An electron microscopic examination of amelanotic melanoma transplantable in nude mice according to the image analysis in an experimental chemotherapy

Abstract

Tumor cells taken out of the pleural fluid of a patient with malignant melanoma was established as human gingiva-originated malignant melanoma (HMG) and was subcultured. Amelanotic malignant tumor formed by the transplantation of this HMG in a nude mouse was treated with an experimental chemotherapy with some antitumor agents, leading to antitumor effect both macroscopically and histologically. We recently made an electron microscopic observation of the effects of these agents and using an image analytic apparatus, have examined changes in tumor cells in comparison with the control.
Drugs used are MPL+TA-077, FT-207, VCR, CDDP, DTIC and PSK singly and MPL+TA-077, MPL+CDDP, MPL+VCR, FT-207+ DTIC, PSK+MPL and PSK+TA-077 in combination. Nude mice were killed for electron microscopic observation 12, 20 and 30 days after administration. Photographs were taken at 3, 000 magnifications, so as to avoid those of the same cell. Using an image analytic apparatus (Kontron MOP modular system) 100 nucleuscontaining tumor cells were determined for cellular and nuclear areas, circumferential length and nuclear irregularity.
(1) Cellular area: For single administration, tumor cells became larger for CDDP and FT-207 and smaller for MPL, TA-077, VCR and DTIC. For combined administration, tumor cells became larger for MPL+TA-077, MPL+CDDP, MPL+VCR and smaller FT-207+DTIC and for PSK+TA-077.
(2) Nuclear area: Nucleus became larger for CDDP and FT-207 and smaller for MPL, VCR and DTIC. For combined administration, nucleus became larger for MPL+TA-077 and smaller for PSK + TA-077, respectively.
(3) Nuclear irregurality: Indentation was strong for MPL, CDDP, FT-207 and MPL+TA-077 and weak for VCR, MPL+ CDDP and PSK +TA-077