Characterisation and properties of a small cell lung cancer cell line and xenograft WX322 with marked sensitivity to alpha-interferon.

Controversy exists as to whether interferons usefully influence the growth of epithelial carcinomas. A small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cell line, WX322, has been derived which is greater than 1000-fold more sensitive to alpha-interferon (IFN) when grown in agar than other reported SCLC cell lines. The WX322 line has been characterised to prove its epithelial origin and its chemosensitivity compared with that of the NCI-H69 small cell line. The WX322 cell line expresses neuroendocrine and epithelial markers and possesses a morphology consistent with SCLC origin. A concentration of 5 IU ml-1 of IFN produced 50% inhibition of colony formation in agar in the WX322 line, whereas a concentration of greater than 10(5) IU ml-1 was required to produce a comparable effect with the NCI-H69 cell line. In contrast, WX322, possessed similar sensitivity to NCI-H69 cells when exposed to a range of cytotoxic agents. Analysis of the cell cycle indicated that IFN increased the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase for the WX322 cell line but increased the percentage in S phase for the NCI-H69 line. Growth of the xenograft, from which the cell line was derived, was also inhibited by IFN at doses greater than 10(5) IU/mouse/day. The WX322 cell line whether grown in agar or as a xenograft shows an unusually high sensitivity to IFN and provides an interesting model for studying mechanisms of IFN cytotoxicity to epithelial cells

Inhibition of transforming growth factor α (TGF-α)-mediated growth effects in ovarian cancer cell lines by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZM 252868

The modulating effects of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZM 252868 on cell growth and signalling have been evaluated in four ovarian carcinoma cell lines PE01, PE04, SKOV-3 and PE01CDDP. Transforming growth factor α (TGF-α)-stimulated growth was completely inhibited by concentrations ≥ 0.3 μM in the PE01 and PE04 cell lines and by ≥ 0.1 μM in SKOV-3 cells. TGF-α inhibition of PE01CDDP growth was reversed by concentrations ≥ 0.1 μM ZM 252868. TGF-α-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of both the EGF receptor and c-erbB2 receptor in all four cell lines. The inhibitor ZM 252868, at concentrations ≥ 0.3 μM, completely inhibited TGF-α-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and reduced phosphorylation of the c-erbB2 protein. EGF-activated EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity was completely inhibited by 3 μM ZM 252868 in PE01, SKOV-3 and PE01CDDP cells. These data indicate that the EGF receptor-targeted TK inhibitor ZM 252868 can inhibit growth of ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro consistent with inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation at the EGF receptor. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

The brown bear Ursus arctos remains in the diet of the gray wolf Canis lupus

The remains of the brown bear Ursus arctos were found in the scats of the gray wolf Canis lupus collected in the central part of the Tatra Mountains in June 2018. It was the first record of wolves feeding on a bear from the Polish Carpathians. Probably wolves were feeding on the carcass of the bear

The hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius in the diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes and pine marten Martes martes in the Tatra National Park

The material for the analysis of the red fox Vulpes vulpes and pine marten Martes martes diet was collected in the Tatra National Park in summer 2019. The determination of prey species was based on the analysis of undigested remains and DNA metabarcoding. The hazel dormouse remains were recorded in * ve samples of the red fox and one sample of the pine marten scats. The species was present in the diet of those predators from June to September based on the material collected in the central part of the Tatra Mountains. It is the first record of the hazel dormouse in the diet of the red fox and pine marten in the Tatra Mountains