Chemoprevention of intestinal tumorigenesis in APCmin/+ mice by silibinin

Cancer Res. 2010 Mar 15;70(6):2368-78. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3249. Epub 2010 Mar 9.

Abstract

Chemoprevention is a practical and translational approach to reduce the risk of various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC), which is a major cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Accordingly, here we assessed chemopreventive efficacy and associated mechanisms of long-term silibinin feeding on spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in the APC(min/+) mice model. Six-week-old APC(min/+) mice were p.o. fed with vehicle control (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose and 0.025% Tween 20 in distilled water) or 750 mg silibinin/kg body weight in vehicle for 5 d/wk for 13 weeks and then sacrificed. Silibinin feeding strongly prevented intestinal tumorigenesis in terms of polyp formation in proximal, middle, and distal portions of small intestine by 27% (P < 0.001), 34% (P < 0.001), and 49% (P < 0.001), respectively. In colon, we observed 55% (P < 0.01) reduction in number of polyps by silibinin treatment. In size distribution analysis, silibinin showed significant decrease in large-size polyps (>3 mm) by 66% (P < 0.01) and 88% (P < 0.001) in middle and distal portions of small intestine, respectively. More importantly, silibinin caused a complete suppression in >3 mm sized polyps and 92% reduction in >2 to 3 mm sized polyps in colon. Molecular analyses of polyps suggested that silibinin exerts its chemopreventive efficacy by inhibiting cell proliferation, inflammation, and angiogenesis; inducing apoptosis; decreasing beta-catenin levels and transcriptional activity; and modulating the expression profile of cytokines. These results show for the first time the efficacy and associated mechanisms of long-term p.o. silibinin feeding against spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in the APC(min/+) mice model, suggesting its chemopreventive potential against intestinal cancers including CRC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Growth Processes / drug effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Cyclin D1 / biosynthesis
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / biosynthesis
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Intestinal Polyps / drug therapy
  • Intestinal Polyps / metabolism
  • Intestinal Polyps / pathology
  • Intestine, Small / metabolism
  • Intestine, Small / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Silybin
  • Silymarin / administration & dosage
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Silymarin
  • beta Catenin
  • Cyclin D1
  • Silybin
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Dinoprostone