NASA Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports

in control virgin mice, expression of MRG transgene in the mammary gland in the transgenic mouse resulted in the formation
of alveolar-like structure. Consistent with the morphological change, expression of MRG also increased milk protein
beta-casein expression in the gland. Treatment of human breast cancer cells with w-3 PUFA DHA resulted in a differential
growth inhibition proportional to their MRG expression. MRG transfected cells or MRG protein treated cells were much more
sensitive to DHA-induced growth inhibition compared with MRG negative or control non-treated cells. Our results suggest
that MRG is a candidate mediator of the differentiating effect of pregnancy on breast epithelial cells and may play a major
role in w-3 PUFA-mediated tumor suppression.
DTIC
Cancer; Fatty Acids; Inhibitors; Mammary Glands; Neoplasms; Proteins; Tumors
20040111566 Texas Univ., Dallas, TX
A Novel Approach to Monitoring Prostate Tumor Oxygenation: Proton MRI of the Reporter Molecule Hexamethyldisiloxane
Cui, Weina; Mar. 2004; 12 pp.; In English
Contract(s)/Grant(s): DAMD17-03-1-0101
Report No.(s): AD-A425618; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy
Crowing evidence from experimental and clinical studies confirms that solid human tumors have foci of hypoxic cells,
which have a profound influence on the therapeutic outcome of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A strong argument
therefore exists for assessing the hypoxic fraction of tumors prior to patient treatment, and to tailor this treatment accordingly.
It has been shown that there is linear relationship between R of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) and p02, and the Rl of
HMDSO is insensitive to various ions and minimally sensitive to temperature. The primary sequence for in vivo Tl
measurement with water suppression has been established, and HMDSO is also detectable in prostate tumor. So,
Hexamethyldisiloxane shows promise as a reporter molecule to measure tumor oxygenation by 1H MRS and potentially by
MRI. This opens new opportunities for MR tumor oximetry, particularly since HMDSO is used widely in biomedical materials
and as an ingredient in consumer products; and HMDSO is reported to have minimal toxicity.
DTIC
Cancer; Methyl Polysiloxanes; Prostate Gland; Protons; Tumors
20040111567 Baltimore Univ., MD
A Novel Therapeutic Vaccine for Metastatic Mammary Carcinoma: Focusing MHC/ Peptide Complexes to Lipid Rafts
Dolan, Brian P.; May 2004; 9 pp.; In English
Contract(s)/Grant(s): DAMD17-03-1-0334
Report No.(s): AD-A425619; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A02, Hardcopy
Genetic engineering of tumor cells to express MHC class and subsequent use of said cells for treatment of established and
metastatic tumors has yielded promising results in animal models for treatment of breast cancer. It is widely believed that the
vaccine efficacy is due to the ability of such tumor cells to present tumor-specific antigens to cD4+ T helper cells which
activate the immune system to eradicate tumors. Next generation cells-based vaccines will have enhanced antigen presentation
capabilities to further stimulate the anti-tumor immune response. It has recently been proposed that MHC class II molecules
physically localize to cell-surface microdomains, termed lipid rafts, to enhance antigen presentation. Furthermore, a
correlation has been observed where cell-based tumor vaccines that have high levels of MHC class II in such rafts have higher
efficacy than those with diminished or abolished levels of MHC class II in rafts. We propose to further target MHC class II
molecules to lipid rafts to enhance the antigen presentation capabilities of tumor cell-based vaccines and than to use these
modified vaccine cells for the treatment of established, metastatic disease in mouse models of breast cancer.
DTIC
Genetic Engineering; Lipids; Mammary Glands; Metastasis; Neoplasms; Peptides; Rafts; Therapy; Vaccines
20040111568 Wright State Univ., Dayton, OH
Proteomic Analysis of Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer
Turchi, John J.; Mar. 2004; 10 pp.; In English
Contract(s)/Grant(s): DAMD17-03-1-0155
Report No.(s): AD-A425620; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A02, Hardcopy
One of the major clinical challenges in the treatment of ovarian cancer is that the cancer cells are, or become, resistant
to the drugs used to treat the disease. When the cell no longer responds to the drugs, the cancer continues to grow unabated.
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