Arachidonic acid metabolites are known to playa regulatory role in a number of biological systems, in which they function as microenviron­ mental hormones and intracellular signal mediators. One of the most exciting areas of research of these compounds is the one that studies the relationship between prostaglandins and tumor cell growth and function. In the last few years there has been an extraordinary evolution of data on prostaglandins (and related compounds) and cancer. This vol­ ume is based on papers presented at the 1986 International Confer­ ence on Prostaglandins and Cancer organized by the Italian National Research Council and the II University of Rome, and held in Rome, Italy, in June, 1986. This Conference brought together oncologists and specialists in the areas of prostaglandin chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, cellular and molecular biology to overview the actual state of knowledge on the role of eicosanoids in cancer and to focus on the key questions that need to be answered. The picture that comes out of this book describes a very complicated network of interactions between arachidonic acid metabolites and different as­ pects of the complex phenomenon "cancer". Eicosanoids participate in carcinogenesis initiation and promotion, and their relationship with tumor promoters and growth factors is well established. During cancer growth, different prostaglandins can have different roles in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation and in metastasis formation; meanwhile evidence is accumulating for a pos­ sible use of some of these compounds as antineoplastic agents.

Inhalt

Introductory Lectures.- On the Formation and Biological Role of Leukotrienes and Lipoxins.- Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and the Arachidonic Acid Cascade.- Carcinogenesis.- Icosanoids, Chromosome Damage and Cancer.- The Arachidonate Cascade and Mouse Skin Tumor Promotion.- Modulation of the Conversion Stage of Multistep Carcinogenesis in Mouse Skin by Eicosanoids.- Tumor Promoters, Growth Factors and Arachidonic Acid Metabolism.- Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of PG Action.- Prostaglandins and Calcium Metabolism in Cancer.- Cellular Uptake and Nuclear Accumulation of Prostaglandin A and J, a Mechanism of Prostaglandin-Induced Growth Inhibition.- Involvement of Protein Synthesis in the Antiproliferative and the Antiviral Action of Prostaglandins.- The Mechanism of Prostaglandin Inhibition on the Cell Cycle.- Interferon-Induced Modifications of the Fatty Acid Side Chains of Cell Membrane Phospholipids.- Cell Proliferation and Differentiation.- Prostaglandin Production by Tumors.- Regulation by Prostaglandins of Differentiation of Mouse Myeloid Leukemia M1 Cells.- The Role of Prostaglandins and Other Arachidonic Acid Metabolites in the Differentiation of HL-60.- Analysis of Platelet, Tumor Cell and Endothelial Cell Interactions in Vivo and in Vitro.- Prostaglandins and Cancer: Clinical Approaches.- Immunomodulation.- Leukotrienes and Prostaglandins Mutually Govern the Antitumor Potential of Macrophages.- Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes in the T-Helper and T-Suppressor Cell System.- The Effect of Prostaglandins on the Intracellular Signal Transmission and Regulation of T-Cell Functions.- Eicosanoids and Gamma Interferon.- Role of Prostaglandins, Interleukin-1, Interferon-? and Anti-Inflammatory Compounds in the Regulation of Thymocyte Proliferation.- Prostaglandins in Immunotherapy of Cancer.- Brief Reports.- The Effects of Eicosanoid Inhibitors on Tumor Cell Arachidonic Acid (and Metabolite) Uptake, Release and Metabolism.- PGAs Inhibit in Vitro Infection with HTLV-I in Human Cord Blood Lymphocytes During Long-Term Culture.- Differential Effect of Mitomycin C on Prostaglandin E2 and Thromboxane in Human Cells.- Tamoxifen Has Little Effect on Cyclo-Oxygenase but Can Inhibit 5-Lipoxygenase.- Differential Induction of Macrophage Prostaglandin E2 Secretion and Suppressor Activity by Lewis Lung Carcinoma Variants.- Prostaglandin E2, a Seminal Constituent, Facilitates the Replication of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Virus in Vitro.