Jack fruit lectin binding pattern in carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

A lectin was isolated and purified from the seeds of Jack Fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) using a column of immobilized N-acetyl D-Galactosamine. The Jack Fruit lectin (JFL) was conjugated to horse radish peroxidase (HRP). The purified conjugate was used to study the binding properties of tissues from carcinomas of the uterine cervix.

Presence of a receptor for the active component of Iscador in ascites fluid of tumour bearing mice.

Tumour bearing mice exhibit a specific "receptor" in the ascites fluid which binds with the active component isolated from Iscador. This "receptor" was found to be a protein which inhibited the cytotoxicity of Iscador and its isolated active component at low concentration. The receptor protein was also found in the sonicates of tumour cells which are susceptible to the action of Iscador but not in lymphocytes which were not susceptible to Iscador or its isolated active component.

Ackerman's tumour (Verrucous carcinoma) of the oral cavity: a histopathologic study of 426 cases.

Salient histopathological features of four hundred and twenty six (426) cases of verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity reported jointly by the Department of Oral Pathology, Dental College and Department of Pathology, Medical College, Trivandrum, during the period from January 1975 to December 1984 were evaluated. They constituted 5.27% of 7,988 primary malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity detected during the period.

An alternative pathogenetic pathway for oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF).

Oral submucous fibrosis is a potent pre-cancerous condition which occurs almost exclusively in Indians but cases have been reported from several countries. The definite aetiology of OSMF is still unknown and there is no known treatment for it. Chilles, tobacco use, vitamin deficiencies and betel quid chewing have been implicated.

Jack fruit lectin binding pattern in benign and malignant lesions of the breast.

N-acetyl D-galactosamine specific lectin was isolated from Jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) and conjugated to horse radish peroxidase type VI. The purified conjugate was used for the study of tissue binding properties on benign and malignant lesions of the breast using diaminobenzidine as substrate on dewaxed tissue sections. Forty mammary carcinomas, 10 cystic hyperplasias of the breast and 10 normal breast tissues were used for the study.

Assessment of immunological parameters during tumour development in a murine model.

Natural Killer activity assessed by 51Cr release assay from K-562 cells showed detectable activity from 5th day after tumour transplantation, reaching a peak on 12th day and thereafter showing a gradual decline in the activity. Antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity estimated by 51Cr labelled sheep red blood cells anti SRBC system demonstrated a peak activity on 5th day. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity detected by 51Cr release of Dalton's lymphoma ascites target cells showed a peak on 10th day.

Isolation and identification of a tumour reducing component from mistletoe extract (Iscador).

Using a combination of gel filtration and paper chromatography, a tumour reducing component from mistletoe extract (Iscador) was isolated and identified to be a peptide of approximate molecular weight 5000. The isolated peptide reduced the solid tumour induced by Dalton's lymphoma ascites tumour cells (DLA cells) in mice. The isolated component was very cytotoxic to the DLA cells but was not cytotoxic to normal lymphocytes, indicating a cell dependent specificity.

Preliminary studies on the immunopotentiating action of some ayurvedic preparations.

Ten healthy controls, 9 Rheumatoid Arthritis patients and 5 cancer patients were studied for T and B cells in peripheral circulation. T cell count in cancer patients showed a slight enhancement after receiving Ayurvedic Treatment; but the B cell count remained the same. In Rheumatoid Arthritis patients no significant change was noticed either in T cell or cell count.

Role of levamisole immunotherapy as an adjuvant to radiotherapy in oral cancer. II. Lymphocyte subpopulations.

The effect of radiotherapy and adjuvant levamisole immunotherapy on the lymphocyte subpopulations was investigated. Comparisons were made between the groups receiving levamisole, those receiving placebo and normal healthy controls. Results of a thirty-month follow-up are reported.

Role of levamisole immunotherapy as an adjuvant to radiotherapy in oral cancer--immune responses.

Investigations were carried out to assess the effect of levamisole immunotherapy as an adjuvant to radiotherapy on the immune response of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Parameters assessed were leukocyte migration inhibition, response to PPD and oral cancer extract (OCA), lymphocyte transformation to PHA, circulating antibodies to OCA and circulating immune complexes (CIC). Comparisons were made between groups receiving levamisole (L), those receiving placebo (P) and normal controls.

Role of levamisole immunotherapy as an adjuvant to radiotherapy in oral cancer. I. A three-year clinical follow up.

Eighty-two patients with squamous cells carcinoma of the oral cavity belonging to stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 were randomized to receive either levamisole or placebo therapy following conventional radiotherapy. Oral levamisole, at 150 mg daily doses for three consecutive days, was given once every two weeks. The patients were followed-up for three years and the results reported.

Tissue binding patterns of lectins in premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity.

Lectins from the seeds of Jackfruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) and winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) were isolated using an immobilized N-acetyl D-galactosamine column and conjugated to type VI horse radish peroxidase. The purified conjugate was used for the study of tissue specificities using diaminobenzidine as the substrate on dewaxed tissue sections of normal, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, verucous carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. In spite of having a common inhibitory sugar, winged bean lectin did not bind to any lectins whereas Jackfruit lectin showed varying degrees of binding towards the above tissues.

Demonstration of HSV-I antigen in patients with oral cancer by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques.

Biopsies from one hundred and seventy five patients suffering from carcinoma of the oral cavity were examined for the presence of Herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1) antigen, using Immunofluorescence (Direct and indirect) and immunoperoxidase techniques. Seventy-seven percent of the biopsies showed significant fluorescence, while 71% showed positivity with immunoperoxidase staining. There was no correlation either in the degree of fluorescence or in the intensity of peroxidase staining with clinical stage of the disease.

Serum immunoglobulins in patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity, uterine cervix and breast.

Serum immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgE) were estimated in 196 patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity, 172 patients with cervical cancer and 166 patients with breast cancer. The values were compared with those of 50 patients with benign lesions of the breast and cervix and 100 healthy adult controls. Only the serum IgE levels were found to be elevated in the benign group.

High affinity rosette forming cells in carcinoma of the oral cavity, uterine cervix and breast.

Total rosette forming cells (TRFC) and high affinity rosette forming cells (HARFC) were enumerated in 534 patients with carcinoma of oral cavity, uterine cervix or breast, and the results were compared with adult controls. The HARFC levels were found to be significantly decreased in cancer patients, and this decrease was more pronounced in advanced clinical stages. The HARFC levels returned to normal in patients who had a clinical cure but remained low in patients having residual disease.

Detection of herpes simplex virus type-2 antigen(s) in biopsies from carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Indirect immunofluorescence technique was employed to detect herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) antigens in tumor biopsies from 215 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix. A total of 169 samples (79%) revealed brilliant nuclear fluorescence. Inflammatory cells infiltrating the tumor mass were positive to 60 of the 215 patients (28%).

Leucocyte adherence inhibition assay (LAI) in cancer of the oral cavity.

Antitumor immunity to oral cancer was assessed in 46 patients suffering from squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity using a leucocyte adherence inhibition assay (LAI). The response shown by the leucocytes of oral cancer patients to the oral cancer antigen was compared to that shown by the leucocytes from 10 normal age- and sex-matched healthy controls and 43 patients suffering from other types of cancers. Seventy-six percent of the oral cancer patients showed a high degree of leucocyte adherence inhibition in the presence of the antigen.

Quantitation of Fc receptor-bearing T-lymphocytes (TG and TM) in oral cancer.

The lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of 30 untreated patients with oral cancer and 15 apparently healthy normal controls were studied for quantitation of T-cell subsets. When compared to age-matched controls, the patients as a group showed a significant increase in the proportion and number of TG cells (IgG Fc receptor-bearing T-cells) and a significant reduction in the TM cells (IgM Fc-bearing T-cells). The levels of total lymphocytes, T-cells, and B-cells remained in the control range.