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Query: UMLS:C0027651 (tumor)
 685,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

It has been reported that several naturally occurring and related synthetic organosulfur compounds exert chemopreventive effects in several target organs in rodent models. The chemopreventive actions of 40 and 80% maximum tolerated doses (MTD) of organosulfur compounds, namely anethole trithione, diallyl disulfide, N-acetylcysteine, and taurine, administered in AIN-76A diet, on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced neoplasia were investigated in male F344 rats. Also, the effects of these agents on the activities of phase II enzymes, namely glutathione S-transferase (GST), NAD(P)H-dependent quinone reductase, and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, in the liver and colonic mucosa and tumors were assessed. The MTD levels of anethole trithione, diallyl disulfide, N-acetylcysteine, and taurine were determined in male F344 rats and found to be 250, 250, 1500, and 1500 ppm, respectively. At 5 weeks of age, animals were fed the control diet (AIN-76A) or experimental diets containing 40 or 80% MTD levels of each test agent. All animals in each group, except those allotted for vehicle (saline) treatment, were administered AOM s.c. at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight once weekly for 2 weeks. All animals were necropsied during week 52 after the second AOM injection. Colonic mucosal and tumor and liver enzyme activities were measured in animals fed 80% MTD levels of each test agent. Colon tumors were subjected to histopathological evaluation and classified as invasive or noninvasive adenocarcinomas. Colon tumor incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) and tumor multiplicity (tumors/animal) were compared among various dietary groups. The results indicated that administration of 200 ppm (80% MTD) anethole trithione significantly inhibited the incidence and multiplicity of both invasive and noninvasive adenocarcinomas, whereas feeding of 100 ppm (40% MTD) anethole trithione or 100 (40% MTD) or 200 ppm (80% MTD) diallyl disulfide suppressed only invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon. Although diets containing N-acetylcysteine and taurine inhibited colon tumor multiplicity, the effect was somewhat marginal. GST, NAD-(P)H-dependent quinone reductase, and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase activities in colonic mucosa and tumor and liver were significantly elevated in animals fed anethole trithione or diallyl disulfide, compared to those fed the control diet. N-Acetylcysteine and taurine slightly but significantly increased only the GST activity in the liver. Although other mechanisms are not excluded, inhibition of AOM-induced colon carcinogenesis by anethole trithione and diallyl disulfide may be associated, in part, with increased activities of phase II enzymes such as GST, NAD(P)H-dependent quinone reductase, and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase in the liver and colon.
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PMID:Chemoprevention of colon carcinogenesis by organosulfur compounds. 833 52

We have shown that PEITC and I3C, both of cruciferous origin, inhibited lung tumor formation induced by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNK. The inhibition by PEITC is due largely to its inhibitory effect on the enzymes of NNK metabolism, whereas; the inhibition by I3C may be attributed to its ability to induce hepatic enzyme activity of NNK metabolism, which resulted in decreased availability of NNK to the lung. On a molar basis, PEITC is considerably more effective than I3C. PEITC was released upon consumption of watercress. The N-acetylcysteine conjugate of PEITC is a promising urinary marker for quantitating uptake of this dietary anticarcinogen in humans. These studies also showed that green tea polyphenol EGCG inhibited the NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis, probably due to its antioxidant property. These studies provide for the first time evidence for the involvement of free radicals in nitrosamine tumorigenesis. The mechanism by which free radicals are generated by NNK treatment is not yet known. The reduced levels of oxidative lesions in lung as a result of EGCG treatment may be related to its ability to reduce reactive oxygen species and/or to chelate iron ion resulting in a decreased production of hydroxyl radicals. Overall, these studies have identified ingredients in cruciferous vegetables and green tea that are inhibitory against lung tumorigenesis induced by NNK in rodents.
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PMID:Inhibition of tobacco-specific nitrosamine-induced lung tumorigenesis by compounds derived from cruciferous vegetables and green tea. 851 47

This paper provides a rational molecular basis for studies intended to clarify the interactions between cancer chemopreventive agents and apoptosis, one of the natural forms of cell death that overlaps molecular mechanisms with other forms such as programmed cell death and specialized forms of physiological cell death. Molecular details of the process show the existence of distinct molecular pathways leading to the activation of critical effector elements (apoptosis gene products) functioning under the control of a network of negative regulatory elements. Dysregulation of either apoptosis or anti-apoptosis genes has a significant role in multistage carcinogenesis. Inhibition of apoptosis is one of the underlying mechanisms of the action of tumor promoters. The network of apoptosis and anti-apoptosis gene products provides multiple targets for compounds with cancer chemopreventive potential. Many data in the literature show initiating, potentiating or inhibitory effects of such compounds on apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanism of these effects is largely unknown. We initiated a series of studies using mouse thymocytes which undergo apoptosis through distinct molecular mechanisms after T-cell receptor activation (TCR pathway), following the addition of glucocorticoids (DEX pathway) or DNA damaging agents (p53 pathway). All trans-and 9-cis-retinoic acid induced apoptosis, elicited through the DEX pathway, inhibited the TCR pathway, and did not affect p53- initiated apoptosis. N-acetylcysteine can inhibit all forms. Sodium salicylate enhanced spontaneous cell death, decreased p53-dependent apoptosis, and did not affect the DEX and TCR pathways. These preliminary results, which show differential effects of the studied compounds on distinct molecular pathways of apoptosis, warrant further investigations in the effort to utilize the molecular elements of apoptosis in proper cancer chemoprevention, and find biochemical targets for apoptosis-related surrogate endpoint biomarker assays of chemoprevention.
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PMID:Probing the molecular program of apoptosis by cancer chemopreventive agents. 853 93

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of three promising sulfur-containing compounds, 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHITC), phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), as chemopreventive agents in a long-term bioassay for lung tumorigenesis in F344 rats. PEITC occurs as a constituent of certain cruciferous vegetables, PHITC is a synthetic homologue, and NAC is an endogenous substance. Male F344 rats were treated with the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) by s.c. injection at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg body weight three times weekly for 20 weeks. This dose regimen induced a 67% tumor incidence in the lung, a major target organ of NNK. PHITC or PEITC administered in the diet for 22 weeks, a period covering from 1 week before to 1 week after the NNK treatment, exhibited significant inhibition of lung tumorigenesis induced by NNK. The lung tumor incidences in the NNK-treated groups, fed a diet containing 4 mmol/kg (876 ppm) or 2 mmol/kg (438 ppm) PHITC, were 24 and 19% and were 9 and 17% in groups fed PEITC at concentrations of 8 mmol/kg (1304 ppm) or 4 mmol/kg (652 ppm), respectively. In contrast to isothiocyanates, NAC given in the diet at 80 mmol/kg (13056 ppm) or 40 mmol/kg (6528 ppm) exerted no inhibitory effects on the NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis. At the dose studied, NNK did not induce liver and pancreatic tumors in the treated animals, but a significant increase of nasal cavity tumor incidence was observed in the NNK-treated group. However, none of the test compounds showed any effect on the tumorigenesis in this tissue. This study demonstrated that PHITC and PEITC were potent chemopreventive agents for the NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis in F344 rats, whereas NAC was not active at all. These results support further evaluation of these compounds in chemoprevention studies.
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PMID:Chemopreventive efficacy of arylalkyl isothiocyanates and N-acetylcysteine for lung tumorigenesis in Fischer rats. 863 Oct 12

The in vivo carcinogenic risk of hyperthermia, alone or in combination with irradiation, and the anti-carcinogenic potential of vitamin A and N-acetylcysteine (AcCys) were investigated. Starting 1 month before treatment, 160 rats were divided into four diet groups: no additives, vitamin A-enriched diet, AcCys and the combination vitamin A + AcCys. In 10 animals per diet group, the hind leg was treated with either X-irradiation alone (16 Gy), hyperthermia alone (60 min at 43 degrees C), hyperthermia 5 h prior to irradiation or hyperthermia 5 h after irradiation. Animals were observed for 2 years after treatment with regard to the development of tumours either inside or outside the treated volume. After 16 Gy alone 12 +/- 5% of the animals developed a tumour. Tumour incidence increased to 37 +/- 9% (borderline significance P = 0.07 versus treatment with X-rays alone) when hyperthermia was applied prior to X-rays, and to 24 +/- 8% (NS) with hyperthermia after irradiation. The relative risk ratio (RRR) for tumour induction was increased to 2.4 by hyperthermia if combined with X-irradiation. Pathological characterization of induced tumours showed that these were of the fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma and carcinoma type. Vitamin A alone or in combination with AcCys slightly protected against the induction of tumours by X-rays without or with hyperthermia (RRR of 0.4). However, morphological changes such as lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and damage to the parenchyma were noticed in livers from all animals that were given a vitamin-A-enriched diet (P < 0.0001). Data from the present and past reports show that hyperthermia alone is not carcinogenic, but that it may increase radiation carcinogenesis. Treatment temperature and time of exposure to heat in addition to the radiation dose applied are important factors in the carcinogenic process. The enhancement of radiation carcinogenesis seems to occur independently of the sequence and time interval between irradiation and hyperthermia. However, not all data are consistent with this interpretation.
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PMID:Hyperthermia, radiation carcinogenesis and the protective potential of vitamin A and N-acetylcysteine. 864 44

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade plays an important role in carcinogenic development. Herein, we show that the skin tumor promoter butylated hydroxytoluene hydroperoxide (BHTOOH) stimulates a rapid and potent (14- to 20-fold) activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in vivo and in cultured mouse keratinocytes. BHTOOH also moderately (5-fold) activated c-jun-N-terminal kinase, and 38-kDa MAPK-related protein in these same cells. N-acetylcysteine and o-phenanthroline abolished ERK activation by BHTOOH, consistent with a requirement for metal-dependent formation of reactive intermediates. Indeed, 4-CD3-BHTOOH, an analogue that generates less of the metabolite BHT-quinone methide (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylene-2,5-cyclohexadienone) and fewer tumors in vivo, accordingly exhibited diminished potency for activating ERK. ERK activation by BHTOOH was inhibited by suramin, and by expression of dominant-negative Ras-N-17 in PC12 cells, suggesting overlap between the pathways for BHTOOH and growth factor signaling. Induction of MAPK-dependent genes c-fos and MAPK phosphatase-1 by BHTOOH was also blocked by Ras-N-17 expression. Moreover, expression of Ras-N-17 or kinase-defective MAPK kinase (MEK) diminished cell survival following BHTOOH exposure. Similarly, pretreatment with suramin or the MEK inhibitor PD098059 also potentiated the toxicity of BHTOOH. On the other hand, expression of constitutively active MEK enhanced cell survival. Thus, we demonstrate that the MAPK cascade is critical to the cellular response to BHTOOH. This study suggests a functional role for MAPK activation in tumor promotion stimulated by oxidants and other agents.
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PMID:Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation by butylated hydroxytoluene hydroperoxide: implications for cellular survival and tumor promotion. 875 15

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is believed to be related to the generation of reactive oxygen species by at least two mechanisms: enzymatic reduction of the quinone with subsequent redox cycling and/or formation of an iron-anthracycline complex capable of intramolecular reduction and redox cycling. Both pathways may lead to the production of superoxide anions and highly reactive metabolites, such as hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. As a result, membrane lipid peroxidation may ensue, producing damage in tissues like the heart, which have low antioxidant defenses (superoxide dismutase glutathione and especially, glutathione-peroxidase). Pharmacologic methods of interrupting this cycle have involved numerous antioxidants, such as the sulfhydryls N-acetylcysteine and cysteamine, and the lipophilic vitamin alpha tocopherol. Unfortunately, none of these compounds has been proven to be cardioprotective in patients receiving doxorubicin. In contrast, the water-soluble d-isomer of the iron chelator razoxane, dexrazoxane or ICRF-187, has been shown to reduce doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. This has afforded greater cumulative doses of doxorubicin to be safely administered. The cytoprotective effect is apparently limited to the heart since there is no effect on antitumor efficacy and, unfortunately, no reduction in gastrointestinal toxicity, and with a slight increase in myelosuppression. More recent preclinical studies have also demonstrated cardioprotective activity for the aminothiol amifostine (WR-2721). In vitro, this agent has been shown to scavenge superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, the latter effect mediated by the active (dephosphorylated) metabolite, WR-1065. In tumor-bearing mice, amifostine reduces the lethality of high doses of doxorubicin without affecting antitumor activity. Finally, in vitro studies in neonatal rat heart cells have shown direct evidence of anthracycline cardioprotection for both amifostine and WR-1065. Cytoprotective drug levels of either agent were limited to 2.0 microg/mL, which is one tenth of the achievable peak plasma levels in humans. At this concentration, a 15-minute sulfhydryl pretreatment significantly prevented doxorubicin-induced depressions of myocyte adenosine triphosphate levels. Overall, these studies suggest that amifostine may have cytoprotective activity against doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage. Animal studies in a chronically dosed doxorubicin model are indicated; if positive, clinical trials testing this hypothesis will be warranted.
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PMID:Cytoprotective agents for anthracyclines. 878 63

The thiol N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a promising cancer chemopreventive agent which acts through a variety of mechanisms, including its nucleophilic and antioxidant properties. We have recently shown that NAC inhibits type-IV collagenase activity as well as invasion, tumor take and metastasis of malignant cells in mice. NAC is also known to attenuate the cardiotoxicity of the cytostatic drug doxorubicin (DOX, Adriamycin). The present study was designed to evaluate whether the combination of NAC and DOX treatments in mice injected with cancer cells could affect their tumorigenic and metastatic properties. Six separate experiments were carried out, using a total of 291 adult female mice. In experimental metastasis assays, in which B16-F10 melanoma cells were injected i.v. into (CD-1)BR nude mice, DOX significantly reduced the number of lung metastases when administered i.v. at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight, 3 days after the i.v. injection of cancer cells. NAC inhibited lung metastases when added to the medium of cancer cells before their i.v. injection. The combined treatment with DOX and NAC, under various experimental conditions, was highly effective, showing a synergistic reduction in the number of mestastases. In tumorigenicity and spontaneous metastasis assays, in which B16-BL6 melanoma cells were injected s.c. into the footpad of C57BL/6 mice, DOX decreased the number of lung metastases when given i.p. at 2 mg/kg body weight. Oral NAC exerted significant protective effects, and considerably prolonged survival of mice. The combined treatment with DOX and NAC again showed synergistic effects on the frequency and weight of primary tumors and local recurrences, and completely prevented the formation of lung metastases in the experiment in which these end-points were evaluated at fixed times. While injection of DOX 7 days after implantation of cancer cells failed to improve the cancer-protective effects of NAC, its injection after I day resulted in a striking inhibition of lung metastases. These findings demonstrate an evident synergism between DOX (given parenterally) and NAC (given with drinking water) in preventing tumorigenicity and metastases. The indications of these animal studies warrant further evaluation in clinical trials.
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PMID:Synergism between N-acetylcysteine and doxorubicin in the prevention of tumorigenicity and metastasis in murine models. 882 57

One of the important mechanisms of immunosuppression in the tumor-bearing status has been attributed to the down-modulation of the CD3 zeta chain and its associated signaling molecules in T cells. Thus, the mechanism of the disappearance of CD3 zeta was investigated in tumor-bearing mice (TBM). The decrease of CD3 zeta was observed both in the cell lysate and intact cells. Direct interaction of T cells with macrophages from TBM (TBM-macrophages) induced the decrease of CD3 zeta, and depletion of macrophages rapidly restored the CD3 zeta expression. We found that treatment of such macrophages with N-acetylcysteine, known as antioxidant compound, prevented the decrease of CD3 zeta. Consistent with this result, the addition of oxidative reagents such as hydrogen peroxide and diamide induced the decrease of CD3 zeta expression in T cells. Consequently, the loss of CD3 zeta resulted in suppression of the antigen-specific T-cell response. These results demonstrate that oxidative stress by macrophages in tumor-bearing status induces abnormality of the T-cell receptor complex by cell interactions with T cells. Therefore, our findings suggest that oxidative stress contributes to the regulation of the expression and function of the T-cell receptor complex.
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PMID:Oxidative stress by tumor-derived macrophages suppresses the expression of CD3 zeta chain of T-cell receptor complex and antigen-specific T-cell responses. 891 54

Aziridinylbenzoquinones are a group of antitumor agents that elicit cytotoxicity by generating either alkylating intermediates or reactive oxygen species. The mechanism of toxicity may not always, however, involve profound damage of cellular constituents, but may involve a cytostatic effect through interference with the cell cycle. In this context, we have examined the induction of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 (WAF1, CIP1, or sdi1), whose overexpression suppresses the growth of various tumor cells, in human tumor cells metabolizing 3,6-diaziridinyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DZQ) and its C2,C5-substituted derivatives: 2,5-bis-(carboethoxyamino) (AZQ) and 2, 5-bis-2(-hydroxyethylamino) (BZQ). Both DZQ and AZQ were effectively activated by HCT116 human colonic carcinoma cells; the activation of the former involved largely a dicoumarol-sensitive activity, whereas that of the latter appeared to be accomplished primarily by one-electron transfer reductases. BZQ was not a substrate for the dicoumarol-sensitive enzyme in HCT116 cells. Cellular activation of the first two quinones was associated with formation of oxygen-centered radicals as detected by EPR in conjunction with the spin trap 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide. The redox transitions of DZQ involved hydroxyl radical formation and were strongly inhibited by catalase, whereas those of AZQ showed a strong superoxide anion component sensitive to superoxide dismutase. These signals were suppressed by N-acetylcysteine with concomitant production of a thiyl radical adduct. This suggests an effective electron transfer between the thiol and free radicals formed during the activation of these quinones. DZQ and AZQ induced significantly the expression of p21 in HCT116 cells, but a 10-fold higher concentration of AZQ was required to achieve the level of induction elicited by DZQ. BZQ had little effect on p21 expression. p21 induction at both mRNA and protein levels correlated with the inhibition of either cyclin-dependent kinase activity or cell proliferation. p21 induction elicited by the above quinones was inhibited by N-acetylcysteine, whereas the non-sulfur analog, N-acetylalanine, was without effect. Catalase and superoxide dismutase did not effect p21 induction by aziridinylbenzoquinones in HCT116 cells, thus suggesting that extracellular sources of oxygen radicals generated by plasma membrane reductases have no influence in the expression of this gene. Hydrogen peroxide, a product of quinone redox cycling, elicited an increase of p21 mRNA levels in HCT116 and K562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. The latter lacks p53, one of the activators of p21 transcription, thus suggesting that p21 expression can be accomplished in a p53-independent manner in these cells. This study suggests that p21 induction is mediated by an increase in the cellular steady-state concentration of oxygen radicals and that the greater effectiveness in p21 induction by DZQ may be related to its efficient metabolism by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase activity in HCT116 cells.
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PMID:Induction of p21 mediated by reactive oxygen species formed during the metabolism of aziridinylbenzoquinones by HCT116 cells. 894 36


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