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B S Reddy

Publications and source records attributed to B S Reddy.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Prevention of colon cancer by pre- and probiotics: evidence from laboratory studies.

Oligofructose and inulin, selective fermentable chicory fructans, have been shown to stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria which are regarded as beneficial strains in the colon. Studies were designed to evaluate inulin (Raftiline) and oligofructose (Raftilose), for their potential inhibitory properties against aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in the colon of rats. ACF are putative preneoplastic lesions from which adenomas and carcinomas may develop. The results of this study demonstrate that dietary administration of oligofructose and inulin inhibits the formation of preneoplastic lesions in the colon suggesting the potential colon tumour inhibitory properties of chicory fructans. Since these prebiotics selectively stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, tumour inhibitory activity of lyophilized cultures of Bifidobacterium longum (BL) against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats and modulating effect of these cultures on colonic tumour cell proliferation, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, and ras-p21 oncoprotein expression were investigated. Dietary administration of lyophilized cultures of BL strongly suppressed AOM-induced colon tumour development. Inhibition of colon carcinogenesis was associated with a decrease in colonic mucosal cell proliferation and colonic mucosal and tumour ODC and ras-p21 activities.

Animals↗

Enhancement of experimental colon cancer by genistein.

Several phytochemicals and micronutrients that are present in fruits and vegetables are known to exert cancer chemopreventive effects in several organs, including the colon. Among them, the soybean isoflavonoid genistein received much attention due to its potential anticarcinogenic, antiproliferative effects and its potential role in several signal transduction pathways. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of genistein on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis and to study its modulatory role on the levels of activity of 8-isoprostane, cyclooxygenase (COX), and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin F2alpha dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) in the colonic mucosa and colon tumors of male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed control (AIN-76A) diet or a diet containing 250 ppm genistein. Beginning 2 weeks later, all animals except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given weekly s.c. injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) for 2 successive weeks. All rats were continued on their respective dietary regimen for 52 weeks after AOM treatment and were then sacrificed. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Colonic mucosae and tumors were analyzed for COX, 15-PGDH, and 8-isoprostane levels. Administration of genistein significantly increased noninvasive and total adenocarcinoma multiplicity (P < 0.01) in the colon, compared to the control diet, but it had no effect on the colon adenocarcinoma incidence nor on the multiplicity of invasive adenocarcinoma (P > 0.05). Also, genistein significantly inhibited the 15-PGDH activity (>35%) and levels of 8-iosoprostane (50%) in colonic mucosa and in tumors. In contrast, genistein had no significant effect on the COX synthetic activity, as measured by the rate of formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane B2 from [14C]arachidonic acid. The results of this investigation emphasize that the biological effects of genistein may be organ specific, inhibiting cancer development in some sites yet showing no effect or an enhancing effect on the tumorigenesis at other sites, such as the colon. The inhibition of 8-isoprostane levels by genistein indicates its possible antioxidant potential, which is independent of the observed colon tumor enhancement, yet this agent may also possess several biological effects that overshadow its antioxidant potential. The exact mechanism(s) of colon tumor enhancement by genistein remain to be elucidated; it is likely that its colon tumor-enhancing effects may, at least in part, be related to inhibition of prostaglandin catabolic enzyme activities.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Dietary fat and colon cancer: modulation of cyclooxygenase-2 by types and amount of dietary fat during the postinitiation stage of colon carcinogenesis.

Several epidemiological and experimental studies have indicated a strong relationship between different types of dietary fats and risk of colon cancer. However, the modulating effects of these nutritional factors at the molecular level are not fully elucidated. It has been documented that the modulation of tumorigenesis is associated with changes in the levels of prostaglandins production. To provide an understanding of the mechanism(s) of dietary fat-induced modulation of colon tumor development, we have analyzed the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme that catalyzes the metabolism of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in a critical step in prostaglandin biosynthesis. Male F344 rats were fed the semipurified AIN-76A diet containing low-fat corn oil and were s.c. injected azoxymethane (AOM) dissolved in normal saline at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg of body weight, once weekly, for 2 weeks. Vehicle controls received s.c. equal volumes of normal saline. One day after the second AOM or saline injection, rats intended to receive experimental diets were provided high-fat corn oil (HFCO) or high-fat fish oil (HFFO) mixed in semipurified AIN-76A diet, and the remaining rats continued to receive the low-fat corn oil diet. Animals were sacrificed 1, 12, or 36 weeks after the last AOM or saline injection, and their colonic mucosa, as well as the grossly visible colon tumors from rats sacrificed 36 weeks after the last AOM injection, were analyzed for the expression levels of COX-1 and COX-2. The results indicate that AOM induced increasingly high levels of COX-2 expression with advancing stages of colon tumorigenesis. HFCO further enhanced the AOM-induced COX-2 expression. In contrast, HFFO ingestion resulted in a significant decrease in COX-2 expression both in the colonic mucosa and in tumors. These results correlate with increased incidence and multiplicity of grossly visible colon tumors in AOM-treated animals that were fed the HFCO diet versus decreased tumor incidence and lower tumor multiplicity in animals that were fed the HFFO diet. No significant differences were observed in expression levels of COX-1. The data suggest that HFCO may promote colon tumorigenesis by up-regulating the COX-2 expression, whereas HFFO may exert its antitumor effect by inhibiting the COX-2 expression.

Animals↗

Chemoprevention of colon cancer by organoselenium compounds and impact of high- or low-fat diets.

BACKGROUND: Observational and experimental studies have suggested that dietary supplementation with selenium can inhibit the development of colon cancer. However, many forms of selenium are toxic. Consequently, the development of efficacious compounds with low toxicity has been pursued. PURPOSE: Two synthetic organoselenium compounds, p-methoxy-benzyl selenocyanate (p-methoxy-BSC) and 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC), were tested for their ability to inhibit colon carcinogenesis in rats that were treated with the carcinogen azoxymethane and fed low- or high-fat diets. METHODS: Groups of 5-week-old male F344 rats (42 animals/ group) were fed either a high-fat diet or a low-fat diet with or without added p-methoxy-BSC (10 or 20 parts per million [ppm]) or p-XSC (20 ppm). Two weeks later, 30 animals in each group received a subcutaneous injection of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body weight); 1 week later, they received a second injection. The remaining 12 rats in each group received two injections of saline. Three days after the second injection of carcinogen or saline, animals being fed diets with p-methoxy-BSC or p-XSC were switched to corresponding organoselenium-free low- or high-fat diets for the remainder of the study to determine the effects of the selenium compounds on the initiation phase of colon carcinogenesis. At that time, groups of animals that had been maintained on organoselenium-free low- or high-fat diets were switched to diets containing p-methoxy-BSC or p-XSC until the end of the study to determine the effects of these compounds on the postinitiation phase of colon carcinogenesis. All animals were killed during the 38th week after azoxymethane or saline treatment, and histopathologic analysis of the colon tumors was performed. Colon tumor incidence and multiplicity were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: No obvious toxic effects were observed following dietary administration of 10 or 20 ppmp-methoxy-BSC or 20 ppm p-XSC. Administration of 20 ppm p-methoxy-BSC in a high-fat diet during the initiation and postinitiation phases of colon carcinogenesis significantly (statistically) reduced colon tumor incidence; 10 ppmp-methoxy-BSC in a high-fat diet significantly reduced colon tumor incidence but only when it was given during the postinitiation phase. Colon tumor incidence was also significantly reduced when 20 ppm p-XSC was given in a high-fat diet during the initiation phase of colon carcinogenesis. When 20 ppm p-XSC was administered in either a high-fat diet or a low-fat diet during the postinitiation phase, both colon tumor incidence and multiplicity were significantly reduced; the greatest reductions were in animals fed a low-fat diet. CONCLUSIONS: In this model system, p-methoxy-BSC and p-XSC are effective agents for the chemoprevention of colon cancer. The effects of p-XSC were enhanced in animals fed a low-fat diet.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Modulation of apoptosis by sulindac, curcumin, phenylethyl-3-methylcaffeate, and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate: apoptotic index as a biomarker in colon cancer chemoprevention and promotion.

Recent evidence supports the theory that tumor growth in vivo depends on evasion of normal homeostatic control mechanisms that operate through induction of cell death by apoptosis. This study tested the hypothesis that several potential chemopreventive agents share the ability to induce apoptosis and that inhibition of apoptosis is a mechanism of tumor promoters. The present study was designed to investigate whether the chemopreventive properties of sulindac, curcumin, and phenylethyl-3-methylcaffeate (PEMC) and the tumor-promoting activity of 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHITC) that were observed in our previous studies are associated with the induction or inhibition of apoptosis in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumors in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of rats were fed control (modified AIN-76A) diet or diets containing 320 ppm of sulindac, 2000 ppm of curcumin, 750 ppm of PEMC, or 640 ppm of PHITC. At 7 weeks of age, all rats except those intended for vehicle (normal saline) treatment were given AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) once weekly for 2 weeks. To study the effect of sulindac administered during promotion/progression stage, the rats were fed the control diet initially and then fed the experimental diet containing 320 ppm of sulindac 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment. The rats were sacrificed 52 weeks after carcinogen treatment, and their colonic tumors were subjected to histopathological evaluation and the appearance of apoptosis. In the current study, chronic administration of sulindac, curcumin, and PEMC or sulindac given only during promotion/progression significantly increased the apoptotic index (percentage of apoptosis) as compared to administration of the control diet; the apoptotic indices in the control, sulindac, curcumin, and PEMC diets were 8.3, 17.6, 17.7, and 18.5%, respectively, and in sulindac administered during promotion/progression stage, the apoptotic index was 19.1%. However, dietary PHITC blocked the process of apoptosis during colon carcinogenesis. The apoptotic index in PHITC diet was 7.0%. Taken together, our data show that chemopreventive properties of agents are correlated with the degree of apoptosis. Therefore apoptosis seems to be a reliable biomarker for the evaluation of potential agents for cancer prevention.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Chemoprevention of colon carcinogenesis by dietary perillyl alcohol.

Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of diets containing fruits and vegetables, major sources of phytochemicals and micronutrients, may reduce the risk of developing cancer of the colon. Several phytochemicals and micronutrients present in fruits and vegetables are known to exert cancer-chemopreventive effects in several organs, including the colon. Monoterpenes such as d-limonene and perillyl alcohol derived from orange peels and lavender, respectively, have been shown to possess chemopreventive properties against mammary, liver, and/or lung carcinogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of dietary 40 and 80% maximum tolerated dose (MTD) levels of perillyl alcohol on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis. The effect of this agent on the process of apoptosis in colon tumors was also investigated. Prior to the efficacy study, the MTD of perillyl alcohol was determined in male F344 rats in a 6-week subchronic toxicity study and found to be a 2.5-g/kg diet when added to the AIN-76A diet. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed control (AIN-76A) diet or diets containing 1 and 2 g perillyl alcohol/kg diet, representing 40 and 80% MTD levels, respectively. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given two weekly s.c. injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight/week). All animals were continued on their respective dietary regimen for 52 weeks after AOM treatment and then sacrificed. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically using routine procedures. Perillyl alcohol at the 1-g/kg level significantly inhibited the incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) and multiplicity (tumors/ animals) of invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon, whereas perillyl alcohol at 2 g/kg diet inhibited the incidence of total adenocarcinomas of the colon and small intestine as compared to the control diet. Our studies also indicate that the colon tumors of animals fed perillyl alcohol exhibited increased apoptosis as compared to those fed the control diet. These results demonstrate the potential chemopreventive activity of perillyl alcohol against colon carcinogenesis. The chemopreventive activity of perillyl alcohol is mediated through the tumor cell loss by apoptosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Dietary fat and colon cancer: modulating effect of types and amount of dietary fat on ras-p21 function during promotion and progression stages of colon cancer.

Although epidemiological and experimental studies have indicated a strong relationship between types and amount of dietary fat and colon tumorigenesis, the modulating effects of these nutritional factors at the molecular level have not been fully elucidated. Transforming proteins encoded by activated ras genes have been implicated in the etiology of many human malignancies, including colon cancer. It is now well established that the transforming ability of ras-p21 critically depends on its correct localization in plasma membrane. The posttranslational processing of the cytosolic precursor (pro-ras), as it is synthesized in the cytoplasm, and its proper anchorage to the cytoplasmic face of plasma membrane are determined by an important intermediate metabolite of dietary fat and an enzyme system that includes farnesyl protein transferase. To provide an understanding of the molecular basis of the relationship between the types and amount of dietary fat and the transforming function of ras, especially during the stages of promotion and progression of colon tumor development, we investigated the effect of various types and amount of dietary fat on the expression of ras-p21 during azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis. Male F344 rats were fed the semipurified American Institute of Nutrition-76A diet containing low-fat corn oil and were given s.c. injections of AOM dissolved in normal saline at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight, once weekly, for 2 weeks. Control animals received s.c. injections of equal volumes of normal saline. Beginning 1 day after the second AOM or saline injection, groups of animals intended for the treatment with different types of high-fat dietary regimens were fed the semipurified American Institute of Nutrition-76A diets containing high levels of high-fat corn oil (HFCO) rich in omega-6 fatty acids or high levels of high-fat fish oil (HFFO) rich in omega-3 fatty acids; the remaining animals in experimental and control groups were continued on the low-fat corn oil diet until termination of the experiment. Groups of animals were sacrificed 1, 12, or 36 weeks after the last AOM or saline injection, and their colonic mucosa and grossly visible colon tumors from rats sacrificed 36 weeks after the last AOM injection were analyzed for the levels of expression of ras-p21. We found that AOM induced increasingly higher levels of ras-p21 expression with advancing stages of colon tumor development. The HFCO diet resulted in enhanced expression of AOM-induced ras-p21 as observed 36 weeks after the last AOM injection. In contrast, feeding the HFFO diet inhibited AOM-induced ras-p21 expression. These results correlate with increased incidence and multiplicity of grossly visible colon tumors in AOM-treated animals fed a HFCO diet versus decreased incidence and lower multiplicity of colon tumors in their counterparts on the HFFO diet. Further analysis of ras-p21 levels in cytosol and plasma membrane revealed that feeding a HFFO diet resulted in increasing accumulation of ras-p21 in cytoplasm with a concomitant decrease in membrane-bound ras-p21 levels as observed in animals sacrificed 12 and 36 weeks after the last AOM injection. Thus, the dietary HFCO may promote colon tumorigenesis by increasing ras-p21 expression, whereas HFFO appears to exert its antitumor activity by interfering with posttranslational modification and membrane localization of ras-p21.

Animals↗

Interactive suppression of aberrant crypt foci induced by azoxymethane in rat colon by phytic acid and green tea.

Several epidemiological studies point to a strong correlation between nutrient composition of the diet and cancer of the colon. Phytic acid, present in grains, has been credited with reducing the risk of cancer of the colon. A number of reports are available indicating the benefits of green tea consumption in reducing the risk of stomach, lung and skin cancer, but little data are available on the effect of green tea in reducing the risk of colon cancer. Also, there are no studies on the combined effect of these compounds on colon tumorigenesis. Thus the primary objective of this investigation was to elucidate the combined effects of green tea and phytic acid on colonic preneoplastic lesions and the Phase II enzyme glutathione S-transferase. Fisher 344 male weanling rats were divided into nine groups of 15 rats each and fed the experimental diet for 13 weeks. Rats received two s.c. injections of azoxymethane in saline at 16 mg/kg body wt at 7 and 8 weeks of age. Rats received three levels (0, 1 and 2%) of phytic acid with three levels (0, 1 and 2%) of green tea within each phytic acid level in a 3 x 3 factorial experiment. Results indicate that while green tea had a marginal effect (P < 0.14), phytic acid significantly reduced the incidence of aberrant crypt foci (P < 0.008). The interaction between green tea and phytic acid was significant (P < 0.029 for distal and < 0.0168 for entire colon) and positive, pointing to a synergistic effect of green tea and phytic acid.

Analysis of Variance↗

Bifidobacterium longum, a lactic acid-producing intestinal bacterium inhibits colon cancer and modulates the intermediate biomarkers of colon carcinogenesis.

The human colon can be described as a complex microbial ecosystem, comprising several hundred bacterial species. Some of these enteric bacteria are beneficial to the host and have been shown to exert antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. We have investigated the colon tumor inhibitory activity of Bifidobacterium longum, a lactic acid-producing enterobacterium. The modifying effects of this lactic culture on colonic mucosal and/or tumor cell proliferation, ODC activity and ras-p21 oncoprotein expression in colon carcinogenesis were also analyzed. Male F344 rats were fed a modified AIN-76A diet containing 0 or 2% lyophilized cultures of B. longum and s.c. administered azoxymethane (AOM) dissolved in normal saline at a dose of 15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks. Vehicle controls received an equal volume of normal saline s.c. Animals were maintained on control or experimental diets until termination of the study. Animals intended for analysis of cell proliferation were killed 20 weeks after the second AOM injection, whereas animals intended for colon tumor analysis and measurement of ODC activity and ras-p21 expression were killed 40 weeks after the last AOM injection. The data demonstrate that dietary administration of lyophilized cultures of B. longum resulted in significant suppression of colon tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity and also reduced tumor volume. Results also revealed that ingestion of B. longum significantly inhibited AOM-induced cell proliferation, ODC activity and expression of ras-p21 oncoprotein. Data suggest that oral administration of probiotic B. longum exerts strong antitumor activity, as indicated by modulation of the intermediate biomarkers of colon cancer, and consequently reduced tumor outcome.

Animals↗

Effect of dietary oligofructose and inulin on colonic preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci inhibition.

Oligofructose and inulin, naturally-occurring fermentable chicory fructans, have been shown to stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria which are regarded as beneficial strains in the colon and inhibit colon carcinogenesis in the laboratory animal models. The present study was designed to determine the effect of oligofructose and inulin on the azoxymethane (AOM)-induced preneoplastic lesions such as aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in the colon of male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the AIN-76A (control) and the experimental diets containing 10% oligofructose or inulin. At 7 weeks of age, all animals received s.c. injection of AOM dissolved in normal saline at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks. The animals were necropsied 7 weeks after the last AOM injection, and the ACF were visualized under light microscopy in the formalin-fixed, unsectioned methylene blue-stained colons. They were distinguished by their increased size, more prominent epithelial cells and pericryptal space. The feeding of oligofructose or inulin significantly inhibited the ACF formation and the crypt multiplicity in the colon. The degree of ACF inhibition was more pronounced in animals fed inulin than in those fed oligofructose. The findings suggest that chicory fructan supplements inhibit ACF formation, an early preneoplastic marker of malignant potential in the process of colon carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Dietary control of cancer.

Many laboratory studies and human epidemiological data suggest that most cancer deaths are attributable to lifestyle, including nutritional factors and tobacco and alcohol consumption. Tobacco consumption is causally related to cancer of the lung, mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas. Nutrients and non-nutrient dietary components probably account for cancer of the colon, breast, prostate, and stomach. This report is based on literature and our own data pertaining to the role of dietary fat, calories, and fiber in the development of colon and breast cancer. We also discuss the evidence from epidemiological, mechanistic, and preclinical efficacy studies indicating a protective effect of micronutrients, non-nutrients, and certain antioxidants in food against oral and lung cancers. Given the continuing cancer burden and the relatively slow impact of proven cancer treatment strategies in reducing cancer mortality, it is essential to evaluate promising nutrients and non-nutrients in foods as chemopreventive agents in persons at increased risk for cancer. Development of reliable intermediate biomarkers is valuable for clinical chemoprevention intervention trials. The purpose of this report is to provide the reader with plausible approaches to cancer control.

Animals↗

The role of apoptosis in the modulation of colon carcinogenesis by dietary fat and by the organoselenium compound 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate.

Studies in laboratory animals have demonstrated that dietary supplements of organoselenium, 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC) inhibit colon carcinogenesis. Diverse chemopreventive agents and clinically used anticancer drugs have been shown to induce apoptosis in colonic tumors. Inducing apoptosis is a key mechanism for the effectiveness of some chemopreventive agents; however, failure of apoptosis is now believed to contribute to the development of human cancer. In this study, we determined the number of apoptotic bodies in the colon tumors of rats fed a low-fat (LF) or a high-fat (HF) diet with or without p-XSC treatment. At 5 weeks of age, male F344 rats were divided into four groups, which were then maintained on one of the following diets: LF, 5% corn oil; HF, 23.5% corn oil; and LF and HF supplemented with 20 ppm p-XSC. In addition, the LF or HF diet with p-XSC supplements was administered either during the initiation stage or postinitiation. At 7 weeks of age, all rats except those intended for vehicle (normal saline) treatment were given 15 mg/kg of body weight of azoxymethane once weekly for 2 weeks. The animals were sacrificed 38 weeks after carcinogen treatment, and their colonic tumors were examined for appearance of apoptosis. The LF diet significantly increased the percentage of apoptosis as compared to the HF diet; the percentage of apoptosis in LF and HF diets were 12.4 and 2.9. The colon tumors that were present in the groups fed p-XSC together with a LF or a HF diet after carcinogen administration (postinitiation period) had a higher number of apoptotic bodies than those that were present in the animals fed p-XSC before carcinogen treatment (initiation period). The extent of apoptosis was weak when p-XSC was given with a HF diet (4.4%) during the initiation phase, but it was high significant when p-XSC was administered with LF diet (25.2%). Taken together, our data suggest that administration of LF diet supplemented with p-XSC increases apoptosis as compared to a HF diet alone.

Animals↗

Evaluation of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor for potential chemopreventive properties in colon carcinogenesis.

Epidemiological and laboratory studies indicate an inverse relationship between the risk of colon cancer development and intake of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, including aspirin. One of the mechanisms by which nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents inhibit colon carcinogenesis is through the inhibition of prostaglandin production by cyclooxygenase isozymes (COX-1 and COX-2). Overexpression of COX-2 has been observed in colon tumors. Thus, selective inhibitors of COX-2 could potentially serve as chemopreventive agents. We have assessed the chemopreventive properties of SC-58635, a COX-2 inhibitor, and of sulindac, as a positive control, in a double-blind study, using azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as a measure of efficacy. Five-week-old male F344 rats were fed the control diet (modified AIN-76A) or experimental diets containing 150 or 1500 ppm SC-58635, 320 ppm sulindac, or 1500 ppm placebo. Two weeks later, all animals except those in vehicle (normal saline)-treated groups were s.c. injected with azoxymethane (15 mg/kg of body weight, once weekly for 2 weeks). At 16 weeks of age, all rats were sacrificed and colons were evaluated for ACF. As expected, dietary administration of sulindac suppressed ACF development as such and reduced crypt multiplicity in terms of number of aberrant crypts/ focus. Administration of 1500 ppm SC-58635 inhibited total ACF induction and crypt multiplicity by about 40-49%. Our finding that SC-58635 significantly suppressed colonic ACF formation and crypt multiplicity strengthens the hypothesis that a selective COX-2 inhibitor possesses chemopreventive activity against colon carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Mammary carcinogenicity of diol epoxide metabolites of benzo[j]fluoranthene in female CD rats.

The mammary carcinogenicity of two diol epoxide metabolites of the commonly occurring environmental carcinogen benzo[j]fluoranthene (BjF) was investigated by direct application to the tissue beneath the mammary glands of female CD rats. The compounds tested were trans-4,5-dihydroxy-anti-6,6a.epoxy-4,5,6,6a-tetrahydroBjF (BjF-4,5-DE) and trans-9,10-dihydroxy-anti-11, 12-epoxy-9,10,11,12-tetrahydroBjF (BjF-9,10-DE). The positive control was trans-3,4-dihydroxy-anti-1,2-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthren e (BcPDE). Groups of 20 female CD rats were maintained on AIN-76A-based high fat diet (23.5% corn oil) and at age 30 days were given three injections of 0.2 mumol of each compound in 0.1 ml dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or DMSO alone, in the tissue underlying each of the three left thoracic nipples. The three right nipple areas were injected with DMSO alone. On the next day, each rat received three injections of 0.2 mumol of each compound in 0.1 ml DMSO, or DMSO alone, under each of the three left inguinal nipples, and DMSO alone under the three right nipples. The experiment was terminated after 44 weeks. BjF-9,10-DE, mean latent period 21.0 +/- 8.8 weeks, was more active than BjF-4,5-DE, mean latent period 36.2 +/- 8.0 weeks. BjF-9,10-DE induced tumors in 70% of the rats; a total of 38 fibroadenomas and eight adenocarcinomas was observed. BjF-4,5-DE induced tumors in 55% of the rats. These included 17 fibroadenomas, seven dysplastic fibroadenomas, and two adenocarcinomas. BcPDE induced tumors rapidly, with a mean latent period of 9.7 +/- 4.0 weeks. All BcPDE-treated rats had mammary tumors. A total of 46 adenocarcinomas, as well as other tumors, were observed. In the DMSO-treated rats, mammary tumor incidence was 15%. The results of this study demonstrate that BjF-9,10-DE is more carcinogenic in the rat mammary gland than BjF-4,5-DE and that low doses of both diol epoxide metabolites of BjF are effective mammary tumorigens in female CD rats maintained on a high fat diet.

Animals↗

Inhibition of 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5]pyridine-induced lymphoma formation by oltipraz.

2-Amino-l-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is a mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amine present in pyrolysate products of meat and fish and has been shown to induce tumors in the colon, mammary gland, and possibly lymphatic system. Experiments were designed to examine the lymphoma-inducing capacity of PhIP and to test the inhibitory effects of oltipraz on PhIP-induced lymphomas in male F344 rats. Beginning at 5 weeks of age, groups of rats were fed the diets containing 0, 200, and 400 ppm oltipraz with or without 100-400 ppm PhIP. All animals were continued on this regimen until the 58th week. The results indicate that administration of PhIP produced lymphomas in 75% of rats. Most of the large lymphomas were thymomas (65%), and these lymphomas developed in less than 6 months. Death of animals during the course of the study was due to suffocation produced by a large lymphoma that filled the entire thoracic cavity, resulting in collapse of the lungs. Administration of 200-400 ppm oltipraz significantly protected rats from PhIP-induced toxicity; most of the rats survived until termination of the experiments. It is noteworthy that the addition of oltipraz at 200 and 400 ppm in the diet suppressed the PhIP-induced lymphomas to 90-100%. In conclusion, PhIP-induced lymphomas in the laboratory rat appears to be a very useful model to analyze the genesis of lymphomas, and oltipraz serves as a potential chemopreventive agent for lymphomas.

Animals↗

Effect of amount and types of dietary fat on intestinal bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and colonic mucosal diacylglycerol kinase and PKC activities during stages of colon tumor promotion.

It is evident from many studies that the effect of dietary fat on colon tumor promotion depends not only on the amount of fat but especially on fatty acid composition. Animal model studies have shown that diets which are high in omega-6 fatty acids increase colon tumor promotion, whereas diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids have no such enhancing effect. The mechanisms by which the high fat content of the diet promotes colon carcinogenesis may include the production of secondary bile acids in the colon and the modulation of colonic luminal bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase that is involved in generating secondary bile acids, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), and mucosal PI-PLC, as well as diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase and protein kinase C (PKC). In the present study, we investigated the effect of high-fat diets that are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on cecal bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase and PI-PLC, fecal secondary bile acids, and colonic mucosal DAG kinase and PKC activities during different stages of colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed a low-fat diet containing 5% corn oil (LFCO). Beginning at 7 weeks of age, all animals, except those intended as vehicle controls, received azoxymethane (AOM) s.c. once weekly for 2 weeks at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight. Vehicle-treated groups received s.c. injections of normal saline. One day after the second AOM or saline treatment, the experimental groups of animals were transferred to a high-fat diet containing 23.5% corn oil (HFCO) or 20.5% fish oil + 3% corn oil (HFFO). One group continued on the LFCO diet. Animals were sacrificed at weeks 1, 12, and 36 after the AOM or saline treatment. Colonic mucosa were harvested at weeks 1, 12, or 36, and the colonic tumor tissues were examined for PKC and DAG kinase activities. Contents of the cecum were analyzed for bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase and PI-PLC activities. Stool samples collected at week 12 were analyzed for bile acids. High corn oil content of the diet significantly increased the cecal bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase and PI-PLC activities as compared to the diets with high fish oil or low corn oil content. Animals fed the HFCO diet excreted higher levels of secondary bile acids, such as deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, than those fed the LFCO or HFFO diets. Carcinogen treatment significantly enhanced the activities of DAG kinase and total membrane PKC activities in colonic mucosa compared to saline treatment in all dietary groups. Animals treated with saline or AOM and fed HFCO showed increased levels of DAG kinase and membrane PKC activities in the colonic mucosa when compared to LFCO and HFFO groups. DAG kinase and membrane PKC activities were higher in colon tumors than in the surrounding colonic mucosa, and also increased levels of these enzyme activities were found in the HFCO diet group. These results indicate that the modifying effect of dietary fat on colonic bacterial enzymes, secondary bile acids, colonic mucosal and tumor DAG kinase, and PKC that may play a role in colon carcinogenesis depends on the types and amount of fat given. The colon tumor-enhancing effect of a HFCO diet in contrast to the high dietary fish oil may be, in part, explained on the basis of its modulating effect on these bacterial and colonic mucosal enzymes and colonic secondary bile acids relevant to colon tumor promotion.

Animals↗