Reference profile correlation reveals estrogen-like trancriptional activity of Curcumin.

Background: Several secondary metabolites from herbal nutrient products act as weak estrogens (phytoestrogens), competing with endogenous estrogen for binding to the estrogen receptors and inhibiting steroid converting enzymes. However, it is still unclear whether these compounds elicit estrogen dependent transcription of genes at physiological concentrations.

Methods: We compare the effects of physiological concentrations (100 nM) of the two phytoestrogens Enterolactone and Quercetin and the suspected phytoestrogen Curcumin on gene expression in the breast cancer cell line MCF7 with the effects elicited by 17-beta-estradiol (E2).

In vivo growth inhibition of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by the Interferon-inducible gene IFI16.

The Interferon-inducible gene, IFI16 has been implicated in the control of cell growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis and immunomodulation. In a previous study we demonstrated that restoring levels of IFI16 in a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)-derived cell line, HNO136, reduced its growth in vitro accompanied by a marked increase in doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. To evaluate the ability of IFI16 to inhibit in vivo tumorigenesis of HNO136 cells and to characterize the molecular mechanisms responsible for its anti-tumor activity, IFI16 expression on cell growth was evaluated by an in vivo tumorigenicity assay.

AKT/NF-kappaB inhibitor xanthohumol targets cell growth and angiogenesis in hematologic malignancies.

Background: Leukemias are dependent on Akt/NF-kappaB activation and angiogenesis.

Methods: The antiangiogenic Akt/NF-kappaB inhibitor xanthohumol (XN) has in vitro activity against acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia cell lines (AML, CML) and fresh samples from patients were investigated.

Results: Inhibition of cell proliferation is associated with induction of apoptosis and reduced VEGF secretion.

Inhibition of a vascular ocular tumor growth by IL-12 gene transfer.

Ocular tumors such as retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma have devastating effects on vision. Patients with uveal melanoma also have low 5-year survival rates, thus new therapeutic modalities are necessary. As both retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma are highly vascular, we tested application of a gene transduction approach with a potent TH1 cytokine also endowed with strong anti-angiogenic activity, Interleukin-12 (IL-12).

The chemopreventive polyphenol Curcumin prevents hematogenous breast cancer metastases in immunodeficient mice.

Dissemination of metastatic cells probably occurs long before diagnosis of the primary tumor. Metastasis during early phases of carcinogenesis in high risk patients is therefore a potential prevention target. The plant polyphenol Curcumin has been proposed for dietary prevention of cancer.

Identification of genes selectively regulated by IFNs in endothelial cells.

IFNs are highly pleiotropic cytokines also endowed with marked antiangiogenic activity. In this study, the mRNA expression profiles of endothelial cells (EC) exposed in vitro to IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, or IFN-gamma were determined. We found that in HUVEC as well as in other EC types 175 genes were up-regulated (>2-fold increase) by IFNs, including genes involved in the host response to RNA viruses, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Antiangiogenic activity of the MDM2 antagonist nutlin-3.

Nutlin-3, a nongenotoxic activator of the p53 pathway, dose-dependently (range 0.1 to 10 micromol/L) inhibited the formation of capillaries in an in vivo matrigel assay, as well as the formation of capillary-like structures in an in vitro coculture system composed of endothelial cells surrounded by fibroblasts. In contrast to the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin, nutlin-3 showed no induction of apoptosis in vitro either in the cocultures or in isolated vascular endothelial cells, even when used at the highest concentration (10 micromol/L).

The Akt inhibitor deguelin, is an angiopreventive agent also acting on the NF-kappaB pathway.

Several natural compounds, especially plant products and dietary constituents, are able to exhibit 'angiopreventive' (anti-angiogenic chemoprevention) activities both in vitro and in vivo. Deguelin is a rotenoid of the flavonoid family with chemopreventive activities able to decrease tumor incidence in animal models for lung, colon, mammary and skin carcinogenesis through Akt inhibition. Here we show that deguelin belongs to the 'angiopreventive' molecules and provide evidence for molecular events associated with its anti-angiogenic properties.

Mechanisms of the antiangiogenic activity by the hop flavonoid xanthohumol: NF-kappaB and Akt as targets.

Xanthohumol (XN), the principal flavonoid of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) and a constituent of beer, has been suggested to have potential cancer chemopreventive activities. We have observed that most cancer chemopreventive agents show antiangiogenic properties in vitro and in vivo, a concept we termed "angioprevention.

Molecular mechanisms of action of angiopreventive anti-oxidants on endothelial cells: microarray gene expression analyses.

The anti-oxidants N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibit tumor vascularization by reducing endothelial cell migration and invasion in a similar, non additive and non synergistic manner but do not alter the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Here we address the effects of the two chemopreventive drugs on endothelial cell signaling by means of expression profiling and real-time PCR validation. We identify a series of angiogenesis related genes that are similarly regulated by the two drugs.

The transforming growth factor-beta family members bone morphogenetic protein-2 and macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 as mediators of the antiangiogenic activity of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide.

Purpose: Tumor growth appears to be an angiogenesis-dependent process. N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (fenretinide; 4HPR) has been found to inhibit and/or prevent tumor growth under diverse conditions. Although 4HPR is antiangiogenic, the molecular mechanisms of this effect remain largely unknown.

Inhibition of angiogenesis in vivo and growth of Kaposi's sarcoma xenograft tumors by the anti-malarial artesunate.

Artesunate (ART) is a semi-synthetic derivative of the sesquiterpene artemisinin used for the second line therapy of malaria infections with Plasmodium falciparum. ART also inhibits growth of many transformed cell lines. In the present investigation, we show that ART inhibited the growth of normal human umbilical endothelial cells and of KS-IMM cells that we have established from a Kaposi's sarcoma lesion obtained from a renal transplant patient.

Alpha-lipoic acid is effective in prevention and treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Alpha-lipoic acid (alpha-LA) is a neuroprotective metabolic antioxidant that has been shown to cross the blood brain barrier. We tested whether alpha-LA is capable to prevent MOG35-55-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Daily oral administration of alpha-LA, starting at the time of immunization, significantly prevented EAE progression as compared to control mice.

AAV-mediated gene transfer of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 inhibits vascular tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo.

The activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a universal feature of cellular invasion, tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, which is counterbalanced and regulated by the natural tissue inhibitors of MMPs (Timps). Here we show that Timp1 gene transfer delivered by an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector inhibits tumor growth in a murine xenotransplant model. A human Kaposi's sarcoma cell line, forming highly vascularized tumors in vivo and having a high natural permissivity to AAV gene transfer, was transduced to express the Timp1 cDNA.

Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by angiostatin: from recombinant protein to gene therapy.

Tumor growth, local invasion, and metastatic dissemination are dependent on the formation of new microvessels. The process of angiogenesis is regulated by a balance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors, and the shift to an angiogenic phenotype (the "angiogenic switch") is a key event in tumor progression. The use of anti-angiogenic agents to restore this balance represents a promising approach to cancer treatment.

The androgen receptor CAG repeat: a modifier of carcinogenesis?

The first exon of the human androgen receptor (AR) contains a translated CAG (poly-glutamine) repeat. The repeat length is polymorphic in the normal population ranging from 8 to 35 repeats. Expansions to over 40 repeats lead to spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a late onset neurodegenerative disease.