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OVCAR-5 is a human epithelial carcinoma cell line of the ovary, established from the ascitic fluid of a patient with progressive ovarian adenocarcinoma without prior cytotoxic treatment. The unique growth pattern of ovarian carcinoma makes it an ideal model for examining the anticancer activity of contortrostatin (CN), a homodimeric disintegrin from southern copperhead venom. FACS analysis revealed that OVCAR-5 is integrin ·vß3 negative, but ·vß5 positive. CN effectively blocks the adhesion of OVCAR-5 cells to several extracellular matrix proteins and inhibits tumor cell invasion through an artificial basement membrane. In a xenograft nude mouse model with intraperitoneal introduction of OVCAR-5 cells, intraperitoneal injection of CN was used for therapy. Tumor dissemination in CN-treated versus control groups was studied by gross examination, and antiangiogenic potential was examined by factor VIII immunohistochemistry and image analysis. CN not only significantly inhibited ovarian cancer dissemination in the nude mouse model, but it also dramatically prevented the recruitment of blood vessels to tumors at secondary sites.

Mesothelioma incidence rates based on data from population-based cancer registries in New York State (exclusive of New York City), Los Angeles County, California, and the SEER Program of the National Cancer Institute were analyzed for trends, using original cancer registry diagnoses. Results indicate a significant increase in incidence during 1973-80 for pleural mesothelioma among white males older than 55 at time of diagnosis but not for other age-race-sex-site subgroups. A histopathologic review of New York State and Los Angeles County cases by two independent pathologists, expert in the diagnosis of mesothelioma, lowered the overall estimates but a significant upward trend remained. The observed trend does not appear to be related to changes in diagnostic practice. The results of a five-member panel of expert pathologists will be published in a separate methodology paper.

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