1
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Younes M, Loubnane G, Sleiman C, Rizk S. Tocotrienol isoforms: The molecular mechanisms underlying their effects in cancer therapy and their implementation in clinical trials. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2024; 22:1-11. [PMID: 38336507 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Tocotrienols are found in a variety of natural sources, like rice bran, annatto seeds and palm oil, and have been shown to have several health-promoting properties, particularly against chronic diseases such as cancer. The incidence of cancer is rapidly increasing around the world, not only a result of continued aging and population growth, but also due to the adoption of aspects of the Western lifestyle, such as high-fat diets and low-physical activity. The literature provides strong evidence that tocotrienols are able to inhibit the growth of various cancers, including breast, lung, ovarian, prostate, liver, brain, colon, myeloma and pancreatic cancers. These findings, along with the reported safety profile of tocotrienols in healthy human volunteers, encourage further research into these compounds' potential use in cancer prevention and treatment. The current review provided detailed information about the molecular mechanisms of action of different tocotrienol isoforms in various cancer models and evaluated the potential therapeutic effects of different vitamin E analogues on important cancer hallmarks, such as cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis. MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases were used to identify recently published articles that investigated the anticancer effects of vitamin E derivatives in various types of cancer in vitro and in vivo along with clinical evidence of adjuvant chemopreventive benefits. Following an overview of pre-clinical studies, we describe several completed and ongoing clinical trials that are paving the way for the successful implementation of tocotrienols in cancer chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Younes
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Ghady Loubnane
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Christopher Sleiman
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Sandra Rizk
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
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2
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Borges GSM, Sicard P, de Mello Gomides Loures C, Evangelista FGC, Sales CC, de Paula Sabino A, Fernandes C, Ferreira LAM, Richard S. Tocotrienols-enriched Self-nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System Enhances the Antileukemic Activity of All-trans Retinoic Acid but not Electrocardiogram Alterations Evoked by Its Combination with Arsenic Trioxide. AAPS PharmSciTech 2023; 24:79. [PMID: 36918482 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-023-02531-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
All-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide are the leading choices for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Notwithstanding the impressive differentiative properties of all-trans retinoic acid and the apoptotic properties of arsenic trioxide, some problems still occur in acute promyelocytic leukemia treatment. These problems are due to patients' relapses, mainly related to changes in the ligand-binding domain of RARα (retinoic acid receptor α) and the cardiotoxic effects caused by arsenic trioxide. We previously developed a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system enriched with tocotrienols to deliver all-trans retinoic acid (SNEDDS-TRF-ATRA). Herein, we have evaluated if tocotrienols can help revert ATRA resistance in an APL cell line (NB4-R2 compared to sensitive NB4 cells) and mitigate the cardiotoxic effects of arsenic trioxide in a murine model. SNEDDS-TRF-ATRA enhanced all-trans retinoic acid cytotoxicity in NB4-R2 (resistant) cells but not in NB4 (sensitive) cells. Moreover, SNEDDS-TRF-ATRA did not significantly change the differentiative properties of all-trans retinoic acid in both NB4 and NB4-R2 cells. Combined administration of SNEDDS-TRF-ATRA and arsenic trioxide could revert QTc interval prolongation caused by ATO but evoked other electrocardiogram alterations in mice, such as T wave flattening. Therefore, SNEDDS-TRF-ATRA may enhance the antileukemic properties of all-trans retinoic acid but may influence ECG changes caused by arsenic trioxide administration. SNEDDS-TRF-ATRA presents cytotoxicity in resistant APL cells (NB4-R2). Combined administration of ATO and SNEDDS-TRF-ATRA in mice prevented the prolongation of the QTc interval caused by ATO but evoked ECG abnormalities such as T wave flattening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Silva Marques Borges
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Antônio Carlos, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 6627CEP 31270-901, Brazil.,PhyMedExp, Inserm, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Sicard
- PhyMedExp, Inserm, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,IPAM, Biocampus, INSERM, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Cristina de Mello Gomides Loures
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Camila Campos Sales
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Adriano de Paula Sabino
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Christian Fernandes
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Antônio Carlos, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 6627CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Lucas Antônio Miranda Ferreira
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Antônio Carlos, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 6627CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - Sylvain Richard
- PhyMedExp, Inserm, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France. .,IPAM, Biocampus, INSERM, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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3
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Lucci A, Vera MC, Comanzo CG, Lorenzetti F, Ferretti AC, Ceballos MP, Quiroga AD, Alvarez MDL, Carrillo MC. Delta-tocotrienol enhances the antitumor effects of interferon alpha through ROS and Erk/MAPK signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2021; 100:453-463. [PMID: 34932399 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2021-0606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The complexity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) signaling and the failure of pharmacological therapeutics reveal the significance of establishing new anti-cancer strategies. Interferon alpha (IFN α) has been used as adjuvant therapy for reducing HCC recurrence and improving survival. Delta-tocotrienol (δ-tocotrienol), a natural unsaturated isoform of vitamin E, is a promising candidate for cancer treatment. In this study, we evaluated whether the combination of δ-tocotrienol with IFN α displays significant advantages in the treatment of HCC cells. Results showed that the combination significantly decreased cell viability, migration and invasion of HCC cells compared to single therapies. Combining δ-tocotrienol and IFN α enhanced the decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and matrix metalloproteinases MMP-7 and MMP-9. The combination also produced an enhancement of apoptosis together with increased Bax/Bcl-xL ratio and ROS generation. δ-tocotrienol induced Notch1 activation and changes in Erk and p38 MAPK signaling status. Blocking experiments confirmed that ROS and Erk are involved, at least in part, in the anticancer effects of the combined treatment. In conclusion, the combination of δ-tocotrienol with IFN α therapy showed promising results for HCC cells treatment, which makes the combination of cytokine-based immunotherapy with natural products a potential strategy against liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Lucci
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Marina C Vera
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Carla G Comanzo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Florencia Lorenzetti
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Anabela C Ferretti
- Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - María Paula Ceballos
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Ariel D Quiroga
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina.,Universidad Abierta Interamericana, 28178, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud. Sede Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
| | - Maria de Lujan Alvarez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Morfología, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Universidad Abierta Interamericana, 28178, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud. Sede Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
| | - María Cristina Carrillo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
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Zhang Z, Guo C, Jiang H, Han B, Wang X, Li S, Lv Y, Lv Z, Zhu Y. Inflammation response after the cessation of chronic arsenic exposure and post-treatment of natural astaxanthin in liver: potential role of cytokine-mediated cell-cell interactions. Food Funct 2021; 11:9252-9262. [PMID: 33047770 DOI: 10.1039/d0fo01223h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ongoing groundwater arsenic contamination throughout China was first recognized in the 1960s. Groundwater arsenic contamination is a high risk for human and animal health worldwide. Apart from drinking water, diet is the second pathway for arsenic to enter the human body and eventually cause liver injury. Natural astaxanthin extracted from the green algae Haematococcus pluvialis has dominated the nutraceutical market for potential health benefits. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism underlying the protective effect post astaxanthin against arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity remains largely obscure. In this study, we investigate the effect of natural astaxanthin (derived from Haemotococcus pluvialis) on oxidative stress and liver inflammatory response in rats after the cessation of chronic arsenic exposure. Wistar rats were given astaxanthin (250 mg kg-1) daily for 2 weeks after the cessation of exposure to sodium arsenite (300 μg L-1, drinking water, 24 weeks) by intragastric administration. The results showed that post treatment with astaxanthin attenuated liver injury induced by long-term exposure to arsenic in rats. Most importantly, post treatment with astaxanthin decreased the increasing of inflammatory cytokine NF-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, oxidative stress level, and total arsenic content in livers of rats exposed to arsenic. In addition, post treatment with astaxanthin reversed the increasing of protein levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin and collagen Iα1, which are the activation markers of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Collectively, these data demonstrate that post astaxanthin treatment attenuates inflammation response in the liver after the cessation of chronic arsenic exposure via inhibition of cytokine-mediated cell-cell interactions. Daily ingestion of natural astaxanthin might be a potential and beneficial candidate for the treatment of liver damage after the cessation of chronic exposure to sodium arsenite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China. and Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Changming Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xi'an Road, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Huijie Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China. and Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Bing Han
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xi'an Road, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Xiaoqiao Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China. and Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Siyu Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xi'an Road, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Yueying Lv
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Zhanjun Lv
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Yan Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China. and Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin 150030, China
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5
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Wang T, Zhang Q, Wang N, Liu Z, Zhang B, Zhao Y. Research Progresses of Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:3107-3146. [PMID: 33050856 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666201013162144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, with nearly one million new cases and deaths every year. Owing to the complex pathogenesis, hidden early symptoms, rapidly developing processes, and poor prognosis, the morbidity and mortality of HCC are increasing yearly. With the progress being made in modern medicine, the treatment of HCC is no longer limited to traditional methods. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have emerged to treat advanced and metastatic HCC in recent years. Since Sorafenib is the first molecular targeting drug against angiogenesis, targeted drugs for HCC are continually emerging. Moreover, immunotherapy plays a vital role in clinical trials. In particular, the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have received increasing attention in the field of cancer treatment, is a possible research path. Interestingly, these two therapies generally complement each other at some stages of HCC, bringing new hope for patients with advanced HCC. In this paper, we discuss the research progress of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for HCC in recent years, which will provide a reference for the further development of drugs for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Qiting Zhang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Ziqi Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, the PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Marine Pharmacy, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Yufen Zhao
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
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6
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Wong SK, Kamisah Y, Mohamed N, Muhammad N, Masbah N, Mohd Fahami NA, Mohamed IN, Shuid AN, Mohd Saad Q, Abdullah A, Mohamad NV, Ibrahim NI, Pang KL, Chow YY, Thong BKS, Subramaniam S, Chan CY, Ima-Nirwana S, Chin KY. Potential Role of Tocotrienols on Non-Communicable Diseases: A Review of Current Evidence. Nutrients 2020; 12:E259. [PMID: 31963885 PMCID: PMC7019837 DOI: 10.3390/nu12010259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tocotrienol (T3) is a subfamily of vitamin E known for its wide array of medicinal properties. This review aimed to summarize the health benefits of T3, particularly in prevention or treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, metabolic, gastric, and skin disorders, as well as cancers. Studies showed that T3 could prevent various NCDs, by suppressing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) in the mevalonate pathway, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and alternating hormones. The efficacy of T3 in preventing/treating these NCDs is similar or greater compared to tocopherol (TF). TF may lower the efficacy of T3 because the efficacy of the combination of TF and T3 was lower than T3 alone in some studies. Data investigating the effects of T3 on osteoporosis, arthritis, and peptic ulcers in human are limited. The positive outcomes of T3 treatment obtained from the preclinical studies warrant further validation from clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kok-Yong Chin
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; (S.K.W.); (Y.K.); (N.M.); (N.M.); (N.M.); (N.A.M.F.); (I.N.M.); (A.N.S.); (Q.M.S.); (A.A.); (N.-V.M.); (N.I.I.); (K.-L.P.); (Y.Y.C.); (B.K.S.T.); (S.S.); (C.Y.C.); (S.I.-N.)
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7
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Fontana F, Raimondi M, Marzagalli M, Moretti RM, Marelli MM, Limonta P. Tocotrienols and Cancer: From the State of the Art to Promising Novel Patents. Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov 2019; 14:5-18. [PMID: 30652648 DOI: 10.2174/1574892814666190116111827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tocotrienols (TTs) are vitamin E derivatives naturally occurring in several plants and vegetable oils. Like Tocopherols (TPs), they comprise four isoforms, α, β, γ and δ, but unlike TPs, they present an unsaturated isoprenoid chain. Recent studies indicate that TTs provide important health benefits, including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, cholesterol lowering and immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, they have been found to possess unique anti-cancer properties. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the state of the art of TTs role in cancer prevention and treatment, as well as to describe recent patents proposing new methods for TTs isolation, chemical modification and use in cancer prevention and/or therapy. METHODS Recent literature and patents focusing on TTs anti-cancer applications have been identified and reviewed, with special regard to their scientific impact and novelty. RESULTS TTs have demonstrated significant anti-cancer activity in multiple tumor types, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, they have shown synergistic effects when given in combination with standard anti-cancer agents or other anti-tumor natural compounds. Finally, new purification processes and transgenic sources have been designed in order to improve TTs production, and novel TTs formulations and synthetic derivatives have been developed to enhance their solubility and bioavailability. CONCLUSION The promising anti-cancer effects shown by TTs in several preclinical studies may open new opportunities for therapeutic interventions in different tumors. Thus, clinical trials aimed at confirming TTs chemopreventive and tumor-suppressing activity, particularly in combination with standard therapies, are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Fontana
- Department of Excellence, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Raimondi
- Department of Excellence, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Marzagalli
- Department of Excellence, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta M Moretti
- Department of Excellence, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Montagnani Marelli
- Department of Excellence, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Excellence, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Utilization of Vitamin E Analogs to Protect Normal Tissues While Enhancing Antitumor Effects. Semin Radiat Oncol 2019; 29:55-61. [PMID: 30573184 DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in radiation delivery techniques, side effects of radiation therapy due to radiation exposure of normal tissues are common and can limit the deliverable dose to tumors. Significant interests lie in pharmacologic modifiers that may protect against normal tissue toxicity from cancer treatment while simultaneously enhancing the tumor response to therapy. While no such treatments are available in the clinic, this is an area of active preclinical and clinical research. This review summarizes research studies that provide evidence to indicate that tocotrienols, natural forms of vitamin E, are potent radiation protectors and may also have antitumor effects. Hence, several current clinical trials test tocotrienols as concomitant treatment in cancer therapies.
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9
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Aggarwal V, Kashyap D, Sak K, Tuli HS, Jain A, Chaudhary A, Garg VK, Sethi G, Yerer MB. Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Tocotrienols in Cancer: Recent Trends and Advancements. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E656. [PMID: 30717416 PMCID: PMC6386883 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tocotrienols, found in several natural sources such as rice bran, annatto seeds, and palm oil have been reported to exert various beneficial health promoting properties especially against chronic diseases, including cancer. The incidence of cancer is rapidly increasing around the world not only because of continual aging and growth in global population, but also due to the adaptation of Western lifestyle behaviours, including intake of high fat diets and low physical activity. Tocotrienols can suppress the growth of different malignancies, including those of breast, lung, ovary, prostate, liver, brain, colon, myeloma, and pancreas. These findings, together with the reported safety profile of tocotrienols in healthy human volunteers, encourage further studies on the potential application of these compounds in cancer prevention and treatment. In the current article, detailed information about the potential molecular mechanisms of actions of tocotrienols in different cancer models has been presented and the possible effects of these vitamin E analogues on various important cancer hallmarks, i.e., cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and inflammation have been briefly analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Aggarwal
- Department of Advanced Pediatric Center (APC), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Punjab 160012, India.
| | - Dharambir Kashyap
- Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Punjab 160012, India.
| | | | - Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala 133207, Haryana, India.
| | - Aklank Jain
- Department of Animal Sciences, Central University of Punjab, City Campus, Mansa Road, Bathinda 151001, India.
| | - Ashun Chaudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala 133207, Haryana, India.
| | - Vivek Kumar Garg
- Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh, Punjab 160031, India.
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore.
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10
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Tham SY, Loh HS, Mai CW, Fu JY. Tocotrienols Modulate a Life or Death Decision in Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E372. [PMID: 30654580 PMCID: PMC6359475 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignancy often arises from sophisticated defects in the intricate molecular mechanisms of cells, rendering a complicated molecular ground to effectively target cancers. Resistance toward cell death and enhancement of cell survival are the common adaptations in cancer due to its infinite proliferative capacity. Existing cancer treatment strategies that target a single molecular pathway or cancer hallmark fail to fully resolve the problem. Hence, multitargeted anticancer agents that can concurrently target cell death and survival pathways are seen as a promising alternative to treat cancer. Tocotrienols, a minor constituent of the vitamin E family that have previously been reported to induce various cell death mechanisms and target several key survival pathways, could be an effective anticancer agent. This review puts forward the potential application of tocotrienols as an anticancer treatment from a perspective of influencing the life or death decision of cancer cells. The cell death mechanisms elicited by tocotrienols, particularly apoptosis and autophagy, are highlighted. The influences of several cell survival signaling pathways in shaping cancer cell death, particularly NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and Wnt, are also reviewed. This review may stimulate further mechanistic researches and foster clinical applications of tocotrienols via rational drug designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiau-Ying Tham
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Hwei-San Loh
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Biotechnology Research Centre, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Chun-Wai Mai
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia.
- Centre for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Institute for Research, Development and Innovation, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia.
| | - Ju-Yen Fu
- Nutrition Unit, Product Development and Advisory Services Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia.
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11
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Montagnani Marelli M, Marzagalli M, Fontana F, Raimondi M, Moretti RM, Limonta P. Anticancer properties of tocotrienols: A review of cellular mechanisms and molecular targets. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:1147-1164. [PMID: 30066964 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin E is composed of two groups of compounds: α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols (TPs), and the corresponding unsaturated tocotrienols (TTs). TTs are found in natural sources such as red palm oil, annatto seeds, and rice bran. In the last decades, TTs (specifically, γ-TT and δ-TT) have gained interest due to their health benefits in chronic diseases, based on their antioxidant, neuroprotective, cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory activities. Several in vitro and in vivo studies pointed out that TTs also exert a significant antitumor activity in a wide range of cancer cells. Specifically, TTs were shown to exert antiproliferative/proapoptotic effects and to reduce the metastatic or angiogenic properties of different cancer cells; moreover, these compounds were reported to specifically target the subpopulation of cancer stem cells, known to be deeply involved in the development of resistance to standard therapies. Interestingly, recent studies pointed out that TTs exert a synergistic antitumor effect on cancer cells when given in combination with either standard antitumor agents (i.e., chemotherapeutics, statins, "targeted" therapies) or natural compounds with anticancer activity (i.e., sesamin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, ferulic acid). Based on these observations, different TT synthetic derivatives and formulations were recently developed and demonstrated to improve TT water solubility and to reduce TT metabolism in cancer cells, thus increasing their biological activity. These promising results, together with the safety of TT administration in healthy subjects, suggest that these compounds might represent a new chemopreventive or anticancer treatment (i.e., in combination with standard therapies) strategy. Clinical trials aimed at confirming this antitumor activity of TTs are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Montagnani Marelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Monica Marzagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Fontana
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Raimondi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberta Manuela Moretti
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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