beta-carotene and Uterine-Neoplasms

Carotenoids and retinyl esters are the source of vitamin A in the human body and its natural derivatives takes part in the regulation of cell replication and differentiation in the human endometrium, may induce the leiomyoma growth and has a role in differentiation of endometrial adenocarcinoma. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the presence of carotenoids in tissues from the normal uterus and from various tumors of the uterine corpus, as well as to compare the total content, major carotenoids and % of carotenoids belonging to the provitamin A group between the tissues examined. Using three independent methods of chromatography (CC, TLC, HPLC) we analysed 140 human samples. We identified 13 carotenoids belonging to the eg. provitamin A group and epoxy carotenoids. In all the samples beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, violaxanthin and mutatoxanthin were isolated. In normal tissues, the mean carotenoid content was the highest in the follicular phase endometrium (9.9 microg/g), while the highest percentage of carotenoids belonging to provitamin A group was found in the luteal phase (18.2%). In the pathological group, the highest mean values were demonstrated for epithelial lesions (8.0 microg/g), and within this group - in endometrioid adenocarcinoma (10.8 microg/g). In both groups, violaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein epoxide and mutatoxanthin were the predominant carotenoids. We have demonstrated that all uterine tissues show a concentration of beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, being the source of vitamin A. The highest total values of carotenoids obtained in the group of endometrioid adenocarcinoma seem to confirm certain enzymatic defects in carotenoid metabolism in the course of the neoplastic process or some metabolic modifications. The finding of astaxanthin - the major antioxidant among carotenoids - in 63% of tissues examined is also significant.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Female; Humans; Lutein; Middle Aged; Uterine Neoplasms; Uterus; Xanthophylls

Free radical-induced damage is etiologically implicated in many chronic diseases including cancer. Epidemiologic data suggest an association between increased dietary intake of nutrients that are high in antioxidant vitamins and protection against the incidence of some human cancers. The purpose of this study was (a) to determine whether specific tissue antioxidants (beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol) and any differences in their levels were measurable in randomly selected human breast and gynecologic malignant neoplasms and nonneoplastic tissue samples obtained from the same patient and (b) to establish normal ranges of these two antioxidant levels in human female reproductive tract tissues. Tissue samples were excised immediately from surgical specimens and released by staff pathologists from a spectrum of human female cancers. Neoplastic and adjacent nonneoplastic tissues samples were obtained from the same patient. Normal reproductive tract tissue samples were obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynecologic conditions. Breast carcinoma and adjacent nonmalignant tissue specimens were obtained from women undergoing mastectomy. The concentrations of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. In the same patient, beta-carotene levels were significantly lower in the cervical (P < 0.01) and endometrial (P < 0.005) carcinoma tissues than the levels detectable in adjacent nonneoplastic sites. In contrast, beta-carotene levels were higher in the ovarian (P < 0.05), breast (P < 0.005), and vulva (P < 0.05) carcinoma tissues. The alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly higher in the cancer tissues of cervix (P < 0.01) and endometrium (P < 0.001) than those in adjacent noninvolved tissue sites. The tissue concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in malignant and adjacent normal sites in breast, ovary, and vulva were comparable. For the first time, the ranges for beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol levels in the normal female reproductive tract tissues were also established. The present findings of contrasting tissue levels of the antioxidants (beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol) in breast, cervix, endometrium, ovary, and vulva cancers and in nonneoplastic tissues of the same patient suggest an organ-specific and heterogenous distribution. These antioxidants appear to be essential nutritional requirements of the human female reproductive tract and breast and are implicated in the pathophysiology

Topics: Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Genitalia, Female; Humans; Leiomyoma; Lipids; Myometrium; Osmolar Concentration; Reference Values; Solubility; Uterine Neoplasms; Vitamin E

The dietary importance of beta-carotene as a factor in health maintenance has recently attracted considerable interest. Previously, total carotene content was estimated in a limited number of human tissues by means of spectrophotometric methods. In this study the levels of beta-carotene were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography in tissue samples of uterine leiomyomas and adjacent normal myometrium obtained at hysterectomy from uteri of 18 patients. beta-Carotene concentration was significantly (p = 0.0013) lower in fibroid tissue than in normal myometrium. In addition, levels of beta-carotene were assayed in tissue samples of cancers of the cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, lung, liver, and rectum and were compared with levels of respective adjacent normal sites. The concentrations of beta-carotene were found to be lower in all cancer tissues. The decreased levels of beta-carotene suggest that beta-carotene deficiency may have a role in the cause and/or pathogenesis of leiomyomas and cancers of the organs that were investigated. The mechanism of action, however, remains unknown.

Topics: Adult; Aged; beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carotenoids; Female; Humans; Leiomyoma; Middle Aged; Ovarian Neoplasms; Uterine Neoplasms

The risk of endometrial cancer in relation to nutrition and frequency of consumption of a few selected dietary items was evaluated in a case-control study of 206 patients with endometrial cancer and 206 control subjects with acute conditions unrelated to any of the established or potential risk factors for endometrial cancer. Obesity was strongly and positively associated with the risk of endometrial cancer, and several conditions related to body weight, such as early menarche, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension were more common in cases. The risk of endometrial cancer was elevated in subjects reporting (on a subjective basis) greater fat (butter, margarine, and oil) intake (relative risk estimate for the higher compared to the lower scores equals 5.65, with 95% confidence interval of 2.76-11.55). Cases reported less frequent intake of green vegetables, fruit, and whole-grain foods: thus, the risk of endometrial cancer appeared inversely related to indices of beta-carotene and fiber intake. Furthermore, cases consumed milk, liver and fish less frequently than controls. No significant difference was noted between cases and controls in the frequency of intake of carrots, meat, eggs, ham, and cheese. Alcohol consumption was somewhat larger among the cases, but this trend in risk was not significant. Dietary information collected in this study probably is too limited and inconsistent to permit analysis of biologic correlates of these findings or discussion of their potential implications in terms of prevention on a public health scale. Nonetheless, the mere existence of differences in reported diet between endometrial cancer cases and controls is of interest, and may warrant further, more detailed investigation.

Topics: Aged; Alcohol Drinking; beta Carotene; Body Weight; Carotenoids; Diet; Dietary Fats; Dietary Fiber; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Humans; Italy; Middle Aged; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Obesity; Risk; Uterine Neoplasms; Vitamin A