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Non-invasive Assessment of the Efficacy of New Therapeutics for Intestinal Pathologies Using Serial Endoscopic Imaging of Live Mice
Published on: March 10, 2015
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Therapeutic effects of the euglenoid ichthyotoxin, euglenophycin, in colon cancer
April B Cabang1, Keya De Mukhopadhyay1, Sarah Meyers2
1Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Oncotarget
|December 22, 2017
Summary
Euglenophycin, a microalgal toxin, shows significant potential as a novel anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) agent. This natural compound effectively inhibits CRC cell growth and reduces tumor size in vivo, offering a promising new avenue for cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Marine natural products chemistry
- Cancer biology
- Drug discovery
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality, with drug resistance presenting a significant clinical challenge.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to overcome treatment resistance in CRC.
- Aquatic microorganisms represent an underexplored source for discovering new anti-cancer agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) potential of euglenophycin, a toxin derived from the microalga *Euglena sanguinea*.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying euglenophycin's anti-cancer effects.
- To evaluate euglenophycin's anti-tumorigenic activity in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of euglenophycin's cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, anti-clonogenic, and anti-migration effects on human CRC cell lines (HCT116, HT29, SW620).
- Analysis of cell cycle progression and autophagy modulation in response to euglenophycin treatment.
- Assessment of euglenophycin's anti-tumor efficacy in a mouse CRC xenograft model via intraperitoneal administration.
Main Results:
- Euglenophycin exhibited significant cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, anti-clonogenic, and anti-migration effects against CRC cells.
- Growth inhibition was mediated by G1 cell cycle arrest and context-dependent modulation of autophagy.
- In vivo studies demonstrated that euglenophycin administration reduced xenograft tumor volumes and was associated with decreased mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) expression and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Conclusions:
- Euglenophycin is a promising candidate for anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy, targeting multiple cancer-promoting pathways.
- The study highlights the therapeutic potential of freshwater microalgal compounds for cancer treatment.
- Further development of euglenophycin could lead to novel strategies for combating drug-resistant CRC.
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