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Research: LIVINY and co-workers, In
Listed in Issue 88
Abstract
LIVINY and co-workers, Institute of Biochemistry, Food science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel, have found that lycopene inhibits proliferation and enhances gap junctional communication in KB-1 human oral tumour cells.
Background
Cell to cell communications via gap junctions is considered to be a key factor in tissue homeostasis, and its alteration is associated with cancer. Experimental and epidemiological data suggest that carotenoids, particularly lycopene and beta-carotene, can reduce the risk of certain cancers. The purpose of this study was to assess whether these compounds interact at some stage with the carcinogenesis process.
Methodology
KB-1 cells from a human oral cavity tumour were incubated in culture with different concentrations of lycopene or beta-carotene.
Results
Lycopene strongly and in a dose-dependent manner inhibited proliferation of KB-1 cells. beta-Carotene was a far less efficient inhibitor of the proliferation of these cells. Lycopene significantly upregulated both the transcription and the expresion of connexin-43, a gap junction protein. beta-Carotene tended to upregulate connexin-43 expression. Gap-junctional communication was measured by dye transfer and electron microscopy showed that lycopene enhanced gap-junctional communication between the cancer cells, whereas beta-carotene was less effective. beta-Carotene was avidly and rapidly incorporated into KB-1 cells, whereas lycopene uptake into cells took place only after longer incubation periods and at high concentrations.
Conclusion
The present study supports the hypothesis that carotenoids in general, and lycopene in particular, may be effective anticarcinogenic agents in oral cancers.
References
Liviny O, Kaplan I, Reifen R, Polak-Charcon S, Madar Z, Schwartz B. Lycopene inhibits proliferation and enhances gap-junction communication of KB-1 human oral tumor cells. The Journal of Nutrition 132 (12): 3754-3759, Dec 2002.
Comment
Oral cancers have a fairly dismal prognosis and surgical treatments often interfere with appearance and functions such as speech, eating and digestion. Hence the importance of following up this research if lycopene may be an effective anticancer agent.
