Abstract 4849: PPARγ and FoxO1 expression and activity in aqueous cinnamon extract treated cells

Peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor (PPARγ) has been proven to have inhibitory effects on tumor angiogenesis. Research has demonstrated that natural PPARγ ligands are anti-tumorigenic due to growth inhibition and anti-proliferative effects. Cinnamon is one potential PPARγ ligand tested to explore its effects on PPARγ and FoxO1 expression and activity. Literature also suggests that breast cancer proliferation is increased with obesity and co-cultures of adipocytes with MCF-7 cells have suggested an increase in lipase activity. We therefore sought to explore the effects of cinnamon on these transcription factors and lipase activity in 3T3-L1 cells to determine if cinnamon is a plausible co-therapeutic for breast cancer patients. 3T3-L1 cells were cinnamon treated for 48-96 hours post differentiation. Nuclear protein was extracted for ELISA quantification of PPARγ and FoxO1 binding potential. Cytosolic and nuclear protein extracts were analyzed via Western blot of FoxO1 and PPARγ. Copy DNA was produced from the total RNA and expression levels of PPARγ and FoxO1 were examined by TaqMan real-time PCR assays. A lipase activity assay was performed on freshly extracted protein from cultured cells. Western blot data demonstrates an increase in FoxO1 protein with cinnamon treatment at 96 hours post differentiation. PPARγ data shows no significant changes in protein quantity, however ELISA data suggests increases in binding potential PPARγ as well as FoxO1 transcription factors with cinnamon treatment. Preliminary expression analysis suggests changes in both PPARγ and FoxO1. Lipase activity data suggests a significant increase in cinnamon treated adipocytes. Data from the study suggests that cinnamon activates PPARγ and that it may play a role in decreasing tumorigenic activity. However, with particular concern in breast cancer cells, the activation of PPARγ in adipocytes appears to increase the lipase activity, thus producing more free fatty acids and potentially enhancing energy dependent proliferation.

Citation Format: Sean Mild, Cole Swartz, Amy Aulthouse, Amy Stockert. PPARγ and FoxO1 expression and activity in aqueous cinnamon extract treated cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4849.

Abstract 4848: Effects of cinnamon extracted under acidic conditions on proliferation of MCF7 cells

Recent evidence suggests that MCF7 cells utilize free fatty acids as a primary energy source by increasing lipase activity in neighboring adipocytes. Research in our lab suggests that lipase activity is increased by cinnamon extract in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We hypothesized that since co-cultures between adipocytes and MCF7 cells demonstrated an increase in lipase activity and increased proliferation, cinnamon extract may increase proliferation of MCF7 cells, making cinnamon an important ingredient to avoid in patients with breast cancer. Cells were plated and treated with varying amounts of cinnamon and monitored for proliferation using the MTT assay. Cells consistently, albeit not significantly, showed an increase in proliferation when treated with cinnamon. Additional studies need to be completed in order to confirm these effects and look for significance, although the importance of this finding warrants rapid reporting. Our lab will examine the effects of cinnamon extract at varying concentrations on MCF7 cell proliferation under variable media conditions as well as monitoring the lipase activity in the MCF7 cells.

Citation Format: Madison Anderson, Amy Stockert. Effects of cinnamon extracted under acidic conditions on proliferation of MCF7 cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4848.

Biologically-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use in Cancer Patients: The Good, the Bad, the Misunderstood

As complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) becomes more popular, it is being used in cancer patients to aid in recovery or to treat symptoms associated with the current chemotherapy. Numerous papers exist that discuss patients using CAM with cancer chemotherapy and their outcomes-both positive and negative. However, in the case of the negative outcomes, the reason for the dangers or interactions with drugs are not made clear. Indeed, many chemotherapy regimens are rendered less effective by the well-meaning but uninformed patient or their family members and friends. Similarly, reports of positive outcomes with CAM and chemotherapy provide a strong basis for further research, but do not identify specific mechanisms of action. These small clinical studies and in vitro studies identify a necessary area for further research and provide a much needed, although often rejected, alternative look at whole treatment plans. Careful review of the available information and evaluation of the nature of the CAM effects are necessary to combat the misunderstanding and sometimes unwarranted claims over CAM use. This mini review will explore some of the commonly used CAM agents and their mechanisms of interactions with other treatments. Suggestions as to which agents can be safe and when to use them will be an integral part of this review.

Nelarabine in the treatment of refractory T-cell malignancies

Nelarabine is a nucleoside analog indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) or T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) that is refractory or has relapsed after treatment with at least two chemotherapy regimens. After being first synthesized in the late 1970s and receiving FDA approval in 2005, the appropriate use of nelarabine for refractory hematologic malignancies is still being elucidated. Nelarabine is the prodrug of 9-β-D-arabinofuranosylguanine (ara-G) which when phosphorylated intracellularly to ara-G triphosphate (ara-GTP), preferentially accumulates in cancerous T-cells. Dose-dependent toxicities, including neurotoxicity and myelosuppression, have been documented and may, in turn, limit the ability to appropriately treat the diagnosed malignancy. This article will summarize the pharmacologic properties of nelarabine and will address the current place in therapy nelarabine holds based upon the results of the available clinical trials to date.

Nature of the Catalytically Labile Oxygen at the Active Site of Xanthine Oxidase

In this paper we report the results of molybdenum K-edge X-ray absorption studies performed on the oxidized active site of xanthine oxidase at pH 6 and 10. These results indicate that the active site possesses one terminal oxygen ligand (Mo=O), two thiolate ligands (Mo-S), one terminal sulfido ligand (Mo=S), and one Mo-OH moiety. EXAFS analysis demonstrates that the Mo-OH bond shortens from 1.97 A at pH 6 to 1.75 A at pH 10, which is consistent with the generation of a Mo-O- moiety. This study provides convincing structural evidence that the catalytic oxygen donor at the oxidized active site of xanthine oxidase is Mo-OH rather than the Mo-OH2 ligation previously suggested by X-ray crystallography. These results support a mechanism initiated by base-assisted nucleophilic attack of the substrate by Mo-OH.

Motor dysfunction and sensorimotor cortex activation changes in schizophrenia: A study with functional magnetic resonance imaging

Recent studies demonstrate a diminished activation of the sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor area (SMA) in schizophrenia which may be involved in the pathogenesis of neurological soft signs (NSS). Yet, the question whether a retarded motor performance may account for these changes remained to be clarified. Twelve DSM-III-R schizophrenics and 12 healthy controls were included. All subjects were right-handed. Nine patients received clozapine, two conventional neuroleptics, and one was drug-free. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was obtained in a resting condition and during pronation/supination at three speed levels (low, medium, and high) with motor performance recorded simultaneously using a pronation/supination device. While measures of motor retardation (i.e., repetition rate and amplitude of the movements) did not differ between patients and controls, the variability of performance was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the patients' group. In addition, patients with schizophrenia showed a significantly (P < 0.05) decreased activation of the sensorimotor cortices. Similar, although nonsignificant (P = 0.09) activation changes were observed in the SMA. Activation differences were more pronounced at a slow speed and in the drug-free patient. These results confirm a diminished sensorimotor cortex and SMA activation and indicate that variability of performance rather than retarded performance per se may correspond to these changes.

Memory deficits in subsyndromes of chronic schizophrenia

Recent psychopathological studies consistently identified a delusional, a negative, and a disorganized subsyndrome in chronic schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to investigate these subsyndromes with respect to declarative, procedural and working memory deficits. While the delusional subsyndrome was associated with an impaired delayed recognition, the negative subsyndrome showed a marked deficit in delayed recall. In addition, the delusional and the negative subsyndrome shared procedural memory changes. The disorganized subsyndrome was associated with neurological soft signs and a poor working memory performance. These results do not seem to be effected by severity of illness, degree of chronicity, nor attentional deficits. Our findings support the differentiation of three subsyndromes in chronic schizophrenia and suggest that memory impairment in schizophrenia may reflect the involvement of different memory systems rather than an unspecific, global deficit.