Cyclooxygenases (COXs: COX-1/-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) catalyzed reactions play significant roles in colon cancer progression. COX inhibitors including ibuprofen, known as non-steroid anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), have been shown to be effective anticancer agents against colon cancer. However, a critical barrier to utilize the specific inhibitors of these enzymes is associated adverse effects including gastrotoxicity and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases for COX inhibitors. Therefore, we need to search for new prevention and therapeutic strategies that have strong anti-cancer effects with potentially reduced toxicity. We have recently demonstrated that vitamin E forms including 3-tocopherol (3T), 4-tocopherol (4T) and 3-tocotrienol (3TE) are metabolized to long-chain carboxychromanols and their sulfated counterparts in human cells and in rats. Importantly, 13'-carboxychromanol (13'-COOH), the E metabolite containing 13-carbon-length carboxylated side chain, is a potent competitive inhibitor of COX-1/-2 with the potency similar to ibuprofen, while 3T, 4T and 3TE or shorter-side chain carboxychromanols are much weaker COX inhibitors. Our preliminary data indicate that 13'-COOH also inhibited 5-LOX catalyzed leukotriene B4 (LTB4). The dual inhibition of COXs and 5-LOX may not only result in more potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effect (by inhibiting multiple proinflammatory pathways), but may also reduce potential adverse effect caused by a shunt in arachidonate metabolism to either pathway. Therefore, we hypothesize that 13'-COOHs may be excellent anticancer agents. This hypothesis will be tested by pursuit of the following Specific Aims in cell culture and animal studies:1) investigate anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity of 4-13'-COOH (a 13'-COOH derived from 4-tocopherol) in colon epithelial cells and elucidate the mechanism underlying the inhibition of 5-LOX by enzyme kinetics, and 2) investigate in vivo anti-cancer activity of 4-13'-COOH in a mouse model, in which colon carcinogenesis is induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and is accelerated by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-caused colon inflammation. The efficacy of 4-13'-COOH will be compared with its unmetabolized precursor 4T and a commonly used NSAID, ibuprofen. The bioavailability and potential adverse effects of 4-13'-COOH during long-term supplementation will also be investigated. The proposed studies may discover a new class of effective anticancer agents, i.e., long-chain carboxychromanols, which may be more effective than NSAIDs and vitamin E forms, and exhibit few adverse effects due to their unique properties. These studies will extend and translate mechanism- based findings to a clinically relevant cancer model and obtain important preclinical data for human clinical studies.

Public Health Relevance

Cyclooxygenases and 5-lipoxygenase catalyzed reactions contribute significantly to the development of colon cancer. We have recently demonstrated that long-chain carboxychromanols, which are novel vitamin E metabolites, potently inhibit cyclooxygenases- and 5-lipoxygenase-mediated reactions. This application is to investigate the anticancer activities of a long-chain carboxychromanol in colon cancer cells and in a colon cancer model in mice. These studies may discover a new class of effective anticancer agents with potentially low toxicity, will extend and translate mechanism-based findings to a clinically relevant animal model, and will gather necessary preclinical data important to human clinical studies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21CA152588-02
Application #
8230605
Study Section
Chemo/Dietary Prevention Study Section (CDP)
Program Officer
Seifried, Harold E
Project Start
2011-03-01
Project End
2014-02-28
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$167,475
Indirect Cost
$58,725
Name
Purdue University
Department
Nutrition
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
072051394
City
West Lafayette
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
47907
Jang, Yumi; Rao, Xiayu; Jiang, Qing (2017) Gamma-tocotrienol profoundly alters sphingolipids in cancer cells by inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturase and possibly activation of sphingolipid hydrolysis during prolonged treatment. J Nutr Biochem 46:49-56
Jang, Yumi; Park, Na-Young; Rostgaard-Hansen, Agnetha Linn et al. (2016) Vitamin E metabolite 13'-carboxychromanols inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes, induce apoptosis and autophagy in human cancer cells by modulating sphingolipids and suppress colon tumor development in mice. Free Radic Biol Med 95:190-9
Wang, Yun; Park, Na-Young; Jang, Yumi et al. (2015) Vitamin E ?-Tocotrienol Inhibits Cytokine-Stimulated NF-?B Activation by Induction of Anti-Inflammatory A20 via Stress Adaptive Response Due to Modulation of Sphingolipids. J Immunol 195:126-33
Jiang, Qing (2014) Natural forms of vitamin E: metabolism, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities and their role in disease prevention and therapy. Free Radic Biol Med 72:76-90
Wang, Yun; Jiang, Qing (2013) ?-Tocotrienol inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced interlukin-6 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor by suppressing C/EBP? and NF-?B in macrophages. J Nutr Biochem 24:1146-52
Jiang, Qing; Jiang, Ziying; Hall, Yava Jones et al. (2013) Gamma-tocopherol attenuates moderate but not severe colitis and suppresses moderate colitis-promoted colon tumorigenesis in mice. Free Radic Biol Med 65:1069-1077
Gopalan, Archana; Yu, Weiping; Jiang, Qing et al. (2012) Involvement of de novo ceramide synthesis in gamma-tocopherol and gamma-tocotrienol-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. Mol Nutr Food Res 56:1803-11