In patients with germ cell testicular tumors, high MT expression, as detected by immunohistochemistry, predicts a better response rate to chemotherapy whereas tumors lacking or demonstrating low MT expression show a worse prognosis. These data do not support the hypothesis that MT overexpression contributes to cisplatinum resistance, at least in this tumor type.

Dianhydrogalactitol (DAG) increased the life span of both BCNU-sensitive and -resistant L1210 tumor-bearing mice. However, the BCNU-resistant strain showed slightly lower sensitivity against DAG, which could be overcome by an increase in drug dose of ca. 20%. The somewhat lower sensitivity was proportional to a slightly reduced DNA cross-linking formation induced by DAG in BCNU-resistant cells. The amount of DNA cross-links was determined by measurement of the 1,6-di(guaninyl)-galactitol content of DNA. The slight reduction in cross-links is not attributable to DNA repair but rather to other factors that seem to prevent the formation of DNA-drug adducts. The absence of cross-resistance is explained by different kinds of DNA damage caused by the two alkylating agents and the presumably different defense mechanisms developed by cells against these lesions.

No abstract

These findings revealed that bcl-2 expression occurs in GCTTs. Furthermore, they suggest that bcl-2 is associated with a more advanced malignant phenotype of this tumor.

No abstract