Anti-cancer effects of Alternol and Alteronol on human cancers

Abstract

Alternol and Alteronol are two small chemical compounds purified from a mutant fungal. The in vitro and in vivo experimental studies have confirmed their potent anti-cancer effect. In vitro studies show that they can inhibit cell division and proliferation of a variety of tumors including prostate cancer, osteosarcoma and melanoma. They exert their anti-cancer effects by attenuating cell cycle protein expression and causing cell cycle arrest, suppressing tumor cell invasion and metastasis, reducing new blood vessel formation, decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 in malignant cells, and stimulating oxygen free radical accumulation. However, there is no significant cytotoxic effect on benign cells. Animal experiments show that these two compounds significantly inhibit xenograft growth derived from a variety of human malignant tumors, while there is no obvious side effect on normal tissue or organs. In conclusion, these two compounds are worthy to be deve-loped as novel anti-cancer drugs. Key words: Neoplasms; Apoptosis; Cell cycle; Alternol; Alteronol