Mouse Mammary Gland Organ Culture Research Articles

First person – Akash Gupta

ABSTRACTFirst Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Biology Open, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Akash Gupta is first author on ‘A novel and cost-effective ex vivo orthotopic model for the study of human breast cancer in mouse mammary gland organ culture’, published in BiO. Akash conducted the research described in this article while a PhD Scholar in Rajendra Mehta's lab at IIT Research Institute, Chicago, USA. He is now an assistant research scientist in the lab of Syreeta L. Tilghman at the University of Arizona, Department of Medicine, Tucson, USA, investigating drug efficacy modeling using human organoids culture for the treatment of cancers.

A novel and cost-effective ex vivo orthotopic model for the study of human breast cancer in mouse mammary gland organ culture.

ABSTRACTMouse mammary organ culture (MMOC) is used to evaluate the efficacy of chemopreventive agents against the development of carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesions and is highly correlative to in vivo carcinogenesis models. Here, we developed a new ex vivo MMOC model, by introducing human breast cancer cells into the mouse mammary gland. This novel model, termed human breast cancer in MMOC (BCa-MMOC), mimics in vivo orthotopic breast cancer mouse models. To develop this model, estradiol- and progesterone-sensitized female mice were injected with letrozole-sensitive and -resistant T47D breast cancer cells in the mammary glands and then euthanized. The glands were cultured in vitro with hormone-supplemented media. On day 25, the glands were fixed and processed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry to evaluate for the presence of T47D cells, growth pattern, cancer markers and estradiol responsiveness. Histopathological analyses demonstrated an identical pattern of growth between the breast cancer cells injected ex vivo and in vivo. Interestingly, clusters of cancer cells in the mammary gland stroma appeared similar to those observed in human breast tumors. The injected T47D cells survived and proliferated for 15 days maintaining expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and aromatase. The aromatase-overexpressing T47D grown in the BCa-MMOC sufficiently metabolized estrogen, resulting in enhanced cell proliferation, induction of estrogen target genes (i.e. ER and PR-B), and showed typical changes to estrogenic milieu. In summary, here we show a novel, inexpensive ex vivo model, to potentially study the effects of therapeutic agents on cancer cells grown in an orthotopic micromilieu.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Abstract 2580: Induction of estrogen receptor alpha by GW9662 sensitizes mammary glands to tamoxifen treatment in organ culture

Abstract Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARδ) are ligand activated nuclear receptor and binds to natural and synthetic ligands. Earlier we had reported that PPARδ agonist troglitazone inhibited the development of precancerous lesions induced by DMBA in mouse mammary gland organ culture (MMOC). In the present study we evaluated the effects of PPARδ agonist GW7845 and antagonist GW9662 on the development of 7,12 dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary alveolar lesions (MAL) in ER negative mammary glands in MMOC. The results showed that both GW7845 and GW9662 inhibited development of ER- MAL in MMOC. Since PPARδ and ER cross talk has been reported in the literature, we determined the effects of GW9662 on the induction of ER and PR in this model. Real-time PCR studies and immunohistochemical analyses showed that GW9662 induced ERα in the absence of estradiol, whereas GW7845 did not induce ERα under these conditions. Both GW7845 and GW9662 failed to suppress mRNA expression of PPARδ in the mammary glands that are otherwise ER negative. However GW9662 suppressed the expression of PPARδ response genes adipsin and aP2. Conversely, GW7845 an agonist of PPARδ enhanced the expression of aP2 and adipsin. These results suggested that the effects of these agents are mediated by PPARδ in MMOC. Finally, Tamoxifen does not inhibit MAL in MMOC, however sequential treatments with GW9662 followed by Tamoxifen suppressed development of DMBA-induced MAL in these glands. Since the ER negative breast cancer patients are generally not treated with SERM, inducing ERα in the mammary cells by GW9662 possibly could make them responsive to Tamoxifen or other SERM. [This work was supported by N01 CN433303] Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2580. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2580

Bioassay Methods useful to select the natural product cancer chemopreventive agents

Prevention of malignant disease such as cancer is obviously much more important than therapy, so primary prevention tactics should be invoked with the greatest possible effort. Because delaying a disease such as cancer is somehow equivalent to cure and it is now generally accepted that cancer can be managed through chemopreventive interventions. Since a considerable number of known cancer chemopreventive agents are naturally occuring, it is reasonable to assume that additional entities with desirable preventive activities exist in nature. In the field of cancer chemoprevention, definition of the best bioassay system remains subjective. Use of in vitro assays permits the identification of a suitable number of lead starting materials. Assays that are suitable for monitoring inhibition of carcinogenesis at the stages of initiation (antioxidant activity, antimutagenic activity, induction of quinone reductase activity in cell culture), promotion (inhibition of phorbol ester-induced ornithin decarboxylase activity in cell culture, inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity), and progression (induction of cell differentiation, anti-estrogenic activity) and inhibition of protein kinase C, are established. Unfortunately, animal models or in vitro test systems cannot be used to select a useful component due to logistical constraints, and it is virtually impossible for in vitro test system to fully epitomize the biological intricacies of a mammal. Thus, as an intermediate solution, a mouse gland organ culture model or rat tracheal epithelial cells are primarily employed for secondary evaluation. Prophylactic cancer chemoprevention in general population is fraught with logistical problems, but due to the magnitude of potential benefits, it is imperative to continue movement in this direction. Several assays are established for monitoring inhibition of carcinogenesis at different stages. The active plant extracts are selected in this procedure. Since the animal models or in vitro test systems cannot fully epitomize the biological system of a mammal, a mouse mammary gland organ culture or rat tracheal epitelial cell are employed for secondary evaluation.

A 28-Amino-Acid Peptide Fragment of the Cupredoxin Azurin Prevents Carcinogen-Induced Mouse Mammary Lesions

Azurin, a member of the cupredoxin family of redox proteins, preferentially penetrates human cancer cells and exerts cytostatic and apoptotic effects. Azurin and amino acids 50-77 (p28) of azurin also produce a dose-dependent reduction in the proliferation of human mammary cancer by increasing the level of the tumor suppressor protein p53 in the cancer cell nucleus. We show that the development of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hormone-dependent premalignant mammary ductal lesions and hormone-independent mammary alveolar lesions in mouse mammary gland organ culture is also significantly reduced by azurin and p28. The dose-dependent reduction in carcinogen-induced mammary cell proliferation by p28 was associated with an increase in the expression of p53. p28 also enhanced the inhibitory effect of a low dose of the antiestrogen tamoxifen on the development of hormone-dependent mammary ductal lesions, but did not enhance the inhibitory activity of fenretinide (N-4-hydroxyphenyl retinamide) on hormone-independent mammary alveolar lesions. These observations suggest that cupredoxins and fragments derived from them can exert a chemopreventive effect on carcinogen-induced mammary gland transformation, irrespective of hormonal environment, and enhance the inhibitory effects of tamoxifen in this model of preneoplastic mammary development.

Efficacy of Chemopreventive Agents in Mouse Mammary Gland Organ Culture (MMOC) Model: A Comprehensive Review

Currently, breast cancer is considered as one of the leading causes for death in women in the United States. Consumption of natural products has received considerable attention in recent years as a possible approach for cancer prevention in general population. There are numerous cancer preventive agents present in the natural products, which may contribute to their chemopreventive properties. During the past two decades, numerous chemopreventive agents have been isolated and/or synthesized and evaluated for their efficacy in a variety of biological assays. To this end, we have established and utilized mouse mammary gland organ culture model (MMOC) as a bioassay for identifying chemopreventive agents. Mammary glands respond to growth promoting hormones and the physiological differentiation can be reproduced in MMOC in chemically defined medium by altering hormonal milieu. Both estrogen and progesterone dependent (mammary ductal lesions, MDL) and independent (mammary alveolar lesions, MAL) precancerous lesions can be induced in response to a 24 hour exposure to DMBA in MMOC. Suppression of the incidence and multiplicity of these lesions by a possible chemopreventive agent can serve as a tool to evaluate efficacy of potential experimental agents. Using this approach, we have evaluated more than 200 synthetic and natural product-derived chemopreventive agents in this model as a part of the National Cancer Institute-supported projects. Many of these chemopreventive agents expressing significant activity have progressed to the in vivo experimental mammary carcinogenesis studies. Thus, this bioassay has proven to be a valuable tool for screening cancer chemopreventive agents for breast cancer prevention and for understanding molecular mechanism(s) of action of these agents. In this comprehensive review, we provide a complete list of chemopreventive agents evaluated for the efficacy against development of mammary alveolar lesions (MAL) in MMOC along with the recent developments in this area. The structure-activity relationships for many chemopreventive agents evaluated in the MMOC model have been discussed.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 is a natural chemopreventive agent against carcinogen induced precancerous lesions in mouse mammary gland organ culture

Despite the role of vitamin D(3) endocrine system in prevention of mammary gland transformation in animal models, use of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3 )in clinical settings is precluded due to its toxicity in vivo. Therefore much effort has been placed in developing relatively non-toxic vitamin D analogs. Recently, with the discovery of the expression of 25-hydroxy vitamin D(3) 1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) in multiple extrarenal organs, the functional role of prohormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) [25(OH)D(3)], has been redefined. Since 25(OH)D(3) does not cause hypercalcemia and maintains relative high concentration in serum, it is possible that the prohormone can be converted to active hormone in mammary epithelial cells to provide chemopreventive effects. In the present study, we evaluated its functional significance using mouse mammary organ culture (MMOC) system. We first showed that 25(OH)D(3) 1alpha-hydroxylase is extensively expressed in mammary ductal epithelial cells at both protein and mRNA levels, which is a prerequisite for 25(OH)D(3) to function in an autocrine/paracrine manner. However, we also observed that clotrimazol (1alpha-hydroxylase inhibitor) enhanced 25(OH)D(3) -induced CYP24 expression in breast cancer cells. In mammary glands derived from 1alpha-hydroxylase knockout mice, 25(OH)D(3) treatment in organ culture significantly induced CYP24 expression, indicating a potential direct effect of 25(OH)D(3). In MMOC, 100-250 nM 25(OH)D(3) suppressed both ovarian hormone-dependent and -independent mammary precancerous lesions (induced by DMBA) by more than 50%, while the active hormone 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (positive control) at 100 nM suppressed alveolar lesions by more than 80%. The inactive vitamin D(3) (negative control) at 100 nM suppressed alveolar lesions by only 20% (P>0.05). We found that 25(OH)D(3) inhibits DMBA-induced mammary alveolar lesions (MAL) in a stage-specific manner: 25(OH)D(3) mainly inhibits the promotion stage of lesion formation. We conclude that 25(OH)D(3) could serve as a non-toxic natural chemopreventive agent for further development for breast cancer prevention.

TERT mRNA expression is Up-regulated in MCF-7 cells and a mouse mammary organ culture (MMOC) system by endosulfan treatment

Endosulfan is one of the organochlorine pesticides, which are well-known endocrine disruptors (EDs), and it acts as an estrogen agonist. Estrogen is a group of hormones that play an important role in mammary gland function and are implicated in mammary carcinogenesis. In the present study, we studied the effects of endosulfan on nodule like alveolar lesion (NLAL) formation in mouse mammary gland development using a mouse mammary gland organ culture (MMOC) system. Although endosulfan-treated mammary glands did not form NLALs, more alveolar buds were formed in this group than in the negative control (vehicle-treated) group. In addition, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA expression levels were increased in endosulfan-treated mammary glands in a dose-dependent manner. Telomerase can be activated by estrogen, therefore, we examined the effects of endosulfan on telomerase activity, and found that the telomerase activity in estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells was up-regulated by endosulfan treatment. Moreover, this activation was accompanied by the up-regulation of the TERT mRNA expression. Also, transient expression assays using CAT reporter plasmids containing various fragments of the TERT promoter showed that this imperfect palindromic estrogen-responsive element is almost certainly responsible for the transcriptional activation by endosulfan. These results may help elucidate the endocrine disrupting mechanism of endosulfan.

Chemoprevention of mammary carcinogenesis by 1α-hydroxyvitamin D 5, a synthetic analog of Vitamin D

Numerous analogs of Vitamin D have been synthesized in recent years with the hope of generating a compound that retains the anticarcinogenic activity of Vitamin D without causing any toxicity. We synthesized such an analog, 1α-hydroxy-24-ethylcholecalciferol [1α-hydroxyvitamin D 5 or 1α(OH)D 5], and showed that it was tolerated by rats and mice at a much higher dose than 1α,25 dihydroxy cholecalciferol [1α,25(OH) 2D 3]. This property makes it a prime candidate for chemoprevention studies. In the mouse mammary gland organ culture (MMOC), 1α(OH)D 5 inhibited carcinogen-induced development of both mammary alveolar and ductal lesions. In vivo carcinogenesis study showed statistically significant reduction of tumor incidence and multiplicity in N-methyl- N-nitrosourea (MNU)-treated rats that were fed 25–50 μg 1α(OH)D 5/kg diet. There were no adverse effects on plasma calcium concentrations. In order to determine if the effect of 1α(OH)D 5 would be selective in suppressing proliferation of transformed cells, its effects on cell growth and proliferation were compared between BT474 (cancer) and MCF12F (non-tumorigenic) human breast epithelial cells. Results showed that 1α(OH)D 5 induced apoptosis and cell cycle G1 phase arrest in BT474 breast cancer cells without having any effects on proliferation of the MCF12F cells. In addition, in MMOC it had no growth inhibitory effects on normal epithelial cell proliferation in the absence of carcinogen. Similarly, non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial cells in explant culture did not respond to 1α(OH)D 5, whereas treatment with 1α(OH)D 5 induced cell death in the explants of cancer tissue. These results collectively indicate that 1α(OH)D 5 selectively induced apoptosis only in transformed cells but not in normal breast epithelial cells. Interestingly, the growth inhibitory effects of 1α(OH)D 5 were observed in Vitamin D receptor positive (VDR +) breast cancer cells, but not in highly metastatic VDR − breast cancer cells, such as MDA-MB-435 and MDA-MB-231, suggesting that 1α(OH)D 5 action may be mediated, in part, by VDR.

Isolation and potential cancer chemopreventive activities of phenolic compounds of beer

Beer contains a variety of phenolic compounds. During the brewing process, some of these compounds are removed by polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) to prevent haze formation. We have analyzed the phytochemical composition of a PVPP residue as well as of unstabilized beer and isolated a total of 51 compounds. Eight structures were identified as novel, i.e., 2-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (6), 2′-(4″-hydroxyphenyl)isoferulic acid ester (12), 1,2,5,7-tetrahydroxyanthraquinone (23) and 4,7-dihydroxy-5-(2′,4′,6′-trihydroxyphenyl)-indan-1,2-dione (24) from the PVPP residue, and catechin-7-O-β-(6″-O-nicotinoyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (41), ent-epigallo-catechin-(4αto8, 2αtoOto7)catechin (44), ent-epigallocatechin (4αto6, 2αtoOto7)catechin (45) and 2,3-cis-3,4-trans-2-[2,3-trans-3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavan-8-yl]-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)3,5,7-trihydroxybenzopyran (46) from the unstabilized beer. Most of the compounds were tested for potential cancer chemopreventive activities in in vitro test systems detecting a modulation of carcinogen metabolism (inhibition of phase 1 cytochrome P450 1A (Cyp1A) activity, induction of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (QR) activity) and anti-inflammatory mechanisms (inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), inhibition of cyclooxygenase 1 (Cox-1) activity). 1,2,5,7-Tetrahydroxyanthraquinone (23) and xanthohumol (25), a prenylated chalcone derived from hop, were identified as the most potent compounds and were additionally tested for inhibition of chemically-induced preneoplastic lesions in an ex vivo mouse mammary gland organ culture model (MMOC). Importantly, both agents inhibited lesion formation with halfmaximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 0.1 and 0.02 μM, respectively. Our results demonstrate that beer is an interesting source of potential cancer chemopreventive agents and should be further investigated with this respect.

Evaluation of Selected Chemopreventive Agents Present in Common Foods in Mouse Mammary Gland Organ Culture

Prevention of cancer by natural and synthetic non-toxic chemopreventive agents has become a major research area in the past 15 years. The naturally occurring chemopreventive agents from the herbal medicine and edible plants can be evaluated in a variety of bioassays and identified for their activity as cancer preventive agents. We have adapted a mouse mammary gland organ culture assay (MMOC) for evaluating chemically pure chemopreventive agents for their activity to inhibit 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)induced mammary alveolar lesions (MAL). Here, we report a list of 32 agents that are found in the herbs or edible foods and showing inhibition of more than 55% in MMOC. From the studies reported in the literature it appears that there is a good correlation between the effects in MMOC and effects observed with in vivo carcinogenesis models. Recently, we have modified the MMOC assay to evaluate efficacy of chemopreventive agents specifically the ones that may have anti-estrogenic activity. Thus, MMOC provides a valuable tool for preliminary evaluation of chemopreventive agents prior to conducting a long-term animal carcinogenesis studies.

A CORRELATIVE STUDY ON ANTIMUTAGENIC AND CHEMOPREVENTIVE ACTIVITY OF ACACIA AURICULIFORMIS A. CUNN. AND ACACIA NILOTICA (L.) WILLD. EX DEL

The present study provides a correlation of the antimutagenic and chemopreventive activity of the barks of two commonly observed plants viz. Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia nilotica. We used the Ames antimutagenicity assay and the mouse mammary gland organ culture (MMOC) model. The plants were extracted with organic solvents to obtain chloroform fractions and acetone extracts. The antimutagenic activity was determined in two different strains using both direct-acting [4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD) or sodium azide] and indirect-acting [2-aminofluorene (2AF)] mutagens. The anticarcinogenic activity was evaluated based on the development of preneoplastic lesions in response to the chemical carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). The results showed that the activity resulting from the 2AF mutagen was selectively greater than the activity from the direct-acting mutagens. Moreover, in general, acetone extracts were more potent in suppressing mutagenesis than the chloroform extracts. The antimutagenicity results obtained with extracts using the 2AF – TA100 system were comparable to the chemopreventive results with DMBA-induced mammary lesions. The order of activity in both tests was A. nilotica > A. auriculiformis. These results exhibited a good correlation between the antimutagenesis assay and the MMOC model, suggesting that these plants may contain active chemopreventive agents.

Induction of Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia in Mouse Mammary Gland Organ Culture

Induction of Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia in Mouse Mammary Gland Organ Culture

Potential Cancer-Chemopreventive Activities of Wine Stilbenoids and Flavans Extracted From Grape (Vitis vinifera) Cell Cultures

Moderate consumption of wine is associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Grape plant cell cultures were used to purify 12 phenols: the stilbenoids trans-astringin, trans-piceid (2), trans-resveratroloside, trans-resveratrol, trans-piceatannol, cis-resveratroloside, cis-piceid, and cis-resveratrol; the flavans (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, and epicatechin 3′-O-gallate; and the flavan dimer procyanidin B'2 3′-O-gallate. These compounds were evaluated for potential to inhibit cyclooxygenases and preneoplastic lesion formation in carcinogen-treated mouse mammary glands in organ culture. At 10 μg/ml, trans-astringin and trans-piceatannol inhibited development of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced preneoplastic lesions in mouse mammary glands with 68.8% and 76.9% inhibition, respectively, compared with untreated glands. The latter compound was the most potent of the 12 compounds tested in this assay, with the exception of trans-resveratrol (87.5% inhibition). In the cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 assay, trans isomers of the stilbenoids appear to be more active than cis isomers: trans-resveratrol [50% inhibitory concentration (IC5050) = 14.9 μM, 96%] vs. cis-resveratrol (IC50 = 55.4 μM). In the COX-2 assay, among the compounds tested, only trans- and cis-resveratrol exhibited significant inhibitory activity (IC50 = 32.2 and 50.2 μM, respectively). This is the first report showing the potential cancer-chemopreventive activity of trans-astringin, a plant stilbenoid recently found in wine. trans-Astringin and its aglycone trans-piceatannol were active in the mouse mammary gland organ culture assay but did not exhibit activity in COX-1 and COX-2 assays. trans-Resveratrol was active in all three of the bioassays used in this investigation. These findings suggest that trans-astringin and trans-piceatannol may function as potential cancer-chemopreventive agents by a mechanism different from that of trans-resveratrol.

Prevention of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats by 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(5).

Although the active form of vitamin D, i.e., 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), is a potent cell-differentiating agent, its use in cancer prevention or therapy is precluded because it induces excessive blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia). However, less calcemic or noncalcemic synthetic analogues of vitamin D(3) are poorly effective against mammary carcinogenesis. We synthesized an analogue of vitamin D(5), 1alpha-hydroxy-24-ethylcholecalciferol (1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(5)), which was less calcemic than 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and prevented the development of precancerous lesions in mammary glands. Here, we evaluate its efficacy in an experimental rat mammary carcinogenesis model. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(5) beginning 2 weeks before carcinogen treatment. Animals received an intravenous injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea at 80 days of age and continued to receive dietary 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(5) for an additional 105 days. Tumor incidence and multiplicity were determined, and plasma concentrations of calcium and phosphorus were measured. The efficacy of 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(5) at different stages of carcinogenesis was determined in mouse mammary gland organ culture. All statistical tests were two-sided. The tumor incidence was reduced from 80% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 51.9%-95.7%) in control rats to 53.3% (95% CI = 26.6%-78.8%) and 46.6% (95% CI = 21.3%-73.4%) in rats treated with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(5) at 25 microg/kg diet and 50 microg/kg diet, respectively. The tumor multiplicity was reduced from 1.6 tumors per rat to 1.2 (95% CI for the difference = -0.45 to 1.25; P=.34) and 0.8 (95% CI for the difference = 0.14-1.46; P =.02), respectively. There was no statistically significant increase in the plasma calcium or phosphorus concentration at either dose level. The vitamin D(5) analogue was effective during both the initiation and the promotion stages of mammary lesion formation in organ culture. Our findings indicate that 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(5) reduces the incidence of mammary carcinogenesis in vivo. This analogue appears to be a good candidate for further development as a chemopreventive agent.

Experimental basis for the prevention of breast cancer

Cancer chemoprevention involves intervention in the carcinogenic process by a natural or synthetic chemical that either blocks neoplasia development or arrests malignant phenotype progression. The chemopreventive test agent must experimentally be established as safe before a clinical trial. In our laboratory, inhibition of carcinogen-induced development of precancerous lesions in the mouse mammary gland organ culture model is used as a primary screen to select chemopreventive agents for in vivo efficacy evaluation. A nearly 75% correlation apparently exists between the efficacy observed in vitro and in vivo carcinogenesis. For in vivo experiments, MNU- and DMBA-induced mammary tumours in rats are the models of choice. Numerous agents have been identified and progressed to preclinical toxicity and clinical trials. More recently, combination chemoprevention has received considerable attention, since no known chemopreventive agent sufficiently reduces tumour incidence in rats. The sequence of events for establishing the experimental basis for chemoprevention of breast cancer is described.

A ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, retinoids, and prevention of preneoplastic mammary lesions.

Chemoprevention of breast cancer is an active area of investigation. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that thiazolidinediones (e.g., troglitazone) and retinoids are able to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Troglitazone mediates its action via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). We evaluated the ability of troglitazone, alone or in combination with retinoids, to prevent the induction of preneoplastic lesions by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in a mouse mammary gland organ culture model. Mammary glands of BALB/c mice were treated with DMBA (2 microg/mL) to induce preneoplastic lesions in organ culture. Effects of troglitazone, all-trans-retinoic acid (retinoic acid; ligand for retinoic acid receptor [RAR] alpha), and LG10068 (ligand for retinoid X receptors [RXRs]), singly or in combination, on the development of lesions were evaluated. Expression of retinoid receptors (RARalpha and RXRalpha) and PPARgamma was determined by western blot analysis. Statistical significance was determined by generalized chi-squared analysis using the GENCAT software program and Bonferroni correction. All P values are two-sided. Troglitazone (at 10(-5) M) or retinoic acid (at 10(-6) M) markedly inhibited the development of mammary lesions (both P values <.05); however, together they did not enhance the effectiveness of the other. In contrast, LG10068 (at 10(-7) M or 10(-8) M) alone had very little ability to inhibit development of these lesions, but a combination of LG10068 (at 10(-8) M) and troglitazone (at 10(-5) M or 10(-6) M) almost completely inhibited (by 85% and 100%, respectively; both P values <. 05) the development of mammary lesions. The expression of PPARgamma and RXRalpha remained unchanged with the various treatments, whereas the expression of RARalpha was substantially reduced after treatment with the combination of retinoic acid and troglitazone. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the possibility of a PPARgamma ligand having chemopreventive activity. Furthermore, an RXR-selective retinoid, LG10068, appears to enhance this activity.

Inhibitory effect of munetone, an isoflavonoid, on 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity

Starting with an extract derived from the bark of Mundulea sericea Willd. (Leguminosae) that was active in the process of inhibiting 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity (ODC) in cultured mouse epidermal ME 308 cells, the isoflavonoid munetone was isolated and identified as an active principle (IC 50 = 46 ng/ml). Topical application of munetone (0.04–5 μmol) to the skin of CD-1 mice 2 h prior to treatment with TPA (10 nmol) resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of epidermal ODC activity. In addition, munetone inhibited TPA-independent c-Myc-induced ODC activity with cultured BALB/c c-MycER cells, as well as 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced preneoplastic lesion formation in a mouse mammary gland organ culture (MMOC) system. These data suggest the potential of munetone to serve as a cancer chemopreventive agent by virtue of blocking the process of tumor promotion.

Antimutagenic Constituents of Casimiroa edulis with Potential Cancer Chemopreventive Activity

An ethyl acetate extract derived from the seeds of the medicinal and food plant Casimiroa edulis inhibited mutagenicity induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) with Salmonella typhimurium strain TM677. It also showed complete inhibition of DMBA-induced preneoplastic lesions with an in vitro mouse mammary gland organ culture system at a concentration of 10 μg/mL. Bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of this extract using antimutagenicity as a monitor led to the isolation of four furocoumarins, constituted by the known compounds phellopterin (1) and isopimpinellin (2) and the novel compounds (R,S)-5-methoxy-8-[(6,7-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2-octenyl)oxy]psoralen (3) and (R,S)-8-[(6,7-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2-octenyl)oxy]psoralen (4). Four known alkaloids, casimiroin (5), 4-methoxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone (6), 5-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-phenyl-4-quinolone (7), and γ-fagarine (8), and two known flavonoids, zapotin (9) and 5,6,2‘-trimethoxyflavone (10), were also isolated. Of these isolates, compounds 3 and 5 showed the most potent antimutagenic effects in the forward mutagen assay utilizing S. typhimurium strain TM677, whereas casimiroin (5) and 5,6,2‘-trimethoxyflavone (10) significantly inhibited the formation of DMBA-induced preneoplastic lesions in mouse mammary gland organ culture. Keywords: Casimiroa edulis; Rutaceae; furocoumarins; (R,S)-5-methoxy-8-[(6,7-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2-octenyl)oxy]psoralen; (R,S)-8-[(6,7-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2-octenyl)oxy]psoralen; alkaloids; flavonoids; antimutagens; mouse mammary organ culture assay; cancer chemoprevention

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Potential of Natural Products

Since reactive oxygen radicals play an important role in carcinogenesis and other human disease states, antioxidants present in consumable fruits, vegetables, and beverages have received considerable attention as cancer chemopreventive agents. Thus, in order to identify antioxidants in plant extracts, test materials were assessed for potential to scavenge stable 1,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals, reduce TPA-induced free radical formation in cultured HL-60 human leukemia cells, and inhibit responses observed with a xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay system. Approximately 700 plant extracts were evaluated, and 28 were found to be active in the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Based on secondary analyses performed to assess inhibition of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced preneoplastic lesion formation with a mouse mammary organ culture model, Chorizanthe diffusa Benth. (Polygonaceae), Mezoneuron cucullatum Roxb. (Leguminosae), Cerbera manghas L. (Apocynaceae) and Daphniphyllum calycinum Benth. (Daphniphyllaceae) were selected and subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation. 5,7,3',5'-Tetrahydroxy-8,4'-dimethoxyflavonol, 5,8,4'-trihydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyflavonol, 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavonol, and 6,3',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavonol were identified as active principles from C. diffusa. Piceatannol, trans-resveratrol, apigenin and scirpusin A were found as the active principles of M. cucullatum, olivil, (-)-carinol, and (+)-cycloolivil were active principles from C. manghas, and 5,6,7,4'-tetrahydroxyflavone 3-O-rutinoside and kaempferol 3-O-neohesperidoside were active principles from D. calycinum. Of these substances, the hydroxystilbenes piceatannol and transresveratrol have thus far been shown to inhibit carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesion formation in the mouse mammary gland organ culture model.