Systemically Administered D-allose Inhibits the Tumor Energy Pathway and Exerts Synergistic Effects With Radiation

Abstract

Background/aim: The present study investigated the anticancer effects of intraperitoneally administered D-allose in in vivo models of head and neck cancer cell lines.

Materials and methods: To assess the direct effects of D-allose, its dynamics in blood and tumor tissues were examined.

Results: D-allose was detected in blood and tumor tissues 10 min after its intraperitoneal administration and then gradually decreased. In vivo experiments revealed that radiation plus D-allose was more effective than either treatment alone. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) mRNA over-expression was detected after the addition of D-allose in in vitro and in vivo experiments. D-allose inhibited cell growth, which was associated with decreases in glycolysis and intracellular ATP levels and the prolonged activation of AMPK. The phosphorylation of p38-MAPK was also observed early after the administration of D-allose and was followed by the activation of AMPK and up-regulated expression of TXNIP in both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Conclusion: Systemically administered D-allose appears to exert antitumor effects. Further studies are needed to clarify the appropriate dosage and timing of the administration of D-allose and its combination with other metabolic agents.

Keywords: AMPK; D-allose; TXNIP; glycolytic system; head and neck cancer.