NCKU transnational research team reveals how vitamin E can prevent cancer
Tainan, Taiwan, April 2, 2013
The beneficial application of Vitamin E to prevent cancer has been unclear to researchers even though many animal studies have shown positive suggestion. Now a transnational research team led by Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and US’s Ohio State University (OSU) has confirmed the feasibility of using vitamin E to prevent cancer.
“This is the first demonstration of a unique mechanism of how vitamin E can have some benefit in terms of cancer prevention and treatment,” said Dr. Ching-Shih Chen, professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy at OSU, who is currently affiliated with both the NCKU and the OSU.
The study carried out by NCKU together with OSU has published in the March 19, 2013, issue of the journal Science Signaling.
Dr. Chen said that their goal is “to develop a safe pill at the right dose that people could take every day for cancer prevention. It takes time to optimize the formulation and the dose.”
Vitamin E supplement is regularly used by many people, but no one has a clear understanding of its anti-cancer mechanism, said Dr. Po-Hsien Huang from the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, NCKU.
However, Dr. Huang pointed out that, taking a typical vitamin E supplement won’t fight cancer as effectively in this study, and the human body can’t absorb the high doses that appear to be required to achieve the anti-cancer effect.
Dr. Huang indicated that the study showed in prostate cancer cells that one form of vitamin E inhibits the activation of an enzyme that is essential for cancer cell survival, and the loss of the enzyme, called Akt, led to tumor cell death.
He revealed that Vitamin E occurs in numerous forms based on their chemical structure, and the most commonly known form belongs to a variety called tocopherols.
Dr. Huang added that, of the tocopherols tested, the gamma form of tocopherol was the most potent anti-cancer form of the vitamin because its chemical shape allowed it to attach to Akt in the most precise way to shut off the enzyme.
Because of how the various molecules interacted on the cell membrane, the scientists predicted that shortening a string of chemical groups dangling from the main body, or head group, of the gamma-tocopherol molecule would make those relationships even stronger.
They lopped off about 60% of this side chain and tested the effects of the new agent in the prostate cancer cells.
The animal study also suggested the experimental agent has no negative effect on normal cells.
Dr. Chen’s lab is continuing to work on improvements to the molecule.
The beneficial application of Vitamin E to prevent cancer has been unclear to researchers even though many animal studies have shown positive suggestion. Now a transnational research team led by Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and US’s Ohio State University (OSU) has confirmed the feasibility of using vitamin E to prevent cancer.
“This is the first demonstration of a unique mechanism of how vitamin E can have some benefit in terms of cancer prevention and treatment,” said Dr. Ching-Shih Chen, professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy at OSU, who is currently affiliated with both the NCKU and the OSU.
The study carried out by NCKU together with OSU has published in the March 19, 2013, issue of the journal Science Signaling.
Dr. Chen said that their goal is “to develop a safe pill at the right dose that people could take every day for cancer prevention. It takes time to optimize the formulation and the dose.”
Vitamin E supplement is regularly used by many people, but no one has a clear understanding of its anti-cancer mechanism, said Dr. Po-Hsien Huang from the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, NCKU.
However, Dr. Huang pointed out that, taking a typical vitamin E supplement won’t fight cancer as effectively in this study, and the human body can’t absorb the high doses that appear to be required to achieve the anti-cancer effect.
Dr. Huang indicated that the study showed in prostate cancer cells that one form of vitamin E inhibits the activation of an enzyme that is essential for cancer cell survival, and the loss of the enzyme, called Akt, led to tumor cell death.
He revealed that Vitamin E occurs in numerous forms based on their chemical structure, and the most commonly known form belongs to a variety called tocopherols.
Dr. Huang added that, of the tocopherols tested, the gamma form of tocopherol was the most potent anti-cancer form of the vitamin because its chemical shape allowed it to attach to Akt in the most precise way to shut off the enzyme.
Because of how the various molecules interacted on the cell membrane, the scientists predicted that shortening a string of chemical groups dangling from the main body, or head group, of the gamma-tocopherol molecule would make those relationships even stronger.
They lopped off about 60% of this side chain and tested the effects of the new agent in the prostate cancer cells.
The animal study also suggested the experimental agent has no negative effect on normal cells.
Dr. Chen’s lab is continuing to work on improvements to the molecule.
Provider:
新聞中心
Date:
102.04.01
