completely resistant to inhibitory effects of TGF-beta on DNA synthesis. In vivo selection of melanoma cells for metastatic ability in athymic mice produced a variant cell line that was resistant to TGF-beta 1-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis and proliferation. Development of TGF-beta resistance in the variant cell line was not associated with changes in TGF-beta cell surface binding. Stable transfection of melanocytes with a plasmid expressing the Simian Virus 40 large T-antigen rendered these cells resistant to growth inhibition by TGF-beta, suggesting that TGF-beta inhibits melanoma/melanocyte growth via interaction with Simian Virus 40 large T-antigen-responsive transcription elements.
The inflammation-based modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) combines serum levels of C-reactive protein and albumin and was shown to predict survival in advanced cancer. We aimed to elucidate the prognostic impact of mGPS on survival as well as its predictive value when combined with gender in unselected metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients receiving first-line chemotherapy in the randomized phase III XELAVIRI trial.
The aim of this trial was to investigate the addition of the anti-SLAMF7 monoclonal antibody elotuzumab to lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVd) in induction and consolidation therapy as well as to lenalidomide maintenance treatment in transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
A 20‐yr‐old man with bulky mediastinal and retroperitoneal tumour masses identified as myeloblastoma is described. After a partial remission was induced by aggressive chemotherapy, mediastinal irradiation and retroperitoneal tumour resection, the patient received an allogeneic marrow graft from his HLA‐identical sister. The conditioning regimen consisted of high‐dose busulfan and cyclophosphamide. The patient has a well‐controlled secondary chronic graft‐versus‐host disease. He is in unmaintained complete remission and in good general condition at 20 months post‐transplantation.
