Increased expression of the MGMT repair protein mediated by cysteine prodrugs and chemopreventative natural products in human lymphocytes and tumor cell lines

From cultivation to cancer: formation of N-nitrosamines and other carcinogens in smokeless tobacco and their mutagenic implications

Tobacco use is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality globally. Tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco (ST), generally contain tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs), such as N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-butanone (NNK), which are potent carcinogens that cause mutations in critical genes in human DNA. This review covers the series of biochemical and chemical transformations, related to TSNAs, leading from tobacco cultivation to cancer initiation. A key aim of this review is to provide a greater understanding of TSNAs: their precursors, the microbial and chemical mechanisms that contribute to their formation in ST, their mutagenicity leading to cancer due to ST use, and potential means of lowering TSNA levels in tobacco products. TSNAs are not present in harvested tobacco but can form due to nitrosating agents reacting with tobacco alkaloids present in tobacco during certain types of curing. TSNAs can also form during or following ST production when certain microorganisms perform nitrate metabolism, with dissimilatory nitrate reductases converting nitrate to nitrite that is then released into tobacco and reacts chemically with tobacco alkaloids. When ST usage occurs, TSNAs are absorbed and metabolized to reactive compounds that form DNA adducts leading to mutations in critical target genes, including the RAS oncogenes and the p53 tumor suppressor gene. DNA repair mechanisms remove most adducts induced by carcinogens, thus preventing many but not all mutations. Lastly, because TSNAs and other agents cause cancer, previously documented strategies for lowering their levels in ST products are discussed, including using tobacco with lower nornicotine levels, pasteurization and other means of eliminating microorganisms, omitting fermentation and fire-curing, refrigerating ST products, and including nitrite scavenging chemicals as ST ingredients.

The dual role of DNA repair protein MGMT in cancer prevention and treatment

Alkylating agents are genotoxic chemicals that can induce and treat various types of cancer. This occurs through covalent bonding with cellular macromolecules, in particular DNA, leading to the loss of functional integrity under the persistence of modifications upon replication. O⁶-alkylguanine (O⁶-AlkylG) adducts are proposed to be the most potent DNA lesions induced by alkylating agents. If not repaired correctly, these adducts can result, at the molecular level, in DNA point mutations, chromosome aberrations, recombination, crosslinking, and single- and double-strand breaks (SSB/DSBs). At the cellular level, these lesions can result in malignant transformation, senescence, or cell death. O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair protein capable of removing the alkyl groups from O⁶-AlkylG adducts in a damage reversal process that can prevent the adverse biological effects of DNA damage caused by guanine O⁶-alkylation. MGMT can thereby defend normal cells against tumor initiation, however it can also protect tumor cells against the beneficial effects of chemotherapy. Hence, MGMT can play an important role in both the prevention and treatment of cancer; thus, it can be considered as a double-edged sword. From a clinical perspective, MGMT is a therapeutic target, and it is important to explore the rational development of its clinical exploitation.

DNA Alkylation Damage by Nitrosamines and Relevant DNA Repair Pathways

Nitrosamines occur widespread in food, drinking water, cosmetics, as well as tobacco smoke and can arise endogenously. More recently, nitrosamines have been detected as impurities in various drugs. This is of particular concern as nitrosamines are alkylating agents that are genotoxic and carcinogenic. We first summarize the current knowledge on the different sources and chemical nature of alkylating agents with a focus on relevant nitrosamines. Subsequently, we present the major DNA alkylation adducts induced by nitrosamines upon their metabolic activation by CYP450 monooxygenases. We then describe the DNA repair pathways engaged by the various DNA alkylation adducts, which include base excision repair, direct damage reversal by MGMT and ALKBH, as well as nucleotide excision repair. Their roles in the protection against the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of nitrosamines are highlighted. Finally, we address DNA translesion synthesis as a DNA damage tolerance mechanism relevant to DNA alkylation adducts.

Possible role of nutrition in the prevention of inflammatory bowel disease-related colorectal cancer: A focus on human studies

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at substantially high risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). IBD-associated CRC accounts for roughly 10% to 15% of the annual mortality in patients with IBD. IBD-related CRC also affects younger patients compared with sporadic CRC, with a 5-y survival rate of 50%. Regardless of medical therapies, the persistent inflammatory state characterizing IBD raises the risk for precancerous changes and CRC, with additional input from several elements, including genetic and environmental risk factors, IBD-associated comorbidities, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and gut microbiota modifications. It is well known that nutritional habits and dietary bioactive compounds can influence IBD-associated inflammation, microbiome abundance and composition, oxidative stress balance, and gut permeability. Additionally, in recent years, results from broad epidemiologic and experimental studies have associated certain foods or nutritional patterns with the risk for colorectal neoplasia. The present study aimed to review the possible role of nutrition in preventing IBD-related CRC, focusing specifically on human studies. It emerges that nutritional interventions based on healthy, nutrient-dense dietary patterns characterized by a high intake of fiber, vegetables, fruit, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a low amount of animal proteins, processed foods, and alcohol, combined with probiotic supplementation have the potential of reducing IBD-activity and preventing the risk of IBD-related CRC through different mechanisms, suggesting that targeted nutritional interventions may represent a novel promising approach for the prevention and management of IBD-associated CRC.

Glioblastoma and the search for non-hypothesis driven combination therapeutics in academia

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a cancer of high unmet clinical need. Current standard of care for GBM, consisting of maximal surgical resection, followed by ionisation radiation (IR) plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ), provides less than 15-month survival benefit. Efforts by conventional drug discovery to improve overall survival have failed to overcome challenges presented by inherent tumor heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance attributed to GBM stem cells, and tumor niches supporting self-renewal. In this review we describe the steps academic researchers are taking to address these limitations in high throughput screening programs to identify novel GBM combinatorial targets. We detail how they are implementing more physiologically relevant phenotypic assays which better recapitulate key areas of disease biology coupled with more focussed libraries of small compounds, such as drug repurposing, target discovery, pharmacologically active and novel, more comprehensive anti-cancer target-annotated compound libraries. Herein, we discuss the rationale for current GBM combination trials and the need for more systematic and transparent strategies for identification, validation and prioritisation of combinations that lead to clinical trials. Finally, we make specific recommendations to the preclinical, small compound screening paradigm that could increase the likelihood of identifying tractable, combinatorial, small molecule inhibitors and better drug targets specific to GBM.

Treatment of Human HeLa Cells with Black Raspberry Extracts Enhances the Removal of DNA Lesions by the Nucleotide Excision Repair Mechanism

As demonstrated by us earlier and by other researchers, a diet containing freeze-dried black raspberries (BRB) inhibits DNA damage and carcinogenesis in animal models. We tested the hypothesis that the inhibition of DNA damage by BRB is due, in part, to the enhancement of DNA repair capacity evaluated in the human HeLa cell extract system, an established in vitro system for the assessment of cellular DNA repair activity. The pre-treatment of intact HeLa cells with BRB extracts (BRBE) enhances the nucleotide excision repair (NER) of a bulky deoxyguanosine adduct derived from the polycyclic aromatic carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BP-dG) by ~24%. The NER activity of an oxidatively-derived non-bulky DNA lesion, guanidinohydantoin (Gh), is also enhanced by ~24%, while its base excision repair activity is enhanced by only ~6%. Western Blot experiments indicate that the expression of selected, NER factors is also increased by BRBE treatment by ~73% (XPA), ~55% (XPB), while its effects on XPD was modest (<14%). These results demonstrate that BRBE significantly enhances the NER yields of a bulky and a non-bulky DNA lesion, and that this effect is correlated with an enhancement of expression of the critically important NER factor XPA and the helicase XPB, but not the helicase XPD.

Association study of candidate DNA-repair gene variants and acute graft versus host disease in pediatric patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation

Acute Graft versus Host Disease (aGvHD) grades 2-4 occurs in 15-60% of pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The collateral damage to normal tissue by conditioning regimens administered prior to allo-HSCT serve as an initial trigger for aGvHD. DNA-repair mechanisms may play an important role in mitigating this initial damage, and so the variants in corresponding DNA-repair protein-coding genes via affecting their quantity and/or function. We explored 51 variants within 17 DNA-repair genes for their association with aGvHD grades 2-4 in 60 pediatric patients. The cumulative incidence of aGvHD 2-4 was 12% (n = 7) in the exploratory cohort. MGMT rs10764881 (G>A) and EXO rs9350 (c.2270C>T) variants were associated with aGvHD 2-4 [Odds ratios = 14.8 (0 events out of 40 in rs10764881 GG group) and 11.5 (95% CI: 2.3-191.8), respectively, multiple testing corrected p ≤ 0.001]. Upon evaluation in an extended cohort (n = 182) with an incidence of aGvHD 2-4 of 22% (n = 40), only MGMT rs10764881 (G>A) remained significant (adjusted HR = 2.05 [95% CI: 1.06-3.94]; p = 0.03) in the presence of other clinical risk factors. Higher MGMT expression was seen in GG carriers for rs10764881 and was associated with higher IC50 of Busulfan in lymphoblastoid cells. MGMT rs10764881 carrier status could predict aGvHD occurrence in pediatric patients undergoing allo-HSCT.

Paternal genetic variants and risk of obstructive heart defects: A parent-of-origin approach

Previous research on risk factors for obstructive heart defects (OHDs) focused on maternal and infant genetic variants, prenatal environmental exposures, and their potential interaction effects. Less is known about the role of paternal genetic variants or environmental exposures and risk of OHDs. We examined parent-of-origin effects in transmission of alleles in the folate, homocysteine, or transsulfuration pathway genes on OHD occurrence in offspring. We used data on 569 families of liveborn infants with OHDs born between October 1997 and August 2008 from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study to conduct a family-based case-only study. Maternal, paternal, and infant DNA were genotyped using an Illumina Golden Gate custom single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel. Relative risks (RR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and likelihood ratio tests from log-linear models were used to estimate the parent-of-origin effect of 877 SNPs in 60 candidate genes in the folate, homocysteine, and transsulfuration pathways on the risk of OHDs. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple testing. We identified 3 SNPs in the transsulfuration pathway and 1 SNP in the folate pathway that were statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. Among infants who inherited paternally-derived copies of the G allele for rs6812588 in the RFC1 gene, the G allele for rs1762430 in the MGMT gene, and the A allele for rs9296695 and rs4712023 in the GSTA3 gene, RRs for OHD were 0.11 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.29, P = 9.16x10^-7), 0.30 (95% CI: 0.17, 0.53, P = 9.80x10^-6), 0.34 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.57, P = 2.28x10^-5), and 0.34 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.58, P = 3.77x10^-5), respectively, compared to infants who inherited maternally-derived copies of the same alleles. We observed statistically significant decreased risk of OHDs among infants who inherited paternal gene variants involved in folate and transsulfuration pathways.

Obstructive heart defects are birth defects that cause obstruction to the blood flow of the developing heart. Common OHDs include coarctation of the aorta, aortic stenosis and pulmonary stenosis. While there is a fair amount of literature indicating an association between maternal genetic variants and OHDs, less is known about the role of paternal genetic variants in the etiology of OHDs. We used a genotype clustering algorithm, SNPMClust, that was developed in-house at the Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention to study the role of paternal genetic variants in the folate, homocysteine and transsulfuration pathways. Maternal, paternal, and infant DNA specimens were collected from participants of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a large population-based case-control study in the United States, and were genotyped using an Illumina Golden Gate custom single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel. We identified 4 SNPs in the folate and transsulfuration pathways, rs6812588, rs1762430, rs9296695, and rs4712023, that were associated with a statistically significant decreased risk of OHDs for infants who inherited a paternally-derived copy of the variant allele compared to infants who inherited a maternal copy of the variant allele. In conclusion, we observed a significantly decreased risk and less epigenetic influence of paternal genetic variants on OHDs compared to maternally-derived variants.

Genomic Space of MGMT in Human Glioma Revisited: Novel Motifs, Regulatory RNAs, NRF1, 2, and CTCF Involvement in Gene Expression

Background: The molecular regulation of increased MGMT expression in human brain tumors, the associated regulatory elements, and linkages of these to its epigenetic silencing are not understood. Because the heightened expression or non-expression of MGMT plays a pivotal role in glioma therapeutics, we applied bioinformatics and experimental tools to identify the regulatory elements in the MGMT and neighboring EBF3 gene loci. Results: Extensive genome database analyses showed that the MGMT genomic space was rich in and harbored many undescribed RNA regulatory sequences and recognition motifs. We extended the MGMT’s exon-1 promoter to 2019 bp to include five overlapping alternate promoters. Consensus sequences in the revised promoter for (a) the transcriptional factors CTCF, NRF1/NRF2, GAF, (b) the genetic switch MYC/MAX/MAD, and (c) two well-defined p53 response elements in MGMT intron-1, were identified. A putative protein-coding or non-coding RNA sequence was located in the extended 3′ UTR of the MGMT transcript. Eleven non-coding RNA loci coding for miRNAs, antisense RNA, and lncRNAs were identified in the MGMT-EBF3 region and six of these showed validated potential for curtailing the expression of both MGMT and EBF3 genes. ChIP analysis verified the binding site in MGMT promoter for CTCF which regulates the genomic methylation and chromatin looping. CTCF depletion by a pool of specific siRNA and shRNAs led to a significant attenuation of MGMT expression in human GBM cell lines. Computational analysis of the ChIP sequence data in ENCODE showed the presence of NRF1 in the MGMT promoter and this occurred only in MGMT-proficient cell lines. Further, an enforced NRF2 expression markedly augmented the MGMT mRNA and protein levels in glioma cells. Conclusions: We provide the first evidence for several new regulatory components in the MGMT gene locus which predict complex transcriptional and posttranscriptional controls with potential for new therapeutic avenues.

Counteracting arsenic toxicity: Curcumin to the rescue?

Arsenicosis leads to various irreversible damages in several organs and is considered to be a carcinogen. The effects of chronic arsenic poisoning are a result of an imbalance between pro- and antioxidant homeostasis, oxidative stress, as well as DNA and protein damage. Curcumin, the polyphenolic pigment extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is well-known for its pleiotropic medicinal effects. Curcumin has been shown to have ameliorative effects in arsenic-induced genotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, angiogenesis, skin diseases, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity. This review aims to summarize the scientific evidence on arsenic toxicity in various organs and the ameliorative effects of curcumin on the arsenic toxicity.

Genome-Protecting Compounds as Potential Geroprotectors

Throughout life, organisms are exposed to various exogenous and endogenous factors that cause DNA damages and somatic mutations provoking genomic instability. At a young age, compensatory mechanisms of genome protection are activated to prevent phenotypic and functional changes. However, the increasing stress and age-related deterioration in the functioning of these mechanisms result in damage accumulation, overcoming the functional threshold. This leads to aging and the development of age-related diseases. There are several ways to counteract these changes: 1) prevention of DNA damage through stimulation of antioxidant and detoxification systems, as well as transition metal chelation; 2) regulation of DNA methylation, chromatin structure, non-coding RNA activity and prevention of nuclear architecture alterations; 3) improving DNA damage response and repair; 4) selective removal of damaged non-functional and senescent cells. In the article, we have reviewed data about the effects of various trace elements, vitamins, polyphenols, terpenes, and other phytochemicals, as well as a number of synthetic pharmacological substances in these ways. Most of the compounds demonstrate the geroprotective potential and increase the lifespan in model organisms. However, their genome-protecting effects are non-selective and often are conditioned by hormesis. Consequently, the development of selective drugs targeting genome protection is an advanced direction.

Role of diet and gut microbiota on colorectal cancer immunomodulation

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, and it is characterized by genetic and epigenetic alterations, as well as by inflammatory cell infiltration among malignant and stromal cells. However, this dynamic infiltration can be influenced by the microenvironment to promote tumor proliferation, survival and metastasis or cancer inhibition. In particular, the cancer microenvironment metabolites can regulate the inflammatory cells to induce a chronic inflammatory response that can be a predisposing condition for CRC retention. In addition, some nutritional components might contribute to a chronic inflammatory condition by regulating various immune and inflammatory pathways. Besides that, diet strongly modulates the gut microbiota composition, which has a key role in maintaining gut homeostasis and is associated with the modulation of host inflammatory and immune responses. Therefore, diet has a fundamental role in CRC initiation, progression and prevention. In particular, functional foods such as probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotics can have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition and have anti-inflammatory effects. In this review, we discuss the influence of diet on gut microbiota composition, focusing on its role on gut inflammation and immunity. Finally, we describe the potential benefits of using probiotics and prebiotics to modulate the host inflammatory response, as well as its application in CRC prevention and treatment.

S-phase Specific Downregulation of Human O6-Methylguanine DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) and its Serendipitous Interactions with PCNA and p21cip1 Proteins in Glioma Cells

Whether the antimutagenic DNA repair protein MGMT works solo in human cells and if it has other cellular functions is not known. Here, we show that human MGMT associates with PCNA and in turn, with the cell cycle inhibitor, p21^cip1 in glioblastoma and other cancer cell lines. MGMT protein was shown to harbor a nearly perfect PCNA-Interacting Protein (PIP box) motif. Isogenic p53-null H1299 cells were engineered to express the p21 protein by two different procedures. Reciprocal immunoprecipitation/western blotting, Far-western blotting, and confocal microscopy confirmed the specific association of MGMT with PCNA and the ability of p21 to strongly disrupt the MGMT-PCNA complexes in tumor cells. Alkylation DNA damage resulted in a greater colocalization of MGMT and PCNA proteins, particularly in HCT116 cells deficient in p21 expression. p21 expression in isogenic cell lines directly correlated with markedly higher levels of MGMT mRNA, protein, activity and greater resistance to alkylating agents. In other experiments, four glioblastoma cell lines synchronized at the G1/S phase using either double thymidine or thymidine-mimosine blocks and subsequent cycling consistently showed a loss of MGMT protein at mid- to late S-phase, irrespective of the cell line, suggesting such a downregulation is fundamental to cell cycle control. MGMT protein was also specifically degraded in extracts from S-phase cells and evidence strongly suggested the involvement of PCNA-dependent CRL4^Cdt2 ubiquitin-ligase in the reaction. Overall, these data provide the first evidence for non-repair functions of MGMT in cell cycle and highlight the involvement of PCNA in MGMT downregulation, with p21 attenuating the process.

2D-NMR investigation and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant, antigenotoxic and estrogenic/antiestrogenic activities of strawberry grape

Strawberry grape is considered beneficial due to its extensive phytochemical properties. To expand the knowledge about the chemical constituents and the biological activities of the whole plant, 2D-NMR investigation has been carried out on pulp, peel, seeds, stalks and leaves. Catechin and epicatechin were identified as the main constituents of the seed extract, quercetin and ferulic acid were detected in the leaves and malvidin and cyanidin glucopyranoside in the peels. The leaf, stalk and seed extracts were found to be very rich in phytochemicals and were tested for their ability to reduce the mutagenicity and genotoxicity of standard agents via Salmonella mutagenicity assay and SOS chromotest, respectively. Moreover, the estrogen/antiestrogen-like activity was evaluated on the MCF-7 estrogen-responsive cells. Seed and stalk extracts had an elevated antimutagenic/antigenotoxic activity. Stalk extracts highly reduced the proliferative effect of natural estrogen, 17β-estradiol.

Casticin inhibits the activity of transcription factor Sp1 and the methylation of RECK in MGC803 gastric cancer cells

The present study investigated the effect of casticin on reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK) gene expression and intracellular methylation levels in MGC803 gastric cancer cells. Cells were treated with 1, 10 and 30 µmol/l casticin. Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to determine the protein expression and mRNA levels of RECK and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect RECK methylation. In addition, MGC803 cell proliferation was measured by an MTT assay and the DNA-binding activity of transcription factor Sp1 was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results demonstrated that treatment with 1, 10 and 30 µmol/l casticin significantly increased RECK protein expression and mRNA levels. In addition, casticin (30 µmol/l) decreased RECK promoter methylation levels by 31%, global DNA methylation levels by 39% and nuclear methylation activity by 71.6%. Furthermore, casticin downregulated the mRNA levels and protein expression of DNMT1. The MTT assay demonstrated that MGC803 cell proliferation was inhibited by casticin treatment and DNA binding assays indicated that casticin reduced the DNA-binding activity of Sp1. The present study therefore indicated that casticin inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer MGC803 cells by upregulating RECK gene expression and reducing intracellular methylation levels.

Impact of DNA repair on the dose-response of colorectal cancer formation induced by dietary carcinogens

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers, which is causally linked to dietary habits, notably the intake of processed and red meat. Processed and red meat contain dietary carcinogens, including heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) and N-nitroso compounds (NOC). NOC are agents that induce various N-methylated DNA adducts and O⁶-methylguanine (O⁶-MeG), which are removed by base excision repair (BER) and O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), respectively. HCAs such as the highly mutagenic 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) cause bulky DNA adducts, which are removed from DNA by nucleotide excision repair (NER). Both O⁶-MeG and HCA-induced DNA adducts are linked to the occurrence of KRAS and APC mutations in colorectal tumors of rodents and humans, thereby driving CRC initiation and progression. In this review, we focus on DNA repair pathways removing DNA lesions induced by NOC and HCA and assess their role in protecting against mutagenicity and carcinogenicity in the large intestine. We further discuss the impact of DNA repair on the dose-response relationship in colorectal carcinogenesis in view of recent studies, demonstrating the existence of 'no effect' point of departures (PoDs), i.e. thresholds for genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. The available data support the threshold concept for NOC with DNA repair being causally involved.

New insights into estrogenic regulation of O6-methylguanine DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) in human breast cancer cells: Co-degradation of ER-α and MGMT proteins by fulvestrant or O6-benzylguanine indicates fresh avenues for therapy

Endocrine therapy using estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) antagonists for attenuating horm2one-driven cell proliferation is a major treatment modality for breast cancers. To exploit any DNA repair deficiencies associated with endocrine therapy, we investigated the functional and physical interactions of ER-α with O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a unique DNA repair protein that confers tumor resistance to various anticancer alkylating agents. The ER-α -positive breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D) and ER- negative cell lines (MDAMB-468, MDAMB-231), and established inhibitors of ER-α and MGMT, namely, ICI-182,780 (Faslodex) and O6-benzylguanine, respectively, were used to study MGMT- ER interactions. The MGMT gene promoter was found to harbor one full and two half estrogen-responsive elements (EREs) and two antioxidant-responsive elements (AREs). MGMT expression was upregulated by estrogen, downregulated by tamoxifen in Western blot and promoter-linked reporter assays. Similarly, both transient and stable transfections of Nrf-2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2) increased the levels of MGMT protein and activity 3 to 4-fold reflecting novel regulatory nodes for this drug-resistance determinant. Of the different ER-α antagonists tested, the pure anti-estrogen fulvestrant was most potent in inhibiting the MGMT activity in a dose, time and ER-α dependent manner, similar to O6-benzylguanine. Interestingly, fulvestrant exposure led to a degradation of both ER-α and MGMT proteins and O6-benzylguanine also induced a specific loss of ER-α and MGMT proteins in MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells with similar kinetics. Immunoprecipitation revealed a specific association of ER-α and MGMT proteins in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, silencing of MGMT gene expression triggered a decrease in the levels of both MGMT and ER-α proteins. The involvement of proteasome in the drug-induced degradation of both proteins was also demonstrated. Fulvestrant enhanced the cytotoxicity of MGMT-targeted alkylating agents, namely, temozolomide and BCNU by 3 to 4-fold in ER-α positive cells, but not in ER-negative cells. We conclude that MGMT and ER-α proteins exist as a complex and are co-targeted for ubiquitin-conjugation and subsequent proteasomal degradation. The findings offer a clear rationale for combining alkylating agents with endocrine therapy.

In vitro chemo-preventive activities of hydroxytyrosol: the main phenolic compound present in extra-virgin olive oil

The co-incubation in the culture medium with hydroxytyrosol [3,4-dihydroxyphenyl ethanol (3,4-DHPEA)], the main phenolic compound present in extra-virgin olive oil, and H₂O₂reduces the oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Antimutagenic and antioxidant properties of the aqueous extracts of organic and conventional grapevine Vitis labrusca cv. Isabella leaves in V79 cells

Grapes are one of the most commonly consumed fruit, in both fresh and processed forms; however, a significant amount is disposed of in the environment. Searching for a use of this waste, the antigenotoxic, antimutagenic, and antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts from organic and conventional Vitis labrusca leaves were determined using V79 cells as model. The antigenotoxic activity was analyzed by the alkaline comet assay using endonuclease III and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase enzymes. The antimutagenic property was assessed through the micronucleus (MN) formation, and antioxidant activities were assessed using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(●)) radical scavenging, as well as with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity assays. In addition, phenolic content and ascorbic acid levels of both extracts were determined. Data showed that both organic and conventional grapevine leaves extracts possessed antigenotoxic and antimutagenic properties. The extract of organic leaves significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in V79 cells, and displayed greater ability for DPPH(●) scavenging and higher SOD and CAT activities than extract from conventional leaves. Further, the extract from organic leaves contained higher phenolic and ascorbic acid concentrations. In summary, extracts from organic and conventional grape leaves induced important in vitro biological effects.

Influence of fatty acid synthase inhibitor orlistat on the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in human normal or malignant cells in vitro

Tetrahydrolipstatin (orlistat), an inhibitor of lipases and fatty acid synthase, is used orally for long-term treatment of obesity. Although the drug possesses striking antitumor activities in vitro against human cancer cells and in vitro and in vivo against animal tumors, it also induces precancerous lesions in rat colon. Therefore, we tested the in vitro effect of orlistat on the expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme that plays an essential role in the control of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Western blot analysis demonstrated that 2-day continuous exposure to 40 µM orlistat did not affect MGMT levels in a human melanoma cell line, but downregulated the repair protein by 30-70% in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in two leukemia and two colon cancer cell lines. On the other hand, orlistat did not alter noticeably MGMT mRNA expression. Differently from lomeguatrib (a false substrate, strong inhibitor of MGMT) orlistat did not reduce substantially MGMT function after 2-h exposure of target cells to the agent, suggesting that this drug is not a competitive inhibitor of the repair protein. Combined treatment with orlistat and lomeguatrib showed additive reduction of MGMT levels. More importantly, orlistat-mediated downregulation of MGMT protein expression was markedly amplified when the drug was combined with a DNA methylating agent endowed with carcinogenic properties such as temozolomide. In conclusion, even if orlistat is scarcely absorbed by oral route, it is possible that this drug could reduce local MGMT-mediated protection against DNA damage provoked by DNA methylating compounds on gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells, thus favoring chemical carcinogenesis.

Lipoic acid inhibits the DNA repair protein O 6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and triggers its depletion in colorectal cancer cells with concomitant autophagy induction

Alkylating agents are present in food and tobacco smoke, but are also used in cancer chemotherapy, inducing the DNA lesion O (6)-methylguanine. This critical adduct is repaired by O (6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), resulting in MGMT inactivation and degradation. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of the natural disulfide compound lipoic acid (LA) on MGMT in vitro and in colorectal cancer cells. We show that LA, but not its reduced form dihydrolipoic acid, potently inhibits the activity of recombinant MGMT by interfering with its catalytic Cys-145 residue, which was partially reversible by N-acetyl cysteine. Incubation of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells with LA altered their glutathione pool and caused a decline in MGMT activity. This was mirrored by LA-induced depletion of MGMT protein, which was not attributable to changes in MGMT messenger RNA levels. Loss of MGMT protein coincided with LA-induced autophagy, a process resulting in lysosomal degradation of proteins, including presumably MGMT. LA-stimulated autophagy in a p53-independent manner as revealed by the response of isogenic HCT116 cell lines. Knockdown of the crucial autophagy component beclin-1 and chemical inhibitors blocked LA-induced autophagy, but did not abrogate LA-triggered MGMT degradation. Concomitant with MGMT depletion, LA pretreatment resulted in enhanced O (6)-methylguanine levels in DNA. It also increased the cytotoxicity of the alkylating anticancer drug temozolomide in temozolomide-resistant colorectal cancer cells. Taken together, our study showed that the natural compound LA inhibits MGMT and induces autophagy. Furthermore, LA enhanced the cytotoxic effects of temozolomide, which makes it a candidate for a supplement in cancer therapy.

A genetic association study detects haplotypes associated with obstructive heart defects

The development of congenital heart defects (CHDs) involves a complex interplay between genetic variants, epigenetic variants, and environmental exposures. Previous studies have suggested that susceptibility to CHDs is associated with maternal genotypes, fetal genotypes, and maternal-fetal genotype (MFG) interactions. We conducted a haplotype-based genetic association study of obstructive heart defects (OHDs), aiming to detect the genetic effects of 877 SNPs involved in the homocysteine, folate, and transsulfuration pathways. Genotypes were available for 285 mother-offspring pairs with OHD-affected pregnancies and 868 mother-offspring pairs with unaffected pregnancies. A penalized logistic regression model was applied with an adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso), which dissects the maternal effect, fetal effect, and MFG interaction effects associated with OHDs. By examining the association between 140 haplotype blocks, we identified 9 blocks that are potentially associated with OHD occurrence. Four haplotype blocks, located in genes MGMT, MTHFS, CBS, and DNMT3L, were statistically significant using a Bayesian false-discovery probability threshold of 0.8. Two blocks in MGMT and MTHFS appear to have significant fetal effects, while the CBS and DNMT3L genes may have significant MFG interaction effects.

A conceptually new treatment approach for relapsed glioblastoma: coordinated undermining of survival paths with nine repurposed drugs (CUSP9) by the International Initiative for Accelerated Improvement of Glioblastoma Care

To improve prognosis in recurrent glioblastoma we developed a treatment protocol based on a combination of drugs not traditionally thought of as cytotoxic chemotherapy agents but that have a robust history of being well-tolerated and are already marketed and used for other non-cancer indications. Focus was on adding drugs which met these criteria: a) were pharmacologically well characterized, b) had low likelihood of adding to patient side effect burden, c) had evidence for interfering with a recognized, well-characterized growth promoting element of glioblastoma, and d) were coordinated, as an ensemble had reasonable likelihood of concerted activity against key biological features of glioblastoma growth. We found nine drugs meeting these criteria and propose adding them to continuous low dose temozolomide, a currently accepted treatment for relapsed glioblastoma, in patients with recurrent disease after primary treatment with the Stupp Protocol. The nine adjuvant drug regimen, Coordinated Undermining of Survival Paths, CUSP9, then are aprepitant, artesunate, auranofin, captopril, copper gluconate, disulfiram, ketoconazole, nelfinavir, sertraline, to be added to continuous low dose temozolomide. We discuss each drug in turn and the specific rationale for use- how each drug is expected to retard glioblastoma growth and undermine glioblastoma's compensatory mechanisms engaged during temozolomide treatment. The risks of pharmacological interactions and why we believe this drug mix will increase both quality of life and overall survival are reviewed.

O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in the defense against N-nitroso compounds and colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of cancer death worldwide, involving multiple dietary and non-dietary risk factors. A growing body of evidence suggests that N-nitroso compounds (NOC) play a pivotal role in the etiology of CRC. NOC are present in food and are also formed endogenously in the large intestine. Upon metabolic activation and also spontaneously, they form electrophilic species that methylate the DNA, producing N-methylated purines and O(6)-methylguanine, the latter of which bears high mutagenic and carcinogenic potential. Methylated DNA bases are removed by base excision repair initiated by the alkyladenine-DNA glycosylase, the family of AlkB homologs proteins, and the suicide enzyme O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), which is the main focus of this review. We present animal models with a deficiency of MGMT that display a tremendously enhanced sensitivity toward alkylation-induced colorectal carcinogenesis, highlighting its role in the protection against the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of alkylating agents. In line with these studies, MGMT was linked to the formation of human sporadic CRC. Colorectal tumors and precursor lesions frequently display epigenetic inactivation of MGMT resulting from promoter hypermethylation, which is tightly associated with the occurrence of G:C to A:T transition mutations in the KRAS oncogene. We also discuss clinical data, which identified the MGMT status of CRC patients as promising parameter for the treatment of metastasized CRC using alkylating anticancer drugs such as temozolomide.

Development of a new application of the comet assay to assess levels of O6-methylguanine in genomic DNA (CoMeth)

O(6)-methylguanine (O(6)meG) is one of the most premutagenic, precarcinogenic, and precytotoxic DNA lesions formed by alkylating agents. Repair of this DNA damage is achieved by the protein MGMT, which transfers the alkyl groups from the O(6) position of guanine to a cysteine residue in its active center. Because O(6)meG repair by MGMT is a stoichiometric reaction that irreversibly inactivates MGMT, which is subsequently degraded, the repair capacity of O(6)meG lesions is dependent on existing active MGMT molecules. In the absence of active MGMT, O(6)meG is not repaired, and during replication, O(6)meG:T mispairs are formed. The MMR system recognizes these mispairs and introduces a gap into the strand. If O(6)meG remains in one of the template strands the futile MMR repair process will be repeated, generating more strand breaks (SBs). The toxicity of O(6)meG is, therefore, dependent on MMR and DNA SB induction of cell death. MGMT, on the other hand, protects against O(6)meG toxicity by removing the methyl residue from the guanine. Although removal of O(6)meG makes MGMT an important anticarcinogenic mechanism of DNA repair, its activity significantly decreases the efficacy of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs that aim at achieving cell death through the action of the MMR system on unrepaired O(6)meG lesions. Here, we report on a modification of the comet assay (CoMeth) that allows the qualitative assessment of O(6)meG lesions after their conversion to strand breaks in proliferating MMR-proficient cells after MGMT inhibition. This functional assay allows the testing of compounds with effects on O(6)meG levels, as well as on MGMT or MMR activity, in a proliferating cell system. The expression of MGMT and MMR genes is often altered by promoter methylation, and new epigenetically active compounds are being designed to increase chemotherapeutic efficacy. The CoMeth assay allows the testing of compounds with effects on O(6)meG, MGMT, or MMR activity. This proliferating cell system complements other methodologies that look at effects on these parameters individually through analytical chemistry or in vitro assays with recombinant proteins.

Degradation of NF-κB, p53 and other regulatory redox-sensitive proteins by thiol-conjugating and -nitrosylating drugs in human tumor cells

The ionized cysteines present on the surfaces of many redox-sensitive proteins play functionally essential roles and are readily targeted by the reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species. Using disulfiram (DSF) and nitroaspirin (NCX4016) as the model compounds that mediate thiol-conjugating and nitrosylating reactions, respectively, we investigated the fate of p53, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and other redox-responsive proteins following the exposure of human cancer cell lines to the drugs. Both drugs induced glutathionylation of bulk proteins in tumor cells and cell-free extracts. A prominent finding of this study was a time- and dose-dependent degradation of the redox-regulated proteins after brief treatments of tumor cells with DSF or NCX4016. DSF and copper-chelated DSF at concentrations of 50-200 µM induced the disappearance of wild-type p53, mutant p53, NF-κB subunit p50 and the ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 (UBE1) in tumor cell lines. DSF also induced the glutathionylation of p53. The recombinant p53 protein modified by DSF was preferentially degraded by rabbit reticulocyte lysates. The proteasome inhibitor PS341 curtailed the DSF-induced degradation of p53 in HCT116 cells. Further, the NCX4016 induced a dose-dependent disappearance of the UBE1 and NF-κB p50 proteins in cell lines, besides a time-dependent degradation of aldehyde dehydrogenase in mouse liver after a single injection of 150 mg/kg. The loss of p53 and NF-kB proteins correlated with decreases in their specific binding to DNA. Our results demonstrate the hitherto unrecognized ability of the non-toxic thiolating and nitrosylating agents to degrade regulatory proteins and highlight the exploitable therapeutic benefits.

Reactivation of RASSF1A in breast cancer cells by curcumin

Reactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) involved in carcinogenesis by nontoxic bioactive food component represents a promising strategy for cancer chemoprevention. Recently, curcumin has been demonstrated to inhibit a bacterial DNA methyltransferase (M. Sss I) activity, induce global DNA hypomethylation in leukemia cells, and reactivate several hypermethylation silenced genes in lung and prostate cancer cells. Herein, we demonstrated that curcumin can enhance the mRNA and protein levels of ras-association domain family protein 1A (RASSF1A), 1 hypermethylation-silenced TSG, and decrease its promoter methylation in breast cancer cells. Mechanistic study demonstrated that curcumin can decrease DNA methylation activity of nuclear extract and downregulate the mRNA and protein levels of DNMT1 in MCF-7 cells, which may be associated with curcumin-induced disruption of NF-κB/Sp1 complex bound to the promoter region of DNMT1. Altogether, this study reveals a novel molecular mechanism of curcumin as a chemo-preventive agent for breast cancer through hypomethylation reactivation of RASSF1A.

Associations between maternal genotypes and metabolites implicated in congenital heart defects

BACKGROUND

The development of non-syndromic congenital heart defects (CHDs) involves a complex interplay of genetics, metabolism, and lifestyle. Previous studies have implicated maternal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and altered metabolism in folate-related pathways as CHD risk factors.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to discover associations between maternal SNPs and metabolites involved in the homocysteine, folate, and transsulfuration pathways, and determine if these associations differ between CHD cases and controls.

DESIGN

Genetic, metabolic, demographic, and lifestyle information was available for 335 mothers with CHD-affected pregnancies and 263 mothers with unaffected pregnancies. Analysis was conducted on 1160 SNPs, 13 plasma metabolites, and 2 metabolite ratios. A two-stage multiple linear regression was fitted to each combination of SNP and metabolite/ratio.

RESULTS

We identified 4 SNPs in the methionine adenosyltransferase II alpha (MAT2A) gene that were associated with methionine levels. Three SNPs in tRNA aspartic acid methyltransferase 1 (TRDMT1) gene were associated with total plasma folate levels. Glutamylcysteine (GluCys) levels were associated with multiple SNPs within the glutathione peroxidase 6 (GPX6) and O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) genes. The regression model revealed interactions between genotype and case-control status in the association of total plasma folate, total glutathione (GSH), and free GSH, to SNPs within the MGMT, 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (MTHFS), and catalase (CAT) genes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides further evidence that genetic variation within folate-related pathways accounts for inter-individual variability in key metabolites. We identified specific SNP-metabolite relationships that differed in mothers with CHD-affected pregnancies, compared to controls. Our results underscore the importance of multifactorial studies to define maternal CHD risk.

Vitamin and antioxidant rich diet increases MLH1 promoter DNA methylation in DMT2 subjects

Background

Oxidative stress may lead to an increased level of unrepaired cellular DNA damage, which is discussed as one risk for tumor initiation. Mismatch repair (MMR) enzymes act as proofreading complexes that maintain the genomic integrity and MMR-deficient cells show an increased mutation rate. One important gene in the MMR complex is the MutL homolog 1 (MLH1) gene. Since a diet rich in antioxidants has the potential to counteract harmful effects by reactive oxygen species (ROS), we investigated the impact of an antioxidant, folate, and vitamin rich diet on the epigenetic pattern of MLH1. These effects were analyzed in individuals with non-insulin depended diabetes mellitus type 2 (NIDDM2) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG).

Methods

In this post-hoc analysis of a randomized trial we analyzed DNA methylation of MLH1, MSH2, and MGMT at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention, consisting of 300 g vegetables and 25 ml plant oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids per day. DNA methylation was quantified using combined bisulfite restriction enzyme analysis (COBRA) and pyrosequencing. MLH1 and DNMT1 mRNA expression were investigated by qRT-PCR. DNA damage was assessed by COMET assay. Student’s two-tailed paired t test and one-way ANOVA with Scheffé corrected Post hoc test was used to determine significant methylation and expression differences. Two-tailed Pearson test was used to determine correlations between methylation level, gene expression, and DNA strand break amount.

Results

The intervention resulted in significantly higher CpG methylation in two particular MLH1 promoter regions and the MGMT promoter. DNA strand breaks and methylation levels correlated significantly. The expression of MLH1, DNMT1, and the promoter methylation of MSH2 remained stable. CpG methylation levels and gene expression did not correlate.

Conclusion

This vitamin and antioxidant rich diet affected the CpG methylation of MLH1. The higher methylation might be a result of the ROS scavenging antioxidant rich diet, leading to lower activity of DNA demethylating enzymes. Our results suggest the hypothesis of CpG demethylation via DNA repair enzymes under these circumstances. NIDDM2 and IFG patients benefit from this simple dietary intervention involving epigenetic and DNA repair mechanisms.

Effects of micronutrients on DNA repair

BACKGROUND

DNA repair is an essential cellular function, which, by removing DNA damage before it can cause mutations, contributes crucially to the prevention of cancer. Interest in the influence of micronutrients on DNA repair activity is prompted by the possibility that the protective effects of fruits and vegetables might thus be explained. Two approaches to measuring repair-monitoring cellular removal of DNA damage and incubating cell extract with specifically damaged DNA in an in vitro assay-have been applied in cell culture, whole animal studies, and human trials. In addition, there are numerous investigations at the level of expression of DNA repair-related genes.

RESULTS

Depending on the pathway studied and the phytochemical or food tested, there are varied reports of stimulation, inhibition or no effect on DNA repair. The clearest findings are from human supplementation trials in which lymphocytes are assessed for their repair capacity ex vivo. Studying cellular repair of strand breaks is complicated by the fact that lymphocytes appear to repair them very slowly. Applying the in vitro repair assay to human lymphocytes has revealed stimulatory effects on repair of oxidised bases by various micronutrients or a fruit- and vegetable-rich diet, while other studies have failed to demonstrate effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite varied results from different studies, it seems clear that micronutrients can influence DNA repair, usually but not always enhancing activity. Different modes of DNA repair are likely to be subject to different regulatory mechanisms. Measures of gene expression tend to be a poor guide to repair activity, and there is no substitute for phenotypic assays.

Niacin status and genomic instability in bone marrow cells; mechanisms favoring the progression of leukemogenesis

Niacin deficiency causes dramatic genomic instability in bone marrow cells in an in vivo rat model. The end result is seen in the increased incidence of sister chromatid exchanges, micronuclei, chromosomal aberrations and the eventual development of nitrosourea-induced leukemias. From a mechanistic perspective, niacin deficiency delays excision repair and causes double strand break accumulation, which in turn favor chromosome breaks and translocations. Niacin deficiency also impairs cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to DNA damage, which combine to encourage the survival of cells with leukemogenic potential. Niacin deficiency also enhances the level of oxidant damage found in cellular proteins and DNA, but not through depression of GSH levels. Pharmacological supplementation of niacin decreases the development of nitrosourea-induced leukemias, while short term effects of high niacin intake include a large increase in cellular NAD+ and poly(ADP-ribose) content and enhanced apoptosis. These results are important to cancer patients, which tend to be niacin deficient, are exposed to large doses of genotoxic drugs, and suffer short-term bone marrow suppression and long-term development of secondary leukemias. The data from our rat model suggest that niacin supplementation of cancer patients may decrease the severity of short and long-term side effects, and may also improve tumor cell killing through activation of poly(ADP-ribose)-dependent apoptosis pathways.

Natural isothiocyanates: genotoxic potential versus chemoprevention

Isothiocyanates, occurring in many dietary cruciferous vegetables, show interesting chemopreventive activities against several chronic-degenerative diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, diabetes. The electrophilic carbon residue in the isothiocyanate moiety reacts with biological nucleophiles and modification of proteins is recognized as a key mechanism underlying the biological activity of isothiocyanates. The nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2 system, which orchestrates the expression of a wide array of antioxidant genes, plays a role in the protective effect of isothiocyanates against almost all the pathological conditions reported above. Recent emerging findings suggest a further common mechanism. Chronic inflammation plays a central role in many human diseases and isothiocyanates inhibit the activity of many inflammation components, suppress cyclooxygenase 2, and irreversibly inactivate the macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Due to their electrophilic reactivity, some isothiocyanates are able to form adducts with DNA and induce gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations. DNA damage has been demonstrated to be involved in the pathogenesis of various chronic-degenerative diseases of epidemiological relevance. Thus, the genotoxicity of the isothiocyanates should be carefully considered. In addition, the dose-response relationship for genotoxic compounds does not suggest evidence of a threshold. Thus, chemicals that are genotoxic pose a greater potential risk to humans than non-genotoxic compounds. Dietary consumption levels of isothiocyanates appear to be several orders of magnitude lower than the doses used in the genotoxicity studies and thus it is highly unlikely that such toxicities would occur in humans. However, the beneficial properties of isothiocyanates stimulated an increase of dietary supplements and functional foods with highly enriched isothiocyanate concentrations on the market. Whether such concentrations may exert a potential health risk cannot be excluded with certainty and an accurate evaluation of the toxicological profile of isothiocyanates should be prompted before any major increase in their consumption be recommended or their clinical use suggested.

Diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is suppressed in lecithin:retinol acyltransferase-deficient mice primarily through retinoid actions immediately after carcinogen administration

Loss of retinoid-containing lipid droplets upon hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is one of the first events in the development of liver disease leading to hepatocellular carcinoma. Although retinoid stores are progressively lost from HSCs during the development of hepatic disease, how this affects hepatocarcinogenesis is unclear. To investigate this, we used diethylnitrosamine (DEN) to induce hepatic tumorigenesis in matched wild-type (WT) and lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) knockout (KO) mice, which lack stored retinoid and HSC lipid droplets. Male 15-day-old WT or Lrat KO mice were given intraperitoneal injections of DEN (25 mg/kg body wt). Eight months later, Lrat KO mice showed significantly less liver tumor development compared with WT mice, characterized by less liver tumor incidence and smaller tumor size. Two days after DEN injection, lower serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and decreased hepatic levels of cyclin D1 were observed in Lrat KO mice. Lrat KO mice also exhibited increased levels of retinoic acid-responsive genes, including p21, lower levels of cytochrome P450 enzymes required for DEN bioactivation and higher levels of the DNA repair enzyme O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), both before and after DEN treatment. Our results indicate that Lrat KO mice are less susceptible to DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis due to increased retinoid signaling and higher expression of p21, which is accompanied by altered hepatic levels of DEN-activating enzymes and MGMT in Lrat KO mice also contribute to decreased cancer initiation and suppressed liver tumor development.

Curcumin supplementation protects from genotoxic effects of arsenic and fluoride

The present study was aimed to evaluate curcumin as a potential natural antioxidant to mitigate the genotoxic effects of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The study was divided into nine groups consisting of negative control, positive control treated with ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS; 1.93 mM) and curcumin control with only curcumin (1.7 microM) in blood culture. As (1.4 microM) and F (34 microM) were added alone as well as in combination, to the cultures, with and without curcumin. Cultures were analysed for chromosomal aberrations (both structural and numerical) and primary DNA damage via comet assay as the genotoxic parameters after an exposure duration of 24h. Results revealed that curcumin efficiently ameliorates the toxic effect of As and F by reducing the frequency of structural aberrations (>60%), hypoploidy (>50%) and primary DNA damage. In conclusion, curcumin mitigates the genotoxic effects of the two well known water contaminants (As and F) effectively and efficiently at the given concentration in vitro.

Anti- and pro-mutagenic effects of silymarin in the Ames bacterial reverse mutation assay

Silymarin, a polyphenolic flavonoid isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), is being used clinically in Europe and Asia for the treatment of liver diseases. Silymarin has a strong antioxidative action capable of scavenging both free radicals and reactive oxygen species responsible for cancer. Silymarin, a powerful hepatoprotective and antioxidant, was chosen in the present study and was tested for its antimutagenic activity using an in vitro test, the Ames bacterial reverse mutation assay. The results indicated that silymarin showed a significant mutagenicity in frame shift mutant strains (TA97a and TA98) with metabolic activation. This compound also showed stronger antimutagenic effect against 2-aminofluorene and 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide induced mutation. When pre-, co- and post-treatment of silymarin was carried out, it showed stronger antimutagenic activity in the post-treatment with 2-aminofluorene and 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide in TA97a and TA98 strains.

Laboratory and clinical studies of cancer chemoprevention by antioxidants in berries

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a major cause of cellular injury in an increasing number of diseases, including cancer. Most ROS are created in the cell through normal cellular metabolism. They can be produced by environmental insults such as ultraviolet light and toxic chemicals, as well as by the inflammatory process. Interception of ROS or limiting their cellular effects is a major role of antioxidants. Due to their content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, berries exhibit high antioxidant potential, exceeding that of many other foodstuffs. Through their ability to scavenge ROS and reduce oxidative DNA damage, stimulate antioxidant enzymes, inhibit carcinogen-induced DNA adduct formation and enhance DNA repair, berry compounds have been shown to inhibit mutagenesis and cancer initiation. Berry constituents also influence cellular processes associated with cancer progression including signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and angiogenesis. This review article summarizes laboratory and human studies, demonstrating the protective effects of berries and berry constituents on oxidative and other cellular processes leading to cancer development.

Discovery and development of sulforaphane as a cancer chemopreventive phytochemical

Sulforaphane (SF) is a phytochemical that displays both anticarcinogenic and anticancer activity. SF modulates many cancer-related events, including susceptibility to carcinogens, cell death, cell cycle, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. We review its discovery and development as a cancer chemopreventive agent with the intention of encouraging further research on this important compound and facilitating the identification and development of new phytochemicals for cancer prevention.

Thiols and the chemoprevention of cancer

Thiols such as glutathione interfere with the complex carcinogenic process. Under stress conditions, they scavenge harmful molecules: Glutathione conjugation of electrophilic carcinogens may prevent tumor initiation, and reduced thiols may defend against oxidative stress. Thus, associated chemopreventive strategies involve enhancement of antioxidant or conjugating capacity by increasing the levels of, particularly, glutathione through precursor application or synthesis stimulation and by inducing the corresponding enzymes. The antioxidant potential of thiols is, however, a part of a more general capacity to regulate redox status even in the absence of unequivocal stress conditions. Redox status controls the activities of various cellular signalling proteins through oxidation or reduction of particular sensor structures that are also mostly thiols. The development of feasible chemotherapeutic strategies on the basis of this complex system of redox-sensitive messenger proteins is a goal in ongoing and future research.

Silymarin and epithelial cancer chemoprevention: how close we are to bedside?

Failure and high systemic toxicity of conventional cancer therapies have accelerated the focus on the search for newer agents, which could prevent and/or slow-down cancer growth and have more human acceptability by being less or non-toxic. Silymarin is one such agent, which has been extensively used since ages for the treatment of liver conditions, and thus has possibly the greatest patient acceptability. In recent years, increasing body of evidence has underscored the cancer preventive efficacy of silymarin in both in vitro and in vivo animal models of various epithelial cancers. Apart from chemopreventive effects, other noteworthy aspects of silymarin and its active constituent silibinin in cancer treatment include their capability to potentiate the efficacy of known chemotherapeutic drugs, as an inhibitor of multidrug resistance-associated proteins and as an adjunct to the cancer therapeutic drugs due to their organ-protective efficacy specifically liver, and immunostimulatory effects. Widespread use of silymarin for liver health in humans and commercial availability of its formulations with increased bioavailability, further underscore the necessity of carrying out controlled clinical trials with these agents in cancer patients. In this review, we will briefly discuss the outcomes of clinical trials being conducted by us and others in cancer patients to provide insight into the clinical relevance of the observed chemopreventive effects of these agents in various epithelial cancer models.