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Updated: Mar 2, 2026
An Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model for Gene Delivery Studies
Published on: December 1, 2013
Garlic extract in bladder cancer prevention: Evidence from T24 bladder cancer cell xenograft model, tissue
Won Tae Kim1, Sung-Pil Seo2, Young Joon Byun1
1Department of Urology, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
There is a growing interest in the use of naturally occurring agents in cancer prevention. This study investigated the garlic extract affects in bladder cancer (BC) prevention. The effect of garlic extract in cancer prevention was evaluated using the T24 BC BALB/C-nude mouse xenograft model. Microarray analysis of tissues was performed to identify differences in gene expression between garlic extract intake and control diet, and gene network analysis was performed to assess candidate mechanisms of action. Furthermore, we investigated the expression value of selected genes in the data of 165 BC patients. Compared to the control group, significant differences in tumor volume and tumor weight were observed in the groups fed 20 mg/kg (p<0.05), 200 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg of garlic extract (p<0.01). Genes (645) were identified as cancer prevention-related genes (fold change >2 and p<0.05) by tissue microarray analysis. A gene network analysis of 279 of these genes (p<0.01) was performed using Cytoscape/ClueGo software: 36 genes and 37 gene ontologies were mapped to gene networks. Protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway including AKAP12, RDX, and RAB13 genes were identified as potential mechanisms for the activity of garlic extract in cancer prevention. In BC patients, AKAP12 and RDX were decreased but, RAB13 was increased. Oral garlic extract has strong cancer prevention activity in vivo and an acceptable safety profile. PKA signaling process, especially increasing AKAP12 and RDX and decreasing RAB13, are candidate pathways that may mediate this prevention effect.
Insights
Garlic extract shows significant bladder cancer prevention in mice by affecting tumor growth. Key genes in the Protein Kinase A (PKA) pathway were identified as potential mechanisms for this effect.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- There is increasing interest in natural compounds for cancer prevention.
- Bladder cancer (BC) remains a significant health concern globally.
- Garlic is a widely consumed natural product with potential chemopreventive properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of garlic extract in preventing bladder cancer (BC).
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying garlic extract's chemopreventive effects.
- To validate findings in a human BC patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a T24 bladder cancer BALB/C-nude mouse xenograft model to assess garlic extract's in vivo effects.
- Performed microarray analysis to identify differentially expressed genes related to cancer prevention.
- Conducted gene network analysis and validated key gene expression in 165 BC patients.
Main Results:
- Garlic extract significantly reduced tumor volume and weight in mice across multiple dosages (20, 200, 1000 mg/kg).
- Identified 645 cancer prevention-related genes and mapped 36 genes and 37 ontologies to networks via gene analysis.
- The Protein Kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, involving AKAP12, RDX, and RAB13 genes, emerged as a potential mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Oral garlic extract demonstrates potent in vivo anticancer activity against bladder cancer with a good safety profile.
- The PKA signaling pathway, specifically modulation of AKAP12, RDX, and RAB13 expression, is a candidate mechanism for garlic's chemopreventive action.
- Observed differential expression of AKAP12, RDX, and RAB13 in human BC patients supports their role in the disease and potential therapeutic targeting.
