VITAMIN E / POTENT CANCER KILLER

ironjustice@aol.com · medicine forum Guru Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 1522

RESEARCHERS MAKE VITAMIN E OFFSHOOT A POTENT CANCER KILLER
COLUMBUS , Ohio - Researchers here have learned how a derivative of
vitamin E causes the death of cancer cells. The researchers then used
that knowledge to make the agent an even more potent cancer killer.

Ching-Shih Chen
The compound, called vitamin E succinate, or alpha tocopheryl
succinate, is taken by some people as a nutritional supplement, mainly
for its antioxidant properties. In addition, it has a weak ability to
kill cancer cells, and it has been tested as a cancer chemopreventive
agent.

The substance kills cancer cells by causing them to undergo a natural
process known as programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Until now, no one
knew how the agent caused this to happen.

These findings answer that question and also indicate that the
molecule's antitumor activity is separate from its antioxidant effect.

The study, led by researchers with The Ohio State University
Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and
Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James), is published in
the April 28 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

"Our findings could lead to a potent chemopreventive agent that has
both strong anticancer and antioxidant properties," says principal
investigator Ching-Shih Chen, professor of pharmacy and of internal
medicine and a researcher with the OSUCCC-James.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The scientists found that a relatively simple process of altering the
molecule's structure - basically cutting the tail short - allowed a
tighter fit and improved the agent's ability to kill cancer cells by
five- to ten-fold in laboratory tests.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Such an agent might help reduce the risk of prostate, colon and
other cancers."

Chen and his collaborators found that vitamin E succinate works by
blocking a protein called Bcl-xL. The protein, which is made by healthy
cells, is often present at abnormally high levels in cancer cells and
protects them from dying when they should.

Using computer modeling, the researchers found that the vitamin E
derivative works because it lodges in a groove in the structure of the
Bcl-xL protein, disabling it.

However, the vitamin E molecule has a long, coiled, protruding tail
that keeps the molecule from fitting tightly, and more effectively,
into the groove.

"Once we identified how the agent and the protein interact, we asked
how we could improve that interaction," Chen says.

The scientists found that a relatively simple process of altering the
molecule's structure - basically cutting the tail short - allowed a
tighter fit and improved the agent's ability to kill cancer cells by
five- to ten-fold in laboratory tests.

"Overall, out findings are proof of the principle that this drug can
kill cancer cells very effectively but does very little damage to
healthy cells," Chen says.

Chen is also the Lucius A. Wing chair of cancer research and therapy at
the OSUCCC-James and the Kimberly professor of pharmacy

Funding from the National Cancer Institute supported this research.

#

Contact: Darrell E. Ward, Medical Center Communications, 614-293-3737,
or Darrell.Ward@osumc.edu

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

Google