Inhibition of lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice by N-acetyl-S-(N-2-phenethylthiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine and myo-inositol, individually and in combination.

Abstract

Isothiocyanates, their N-acetylcysteine conjugates, and myo-inositol (MI) are inhibitors of lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice. However, chemoprevention by combinations of these compounds in different temporal sequences has not been examined. This is important for developing practical approaches to lung cancer chemoprevention in smokers and ex-smokers. We used a tumor model in which A/J mice are treated with 8 weekly doses of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) plus 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and killed 19 weeks after the final treatment. In Experiment 1, isothiocyanates or their N-acetylcysteine conjugates were added to the diet (1 or 3 micro mol/g) from 1 week before until 1 week after carcinogen treatment. The compounds were 2-phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), 3-phenylpropyl isothiocyanate (PPITC), N-acetyl-S-(N-benzyl-thiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine (BITC-NAC), N-acetyl-S-(N-2-phenethylthiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine (PEITC-NAC), and N-acetyl-S-(N-3-phenylpropylthiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine (PPITC-NAC). Significant reductions in lung tumor multiplicity were observed in mice treated with PEITC, PEITC-NAC, PPITC and PPITC-NAC. PEITC-NAC was chosen for combination studies with MI (Experiment 2). Mice were treated with B[a]P plus NNK without or with PEITC-NAC (3 micro mol/g diet), MI (55.5 micro mol/g diet), or PEITC-NAC plus MI (3 micro mol plus 55.5 micro mol/g diet). Different temporal sequences of dietary additions were investigated: carcinogen treatment phase; post-carcinogen treatment phase; entire experiment; 50% of carcinogen treatment phase until termination; and 75% of carcinogen treatment phase until termination. All treatments reduced lung tumor multiplicity except PEITC-NAC post-carcinogen or from 75% of the carcinogen treatment phase. Reduction of lung tumor multiplicity by PEITC-NAC plus MI was greater than that in the mice treated with the agents alone in all temporal sequences. When all results were combined, PEITC-NAC plus MI was significantly more effective than the agents alone. There was a significant trend for reduction in lung tumor multiplicity with increased duration of treatment by the chemopreventive agents. These results provide a basis for further development of mixtures of PEITC-NAC and MI for chemoprevention of lung cancer.

• Authors: Stephen S Hecht, Pramod Upadhyaya, Mingyao Wang, Robin L Bliss, Edward J McIntee, Patrick M J Kenney
• Journal: Carcinogenesis (Carcinogenesis) Vol. 23 Issue 9 Pg. 1455-61 (Sep 2002) ISSN: 0143-3334 [Print] England
• PMID: 12189187 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Isothiocyanates
• N-acetyl-S-(N-2-phenethylthiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine
• Thiocarbamates
• Inositol
• phenethyl isothiocyanate
• Cysteine

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Carcinogenicity Tests
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• Cysteine (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Inositol (therapeutic use)
• Isothiocyanates (chemistry)
• Lung Neoplasms (chemically induced, prevention & control)
• Mice
• Thiocarbamates (therapeutic use)