In vitro and in vivo antitumorigenic activity of a mixture of lysine, proline, ascorbic acid, and green tea extract on human breast cancer lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7

Antitumor effect of Iso-mukaadial acetate on MCF-7 breast cancer mice xenograft model

Antitumor drugs used today have shown significant efficacy and are derived from natural products such as plants. Iso-mukaadial acetate (IMA) has previously been shown to possess anticancer properties by inducing apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of IMA in the breast cancer xenograft mice model. Female athymic nude mice were used and inoculated with breast cancer cells subcutaneously. Untreated group one served as a negative control and positive control group two (cisplatin) was administered intravenously. IMA was administered orally to group three (100 mg/kg) and group four (300 mg/kg). Blood was collected (70 μL) from the tail vein on day zero, day one and day three. Tumor regression was measured every second day and body mass was recorded each day. Estimation of serum parameters for renal indices was examined using a creatinine assay. Histopathological analysis was conducted to evaluate morphological changes of liver, kidney, and spleen tissues before and after compound administration under a fluorescence light microscope. Histopathological analysis of tumors was conducted before and after compound administration. Apoptotic analysis using the TUNEL system was conducted on liver, kidney, and spleen tissues. Tumor shrinkage and reduction in body mass were observed after treatment with IMA. Serum creatinine was slightly elevated after treatment with IMA at a dosage of 100 and 300 mg/kg. Histopathological results of the liver exhibited no changes before and after IMA while the kidney and spleen tissues showed changes in the cellular structure. IMA showed no cytotoxic effect on the tumor cells, and cell proliferation was observed. Apoptotic assay stain with TUNEL showed apoptotic cells in spleen tissue and kidney but no apoptotic cells were observed in liver tissue section treated with IMA. IMA showed clinical toxic signs that resulted in the suffering and death of the mice immediately after IMA administration. Histopathology of tumor cells showed that IMA did not inhibit cell proliferation and no cellular damage was observed. Therefore, based on the results obtained, we cannot make any definitive conclusion on the complete effect of IMA in vivo. IMA is toxic, poorly soluble, and not safe to use in animal studies. The objective of the study was not achieved, and the hypothesis was rejected.

Pyrimidinergic receptor P2Y6 expression is elevated in lung adenocarcinoma and is associated with poor prognosis

BACKGROUD

Previous in vitro studies have indicated that pyrimidinergic receptor P2Y6 (P2RY6, P2Y6 receptor) may function as a cancer-promoting factor in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the prognostic significance of P2RY6 expression in LUAD has not been investigated.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the impact of P2RY6 expression on the survival of patients with LUAD.

METHODS

First, we assessed P2RY6 mRNA and protein expression in LUAD and non-cancerous lung tissues using the online bioinformatics analysis tool GEPIA, fresh LUAD tissues, and LUAD tissue microarrays (TMAs). Second, we investigated the correlation between P2RY6 expression and clinicopathological parameters of LUAD patients based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and TMAs. Finally, we analyzed the prognostic significance of P2RY6 expression in LUAD using the online survival analysis tool Kaplan-Meier Plotter and data from TMAs.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that P2RY6 mRNA and protein expression levels in LUAD tissues were significantly higher than those in non-cancerous lung tissues. The expression of P2RY6 in LUAD was positively correlated with poor differentiation, more lymph node metastasis, and more advanced clinical stage. Higher P2RY6 expression level was correlated with shorter survival of the LUAD patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that higher P2RY6 tumor expression was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for LUAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

P2RY6 expression was elevated in LUAD and correlated with poor prognosis.

Green Tea Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Regulates Autophagy in Male and Female Reproductive Cancer

With a rich abundance of natural polyphenols, green tea has become one of the most popular and healthiest nonalcoholic beverages being consumed worldwide. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the predominant catechin found in green tea, which has been shown to promote numerous health benefits, including metabolic regulation, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. Clinical studies have also shown the inhibitory effects of EGCG on cancers of the male and female reproductive system, including ovarian, cervical, endometrial, breast, testicular, and prostate cancers. Autophagy is a natural, self-degradation process that serves important functions in both tumor suppression and tumor cell survival. Naturally derived products have the potential to be an effective and safe alternative in balancing autophagy and maintaining homeostasis during tumor development. Although EGCG has been shown to play a critical role in the suppression of multiple cancers, its role as autophagy modulator in cancers of the male and female reproductive system remains to be fully discussed. Herein, we aim to provide an overview of the current knowledge of EGCG in targeting autophagy and its related signaling mechanism in reproductive cancers. Effects of EGCG on regulating autophagy toward reproductive cancers as a single therapy or cotreatment with other chemotherapies will be reviewed and compared. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms and crosstalk of EGCG between autophagy and other cellular processes, such as reactive oxidative stress, ER stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, will be summarized. The present review will help to shed light on the significance of green tea as a potential therapeutic treatment for reproductive cancers through regulating autophagy.

Nutraceuticals in the Mediterranean Diet: Potential Avenues for Breast Cancer Treatment

The traditional Mediterranean Diet constitutes a food model that refers to the dietary patterns of the population living in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea in the early 1960s. A huge volume of literature data suggests that the Mediterranean-style diet provides several dietary compounds that have been reported to exert beneficial biological effects against a wide spectrum of chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer including breast carcinoma. Among bioactive nutrients identified as protective factors for breast cancer, natural polyphenols, retinoids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antitumoral properties. The multiple anticancer mechanisms involved include the modulation of molecular events and signaling pathways associated with cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis, antioxidant enzymes and immune responses. This review summarizes the anticancer action of some polyphenols, like resveratrol and epigallocatechin 3-gallate, retinoids and omega-3 PUFAs by highlighting the important hallmarks of cancer in terms of (i) cell cycle growth arrest, (ii) apoptosis, (iii) inflammation and (iv) angiogenesis. The data collected from in vitro and in vivo studies strongly indicate that these natural compounds could be the prospective candidates for the future anticancer therapeutics in breast cancer disease.

EGCG, a Green Tea Catechin, as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Symptomatic and Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emerged to be the greatest threat to humanity in the modern world and has claimed nearly 2.2 million lives worldwide. The United States alone accounts for more than one fourth of 100 million COVID-19 cases across the globe. Although vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has begun, its efficacy in preventing a new or repeat COVID-19 infection in immunized individuals is yet to be determined. Calls for repurposing of existing, approved, drugs that target the inflammatory condition in COVID-19 are growing. Our initial gene ontology analysis predicts a similarity between SARS-CoV-2 induced inflammatory and immune dysregulation and the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly, many of the drugs related to rheumatoid arthritis have been found to be lifesaving and contribute to lower COVID-19 morbidity. We also performed in silico investigation of binding of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a well-known catechin, and other catechins on viral proteins and identified papain-like protease protein (PLPro) as a binding partner. Catechins bind to the S1 ubiquitin-binding site of PLPro, which might inhibit its protease function and abrogate SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory function on ubiquitin proteasome system and interferon stimulated gene system. In the realms of addressing inflammation and how to effectively target SARS-CoV-2 mediated respiratory distress syndrome, we review in this article the available knowledge on the strategic placement of EGCG in curbing inflammatory signals and how it may serve as a broad spectrum therapeutic in asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients.

Pharmacological Potential of Small Molecules for Treating Corneal Neovascularization

Under healthy conditions, the cornea is an avascular structure which allows for transparency and optimal visual acuity. Its avascular nature is maintained by a balance of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors. An imbalance of these factors can result in abnormal blood vessel proliferation into the cornea. This corneal neovascularization (CoNV) can stem from a variety of insults including hypoxia and ocular surface inflammation caused by trauma, infection, chemical burns, and immunological diseases. CoNV threatens corneal transparency, resulting in permanent vision loss. Mainstay treatments of CoNV have partial efficacy and associated side effects, revealing the need for novel treatments. Numerous natural products and synthetic small molecules have shown potential in preclinical studies in vivo as antiangiogenic therapies for CoNV. Such small molecules include synthetic inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor and other tyrosine kinases, plus repurposed antimicrobials, as well as natural source-derived flavonoid and non-flavonoid phytochemicals, immunosuppressants, vitamins, and histone deacetylase inhibitors. They induce antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of VEGF, NF-κB, and other growth factor receptor pathways. Here, we review the potential of small molecules, both synthetics and natural products, targeting these and other molecular mechanisms, as antiangiogenic agents in the treatment of CoNV.

Associations between tea and coffee beverage consumption and the risk of lung cancer in the Singaporean Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Tea and coffee are widely consumed beverages. Tea flavonoids have been shown to inhibit lung tumorigenesis using in vitro and in vivo models. Conversely, coffee contains complex mixtures of biochemically active compounds, some of which may have genotoxic and mutagenic properties. However, previous epidemiologic studies have shown inconsistent results on tea and coffee in relation to lung cancer risk.

METHODS

The Singapore Chinese Health Study is a population-based prospective cohort of 63,257 Singaporean Chinese men and women, with an average of 17.7 years of follow-up. Information on tea and coffee consumption and other lifestyle factors was collected through in-person interviews at baseline. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations with adjustment for potential confounders.

RESULTS

There were 1486 incident lung cancer cases. Compared to non-daily coffee drinkers, HRs (95% CIs) of lung cancer risk for those consuming one, two, and three or more cups of coffee per day were 1.18 (1.02-1.36), 1.21 (1.05-1.40), and 1.32 (1.08-1.62) respectively (P for trend = 0.0034). The highest category of black tea consumption (at least 2 cups per day) was inversely associated with risk of lung cancer [HR (95% CI) = 0.73 (0.53-0.99)], particularly among men [HR (95% CI) = 0.67 (0.47-0.95)], compared to less-than-weekly black tea drinkers, although the interaction by sex was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Coffee beverage consumption was associated with higher risk of developing lung cancer. On the other hand, black tea intake was associated with lower risk of lung cancer among men in our cohort, and further studies are needed to confirm this association.

Epsilon-aminocaproic acid prevents high glucose and insulin induced-invasiveness in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, modulating the plasminogen activator system

Obesity and type II diabetes mellitus have contributed to the increase of breast cancer incidence worldwide. High glucose concentration promotes the proliferation of metastatic cells, favoring the activation of the plasminogen/plasmin system, thus contributing to tumor progression. The efficient formation of plasmin is dependent on the binding of plasminogen to the cell surface. We studied the effect of ε-aminocaproic acid (EACA), an inhibitor of the binding of plasminogen to cell surface, on proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and plasminogen activation system, in metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells grown in a high glucose microenvironment and treated with insulin. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with EACA 12.5 mmol/L under high glucose 30 mmol/L (HG) and high glucose and insulin 80 nmol/L (HG-I) conditions, evaluating: cell population growth, % of viability, migratory, and invasive abilities, as well as the expression of uPA, its receptor (uPAR), and its inhibitor (PAI-1), by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNAs were evaluated by RT-PCR. Markers of EMT were evaluated by Western blot. Additionally, the presence of active uPA was studied by gel zymography, using casein-plasminogen as substrates. EACA prevented the increase in cell population, migration and invasion induced by HG and insulin, which was associated with the inhibition of EMT and the attenuation of HG- and insulin-dependent expression of uPA, uPAR, PAI-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, α-enolase (ENO A), and HCAM. The interaction of plasminogen to the cell surface and plasmin formation are mediators of the prometastasic action of hyperglycemia and insulin, potentially, EACA can be employed in the prevention and as adjuvant treatment of breast tumorigenesis promoted by hyperglycemia and insulin.

The Hydroalcoholic Extract of Matricaria chamomilla Suppresses Migration and Invasion of Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 Cell Lines

Background:

Matricaria chamomilla is an aromatic plant with antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the inhibitory role of M. chamomilla on migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells remains unclear.

Objective:

This study investigated the methods to evaluate these anticancer mechanisms of M. chamomilla on human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines.

Materials and Methods:

The cells were treated with hydroalcoholic extract of M. chamomilla at different concentrations (50–1300 μg/mL) for 24, 48, and 72 h in a culture medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. This study quantified the 50% growth inhibition concentrations (IC₅₀) by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay; apoptosis and necrosis through Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide staining; cell proliferation and clone formation by clonogenic assay as well as cellular migration, invasion, and attachment. After 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment, the IC₅₀levels were 992 ± 2.3 μg/mL, 893 ± 5.4 μg/mL, and 785 ± 4.8 μg/mL against MDA-MB-468, respectively, and 1288 ± 5.6 μg/mL, 926 ± 2.5 μg/mL, and 921 ± 3.5 μg/mL, against MCF-7, respectively. Furthermore, increasing the extract concentrations induced cellular apoptosis and necrosis and decreased cellular invasion or migration through 8 μm pores, colonization and attachment in a dose-dependent manner.

Results:

It indicated time- and dose-dependent anti-invasive and antimigrative or proliferative and antitoxic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of chamomile on breast cancer cells.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated an effective plant in preventing or treating breast cancer.

SUMMARY

Antioxidant compounds in Matricaria chamomilla have anticancer effects.

Hydroalcoholic extract of M. chamomilla controls cellular proliferation and apoptosis induction.

Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide staining suggested that the extract induces apoptosis more than necrosis.

Hydroalcoholic extract of M. chamomilla prevents colonization and cellular migration of human breast cancer MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 cell lines in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

M. chamomilla has low cytotoxic effects on natural cells.

Abbreviations Used: IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer; WHO: World Health Organization; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; PI: Propidium iodide; LN: Live cells with normal nucleus; LA: Live cells with apoptized nucleus; DN: Dead cells with normal nucleus; DA: Dead cells with apoptized nucleus; BSA: Bovine serum albumin; ANOVA: Analysis of variance; IC₅₀: 50% growth inhibition concentration; GSE: Grape seed extract

Green tea consumption and cause-specific mortality: Results from two prospective cohort studies in China

BACKGROUND

Green tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in Asia. While a possible protective role of green tea against various chronic diseases has been suggested in experimental studies, evidence from human studies remains controversial.

METHODS

We conducted this study using data from Shanghai Men's Health Study (SMHS) and Shanghai Women's Health Study (SWHS), two population-based prospective cohorts of middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults in urban Shanghai, China. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality associated with green tea intake were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 8.3 and 14.2 years for men and women, respectively, 6517 (2741 men and 3776 women) deaths were documented. We found that green tea consumption was inversely associated with risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90-1.01), particularly among never-smokers (HR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.96). The inverse association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (HR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.97) was slightly stronger than that with all-cause mortality. No significant association was observed between green tea intake and cancer mortality (HR 1.01; 95% CI, 0.93-1.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Green tea consumption may be inversely associated with risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults, especially among never smokers.

Potential antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of autochthonous starter cultures and protease EPg222 in dry-fermented sausages

This work studied the presence of nitrogen compounds with bioactive properties in Iberian pork sausages that were manufactured using different autochthonous starter cultures and protease EPg222.

Antidiabetic, anti-oxidant and antimicrobial activities of Fadogia ancylantha extracts from Malawi

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Communities in Chilumba, Malawi use herbal tea prepared from Fadogia ancylantha Schweinf (Rubiaceae) leaves for the management of diabetes, hypertension and alleviation of symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders and pneumonia. The objective of the study was to evaluate the in vitro antidiabetic, anti-oxidant and antimicrobial activities of the crude extracts of the leaves prepared by using three different extraction methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Each of the organic, cold and hot aqueous extracts of the herbal tea was evaluated for its effect on glucose uptake in C2C12 muscle and Chang cell lines. Metformin and insulin were used as positive controls. The anti-oxidant activity, based on neutralisation of DPPH free radicals, was determined spectrophotometrically. The Agar serial dilution method was utilised to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts for the selected fungal and bacterial strains.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The organic extract (12.5μg/ml) exhibited the highest in vitro glucose uptake increases in Chang cells (181.24±0.29%) and C2C12 muscle cells (172.29±0.32%) while the hot and cold aqueous extracts gave lower uptakes, 145.94±0.37% and 138.70±0.52% in Chang cells respectively. At 100μg/ml, aqueous extracts gave significantly higher (p<0.01) anti-oxidant activity (range 85.78-86.29%) than their organic counterpart (68.16%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (156μg/ml) was obtained in the organic extract against the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and moderate growth inhibition was observed with other test micro-organisms. The hot aqueous extract inhibited the growth of all test organisms except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The cold aqueous extract was inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The differences in the MIC values between the aqueous extracts seem to suggest that raised temperatures, as traditionally practised, facilitate the extraction of secondary bioactive metabolites.

CONCLUSION

These results show that Fadogia ancylantha extracts have high antidiabetic and anti-oxidant properties.

Modulation of u-PA, MMPs and their inhibitors by a novel nutrient mixture in human female cancer cell lines

Cancers of the breast, cervix, uterus and ovary are the most prevalent cancers in women worldwide. Proteases play a key role in tumor cell invasion and metastasis by digesting the basement membrane and ECM components. Strong clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates association of elevated levels of urokinase plasminogen activators (u-PA) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) with cancer progression, metastasis and shortened patient survival. MMP activities are regulated by specific tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Our main objective was to study the effect of a nutrient mixture (NM) on the activity of u-PA, MMPs and TIMPs in human breast, cervix, uterine and ovarian cancer cell lines. Human breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7), cervical (HeLa), uterine (SK-UT-1) and ovarian (SKOV3) cancer cell lines were cultured in their respective media and treated at confluence with NM at 0, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 μg/ml. Analysis of u-PA activity was carried out by fibrin zymography, MMPs by gelatinase zymography and TIMPs by reverse zymography. Both breast and uterine cancer cell lines expressed u-PA, which was inhibited by NM in a dose-dependent manner. However, no bands corresponding to u-PA were detected for HeLa and SK-OV-3 cell lines. On gelatinase zymography, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 showed one band corresponding to MMP-9, HeLa showed two bands, an intense band corresponding to MMP-2 and a faint band corresponding to MMP-9, SK-UT-1 showed PMA-induced MMP-9, and SK-OV-3 showed a band corresponding to MMP-2. NM inhibited their expression in all cell lines. The activity of TIMPs was upregulated in all cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis revealed a positive correlation between u-PA and MMPs and a negative correlation between u-PA/MMPs and TIMPs. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of NM in the treatment of female cancers.

Components of an anticancer diet: dietary recommendations, restrictions and supplements of the Bill Henderson Protocol

The use of complementary and alternative medicines including dietary supplements, herbals and special diets to prevent or treat disease continues to be popular. The following paper provides a description of an alternative dietary approach to the self-management and treatment of cancer, the Bill Henderson Protocol (BHP). This diet encourages daily intake of raw foods, a combination of cottage cheese and flaxseed oil and a number of supplements. Some foods and food groups are restricted (e.g., gluten, meat, dairy). Early background theory that contributed to the protocol’s development is presented as is a summary of relevant evidence concerning the anti-cancer fighting properties of the individual components. Supplement intake is considered in relation to daily recommended intakes. Challenges and risks to protocol adherence are discussed. As with many complementary and alternative interventions, clear evidence of this dietary protocol’s safety and efficacy is lacking. Consumers of this protocol may require guidance on the ability of this protocol to meet their individual nutritional needs.

Beneficial effects of green tea: a literature review

The health benefits of green tea for a wide variety of ailments, including different types of cancer, heart disease, and liver disease, were reported. Many of these beneficial effects of green tea are related to its catechin, particularly (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, content. There is evidence from in vitro and animal studies on the underlying mechanisms of green tea catechins and their biological actions. There are also human studies on using green tea catechins to treat metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular risk factors.Long-term consumption of tea catechins could be beneficial against high-fat diet-induced obesity and type II diabetes and could reduce the risk of coronary disease. Further research that conforms to international standards should be performed to monitor the pharmacological and clinical effects of green tea and to elucidate its mechanisms of action.

A combination of green tea extract, specific nutrient mixture and quercetin: An effective intervention treatment for the regression of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary tumors in Wistar rats

Mammary tumors were developed by intraperitoneal injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in 21-day-old, sexually immature female Wistar rats. Injection of MNU was repeated 14 weeks after the first one. When palpable tumors were evident in all of the rats, various dietary treatments were initiated for a period of 8 weeks. The treatments were designed to provide 30 mg green tea extract either alone or as a nutrient mixture (E). E was then expanded to include either a nutrient supplement (N), quercetin (Q) or both (N+Q). At the end of the treatment, tumor size/rat measured in the live rats was significantly lower in the groups receiving E, E+Q, E+N and E+N+Q than in the positive control (PC) group which did not receive any dietary treatment. Tumor number/rat, tumor volume/rat and tumor weight/rat were evaluated after sacrificing the rats on the 60th day. The rats receiving E+N+Q showed significantly lower values for the three parameters as compared to the PC group. The PC group showed 24 carcinomas mostly of grade III severity, while the E+N+Q group had only 6 carcinomas, all of which were of grade II severity.

Can DCEMRI assess the effect of green tea on the angiogenic properties of rodent prostate tumors?

The purpose of this research was to test whether dynamic contrast enhanced MRI could assess the effect of green tea on the angiogenic properties of transplanted rodent tumors. Copenhagen rats bearing AT6.1 prostate tumors inoculated in the hind limbs were randomly assigned to cages in which they were allowed to only drink either plain water (control group) or water containing green tea extract (treated group). Assignments were made after a baseline MRI experiment (week 0) was performed on each rat at 4.7T. All the rats were subsequently imaged at day 7 (week 1) and day 14 (week 2) to follow tumor growth and vascular development. The two-compartment pharmacokinetic model was used to analyze the dynamic contrast Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI data on a pixel-by-pixel basis over the tumor area to obtain the volume transfer constant (K(trans)) and extravascular extracellular space (v(e)). An identity Chi-squared test showed that the distributions of averaged histograms (n=6) of K(trans) and v(e) were significantly different from week 0 to both weeks 1 and 2 (p<0.001) in both the control and the treated rats due to increasing areas of tumor necrosis. However, the tumor growth rate was statistically indistinguishable between control and treated rats. There was no significant difference in the distributions of K(trans) and v(e) between control and treated rats. The results showed that no effects of green tea on tumor micro-vasculature were measurable by dynamic Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI.

Nutrient mixture including vitamin C, L-lysine, L-proline, and epigallocatechin is ineffective against tumor growth and metastasis in a syngeneic neuroblastoma model

BACKGROUND

The replacement of established evidence-based cancer therapy protocols (mainstream therapy) by unevaluated complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a challenge in pediatric oncology. We tested the hypothesis that oral application of L-lysine and ascorbic acid (Lysin C Drink) in combination with epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) and amino-acids (Epican forte) is effective in a preclinical model of neuroblastoma.

METHODS

Primary tumors and spontaneous metastases were induced in A/J mice by injection of NXS2 neuroblastoma cells. Mice were treated by daily oral gavage with L-lysine and ascorbic acid (Lysin C Drink) (equivalent to 150 mg ascorbic acid/day/mouse) (treatment A) or with EGCG plus ascorbic- and amino-acids (Epican forte) (9.2 mg/mouse) (treatment B). Treatment A was started in the prophylactic setting (7 days before tumor cell injection) as well as in the therapeutic setting (1 day after tumor cell inoculation). Finally, treatment B was evaluated alone and in combination with treatment A in the therapeutic setting. The effect on primary tumor growth and the development of spontaneous liver metastases was evaluated.

RESULTS

L-lysine and ascorbic acid (Lysin C Drink) and EGCG plus ascorbic- and amino-acids (Epican forte) are ineffective in reduction of primary tumor growth and prevention of spontaneous liver metastases in this model.

CONCLUSIONS

Neither a formal clinical development nor the use of these substances can be recommended for neuroblastoma.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HTLV-1-positive and -negative leukemia cells

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate against ATL cells. The anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of EGCG were evaluated in HTLV-1-positive and -negative cells. EGCG exhibited a marked decrease in proliferation of ATL cells at 96 h of treatment. The results indicated that TGF-alpha was down-regulated whereas levels of TGF-beta2 increased. Cell cycle distribution analysis revealed an increase in cells in the pre-G(1) phase which was confirmed by ELISA. The results on proteins showed an up-regulation of p53, Bax and p21 protein levels while the levels of Bcl-2alpha were down-regulated.

Inhibition of corneal angiogenesis by ascorbic acid in the rat model

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of topically administered ascorbic acid on experimentally induced corneal neovascularization in the rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Corneal chemical cauterization of 72 eyes in Long-Evans male rats was performed using silver nitrate/potassium nitrate sticks. Nine groups of eight eyes were used to evaluate eight concentrations of ascorbic acid with one group of eight eyes serving as a control. Topical instillation of 100 mg/ml non-pH-neutralized ascorbic acid was performed in one group while the remaining seven groups were evaluated using pH-neutralized ascorbic acid in concentrations of 100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, 500 microg/ml, and 250 microg/ml.

RESULTS

The percentage of corneal neovascularization and burn stimulus score was determined for all the eyes. The means of percent of corneal neovascularization in ascorbic acid 100 mg/ml (non-neutralized), 100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, 500 microg/ml, 250 microg/ml, and control group were 17.50 +/- 12.80 (p = 0.001), 17.00 +/- 19.30 (p = 0.001), 15.25 +/- 13.26 (p = 0.001), 17.62 +/- 11.89 (p = 0.001), 28.87 +/- 23.08 (p = 0.001), 29.62 +/- 16.91 (p = 0.001), 60.12 +/- 8.50 (p = 0.04), 65.62 +/- 2.26 (p = 0.185), and 68.25 +/- 4.06, respectively (Tables 1 and 2). All animals had a burn score of 2+ or higher (Table 1).

CONCLUSION

Ascorbic acid applied in a topical solution appears to inhibit corneal neovascularization in the rat model of inflammatory neovascularization in concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. The optimal dose-effect relation was in our model found in concentrations between 1 mg and 500 microg/ml. At concentrations below 500 microg/ml there was no statistically significant inhibition in the degree of corneal neovascularization compared to control.

Inhibition of pulmonary metastasis of melanoma b16fo cells in C57BL/6 mice by a nutrient mixture consisting of ascorbic Acid, lysine, proline, arginine, and green tea extract

The authors investigated the effect of a nutrient mixture (NM) on lung metastasis by B16F0 melanoma cells in C57BL/6 female mice. Mice were divided into equal groups (1 to 6) and injected via tail vein with B16F0 cells (groups 1 to 4), B16FO cells pretreated with NM (group 5), or saline (group 6). Groups 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were fed the control diet and group 2 the 0.5% NM supplemented diet. Groups 3 and 4 received NM intraperitoneally (IP) and intravenously (IV), respectively. Two weeks later, pulmonary metastatic colonies were counted. Pulmonary colonization was reduced by 63% in mice supplemented with NM diet, by 86% in mice receiving NM by IP and IV injections, and completely inhibited in mice injected with melanoma cells pretreated with NM. These results show that NM is effective in inhibiting the metastasis of B16FO melanoma cells.

Apoptosis induction by Epican Forte in HTLV-1 positive and negative malignant T-cells

The effects of a novel nutrient formulation Epican Forte (EF) were evaluated on proliferation and induction of apoptosis using non-cytotoxic concentrations against HTLV-1 positive (HuT-102 & C91-PL) and negative (CEM & Jurkat) cells. EF showed anti-proliferative effect as determined by MTT assay and TGF mRNA protein expression using RT-PCR. EF resulted in the down-regulation of TGF-alpha and an up-regulation in TGF-beta2. EF caused a significant increase in apoptotic cells in the preG1 phase. These results were confirmed using Cell Death ELISA and Annexin V-FITC. Induction of apoptosis was caused by an up-regulation of p53, p21 and Bax protein levels and a down-regulation of Bcl-2alpha protein expression level.