Improving the Antitumor Effect of Chemotherapy with Ocoxin as a Novel Adjuvant Agent to Treat Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. Although many patients respond favorably to first-line treatments, castration-and chemotherapy-resistance arises after a few years, leading to metastasis. Thus, new approaches are being investigated using natural supplements to reinforce current therapies. Ocoxin is a plant-based mixture with antitumor properties that have been proved in several cancers. Here, we evaluated the cytotoxic capacity of this compound itself and combined with Docetaxel, Enzalutamide and Olaparib as an adjuvant agent. We observed that Ocoxin reduced tumor cell viability; slowed down cell cycles; altered the expression of genes involved in DNA replication, cell cycles and the p53 signaling pathway; and reduced migratory capacity after stimulation with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and osteoblasts in vitro and reduced tumor volume in vivo. The combination of the nutritional supplement with chemotherapy showed a higher cytotoxic effect than chemotherapy alone and reverted chemoresistance conferred by CAFs and osteoblasts. Moreover, the adjuvant therapy also improved the outcome in vivo compared to the treatment with solo chemotherapy, where mice developed smaller tumors and less angiogenesis. Therefore, Ocoxin arises as a good candidate for further studies in combination with current treatments for prostate-cancer patients.

Ocoxin Increases the Antitumor Effect of BRAF Inhibition and Reduces Cancer Associated Fibroblast-Mediated Chemoresistance and Protumoral Activity in Metastatic Melanoma

Whereas the prevalence of several cancer types is decreasing, skin malignancies are growing more common every year. Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer with high metastatic capacity. In most cases, malignant melanoma shows acquired therapy resistance. We evaluated the ability of Ocoxin, a natural compound-based antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutritional complement, to exert an antitumor effect in melanoma. To do so, the cytotoxicity of Ocoxin in a panel of BRAF-mutated murine and human melanoma cell lines was tested alone and in combination with BRAF inhibitor Vemurafenib. Our results revealed a potent cytotoxic effect of Ocoxin against melanoma cells and a synergic effect when combined with Vemurafenib, reducing viability and increasing apoptosis. Besides, Ocoxin interferes with the cell cycle, impairs the inherent and fibroblast-mediated melanoma cell migration, and reduces resistance to BRAF inhibition. Proteomic analysis revealed reduced tumor secretion of inflammatory factors Galectin-1, Osteopontin, CCL5, and CCL9 upon treatment with Ocoxin. Moreover, RNASeq showed that Ocoxin downregulated the cell cycle and proliferation-related genes. In vivo, Ocoxin reduced the number of lung metastasis of YUMM-1.7 melanoma cells. Therefore, Ocoxin arises as a good candidate for clinical trials analyzing the beneficial effects in patients suffering from this cutaneous malignancy.

Ocoxin oral solution® as a complement to irinotecan chemotherapy in the metastatic progression of colorectal cancer to the liver

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an aggressive disease in which patients usually die due to its metastatic progression to the liver. Up to date, irinotecan is one of the most used chemotherapeutic agents to treat CRC metastasis with demonstrated efficacy. However, the severity of the side effects constitute the main limitation to its use in the treatment. Consequently, new complementary therapies are being developed to avoid these adverse effects while maintaining the efficacy of the antitumoral drugs. Ocoxin oral solution (OOS^®) is a nutritional mixture containing biologically active compounds with demonstrated antitumoral and immunomodulatory effects. Thus, we aimed to analyze the effect of OOS^® as a suitable complement to irinotecan therapy in the treatment of CRC metastasis to the liver. First, the effect of OOS^®, irinotecan and the combination of both on the viability of C26 cells was tested in vitro and in vivo. Second, the expression of caspase-3, Ki67 and the macrophage infiltration by F4/80 marker was quantified in liver tissue sections by immunohistochemistry. Finally, mRNA microarray study was carried out on tumor cells isolated from tumor-bearing livers collected from mice subjected to the above treatments. Our results show that OOS^® administered as a complementary therapy to irinotecan reduced tumor cell viability in vitro. Moreover, irinotecan administered either alone or in combination with 100 µl OOS^® from the 7th day after tumor cell inoculation decreased the metastatic growth in the liver. Besides, several genes with binding and catalytic activities showed to be deregulated by RNA microarray analysis. In conclusion, OOS^®, when administered as a complement to irinotecan, reduced the metastatic development of colorectal cancer to the liver. Additionally, the overall health state of the animals improved. These results point out OOS^® as a potential supplement to the anti-tumoral treatments used in clinical settings in patients suffering from disseminated colorectal cancer.

Ocoxin® oral solution slows down tumor growth in an experimental model of colorectal cancer metastasis to the liver in Balb/c mice

Liver metastatic disease is the main cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. During metastatic spread of the disease an imbalance in the oxidative stress and inflammation plays a crucial role in tumor progression. In order to improve the efficacy of current therapies, new complementary therapeutic approaches are being analyzed including biologically active compounds with low side effects. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of Ocoxin^® oral solution (OOS) prompt us to analyze its effect on the metastatic development of CRC to the liver. First, in vitro effect of OOS in tumor cell viability and migration was analyzed. Second, in vivo effect of different dosage patterns and concentrations in the development of hepatic metastasis was analyzed by intrasplenic inoculation of C26 colon carcinoma cells in Balb/c mice. Third, the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin, caspase-3 and Ki-67 expression was quantified by immunohistochemistry, then gene expression levels of inflammatory factors were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. According to our results, OOS reduced tumor cell viability and migration in vitro. Moreover, in vivo daily administration of OOS from the 7th day after tumor cell inoculation decreased the total area and size of metastatic foci in the liver. Furthermore, cell proliferation and fibroblast recruitment was decreased in tumor foci while a higher number of apoptotic cells were observed. Finally, RNA levels for the inflammatory mediators COX-2, IFNγ, IL1β, IL6 and TNFα were reduced in total liver. In conclusion, OOS reduced the metastatic development of colorectal cancer to the liver by increasing apoptosis, and decreasing tumor cell proliferation and fibroblast recruitment in the tumor foci, as well as the expression of inflammatory mediators in total liver. These results point out OOS as a potential supplement to be applied as complementary therapy for the treatment of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.