okadaic-acid and canventol

Tumor promotion is a critical point in multistage carcinogenesis in humans. We have identified a common biochemical and molecular tumor promotion mechanism, the okadaic acid pathway, applicable in various organs. Tumor promotion by the okadaic acid class of compounds is mediated through inhibition of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, resulting in an increase of protein phosphorylation and a subsequent expression of cell proliferation genes. Recently, we demonstrated that okadaic acid induced the release of mouse tumor necrosis factor-alpha (mTNF-alpha) from BALB/3T3 cells. The first part of this review discusses the link between the okadaic acid pathway and TNF-alpha as endogenous tumor promoters in vivo. Inhibitors of tumor promotion are varied. For the purpose of cancer chemoprevention in humans, the inhibitors sarcophytol A, canventol, and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were studied and the results are presented. The inhibitory mechanisms also were varied: sarcophytol A inhibited H2O2 formation by TPA-activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; canventol inhibited protein isoprenylation in the cells; and EGCG, which is a main constituent of Japanese green tea, is an antioxidant. These inhibitors are promising cancer chemopreventive agents. Study of the essential tumor promotion mechanisms will facilitate the development of cancer chemopreventive agents.

Topics: Anticarcinogenic Agents; Catechin; Cyclohexanols; Diterpenes; Ethers, Cyclic; Humans; Neoplasms; Okadaic Acid; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Canventol, a synthetic compound, is a new inhibitor of tumor promotion on mouse skin by okadaic acid. We previously reported that canventol acts by inhibiting both protein isoprenylation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release. In this study we examined the potencies of 10 newly synthesized canventol analogs through their effect on mevalonate metabolism, and then examined 3 representative analogs for inhibition of protein isoprenylation. Since canventol in vitro did not directly inhibit farnesyl protein transferase or geranylgeranyl protein transferase-I, the effects of canventol and its synthetic analogs on the fate of [3H]mevalonate in cells were studied. Canventol at 500 microM changed the ratio of newly synthesized sterols (cholesterol and lathosterol) to ubiquinones from 0.7 to 8.2 in NIH/3T3 cells which had previously been labeled with [3H]mevalonate, suggesting that the altered pattern of mevalonate metabolism is associated with inhibition of protein isoprenylation in the cells. We named this ratio the inhibition of protein isoprenylation index (IPI index). The 10 analogs showed a wide range of IPI indices. Two analogs, S3 and S9 had effects similar to, or stronger than, canventol. Three analogs, C44, C46 and C47, with lower IPI indices, inhibited tumor promotion on mouse skin slightly less than canventol itself did. This study shows that inhibition of protein isoprenylation in the cells, indicated by an increase in the IPI index, is a new biomarker for estimating inhibition of tumor promotion.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Carcinogens; Cyclohexanols; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Lipid Metabolism; Mevalonic Acid; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Okadaic Acid; Protein Prenylation; Skin Neoplasms; Sterols; Transferases; Ubiquinone

A synthetic compound named canventol, 2-isopropyl-4-isopropylidencyclohex-2-ene-1-ol, inhibited tumor promotion of okadaic acid on mouse skin initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in two-stage carcinogenesis experiments more strongly than sarcophytol A, isolated from a soft coral, although canventol has a simpler structure than sarcophytol A. Their mechanisms of action were studied based on our recent evidence that tumor necrosis factor alpha release induced by okadaic acid is an essential mechanism of tumor promotion. Canventol inhibited mouse tumor necrosis factor alpha release from BALB/3T3 cells less strongly than sarcophytol A, indicating that canventol has additional activity. Canventol inhibited isoprenylation of proteins with various molecular weights, such as M(r) 22,000, 17,000, and 13,000, whereas sarcophytol A did not show significant inhibition. Thus, a potent anticarcinogenic activity of canventol is mediated through the inhibitory bifunctions of tumor necrosis factor alpha release and of protein isoprenylation. Since canventol is less toxic to cells than sarcophytol A, these bifunctions are useful markers for screening for new cancer chemopreventive agents.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Cyclohexanols; Diterpenes; Ethers, Cyclic; Female; Mevalonic Acid; Mice; Okadaic Acid; Protein Prenylation; Skin Neoplasms; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha