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Member of Vit E Family Kills Prostate Cancer Stem Cells
Posted July 30, 2010
Gamma-Tocotrienol Kills Prostate Cancer Stem Cells
SINGAPORE, July 26 /PRNewswire-Asia-AsiaNet/ --
Latest study reveals that gamma-tocotrienol is effective in
targeting prostate cancer stem cells, offering a potential
means to prevent cancer growth and disease relapse.
Scientists from Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong have
found that gamma-tocotrienol is potent in killing prostate
cancer stem cells. This small group of cells is responsible for
the initiation of prostate cancer and is resistant to
conventional chemotherapy drugs. It causes relapses in the
cancer by producing new chemo-resistant cancer cells.
Gamma-tocotrienol is a member of the Vitamin E family and is
derived naturally from palm oil. This study aimed to find a way
to eradicate prostate cancer stem cells. It follows an earlier
report that demonstrated the effectiveness of gamma-tocotrienol
in targeting the bulk of the prostate tumour mass. This latest
finding highlights the considerable potential of
gamma-tocotrienol as a natural remedy to prevent and treat
prostate cancer.
This research study involves collaboration between
scientists at Davos Life Science (Singapore) and researchers at
Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre -- Queensland and
The Hong Kong University. The findings were reported in the
latest edition of the International Journal of Cancer (IJC).
The scientists found that low doses of gamma-tocotrienol
cause apoptosis in the prostate cancer stem cells and suppress
their colony formation capability. This results in a lower
prostate cancer stem cell population (as defined by the protein
markers CD133 and CD44).
Further tests in mice models were conducted, where mice
implanted with hormonal refractory prostate cancer cells were
given gamma-tocotrienol orally. The results showed that
gamma-tocotrienol not only reduced tumour size formed, but also
decreased the incidence rate of tumour formation by 75%, as
compared to the control group of mice, which had 100% tumour
formation. These results strongly suggest that
gamma-tocotrienol could be developed for prostate cancer
prevention and treatment. "Current chemotherapy drugs, such as
Docetaxel, have limited effect on prostate cancer stem cells,
although they are currently the first-line drug given to
patients with advanced hormonal refractory prostate cancer.
This study shows that gamma-tocotrienol is effective in
preventing the formation of prostate tumours in mice models.
The key compound involves the use of a natural product,
gamma-tocotrienol, which is found in edible plant oils, thereby
minimising potential adverse side effects," said Dr. Daniel
Yap, one of the leading scientists for the study and Head of
Research & Development at Davos Life Science. "As
gamma-tocotrienol has shown positive results in removing the
stubborn prostate cancer stem cells, it should be investigated
as a more effective form of treatment strategy to achieve what
conventional chemotherapy drug has failed to do -- to keep the
disease in remission state."
"These results provide a compelling case for developing the
potential of gamma-tocotrienols to help patients with terminal
hormonal refractory prostate cancer. The prospects of future
studies on the cancer-fighting effects of gamma-tocotrienols
are exciting indeed and we see increasing research interest by
scientists in this area," said Mr. Arthur Ling, CEO of Davos
Life Science Singapore.
SOURCE Davos Life Science
© 2010 Asia Pulse Pte Ltd.
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