Ironjustic
Mon, Nov-05-07, 06:15
Newswise - Two common dietary molecules found in legumes and
bran could protect DNA from the harmful effects of radiation,
researchers from the University of Maryland report. Inositol
and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) protected both human skin
cells and a skin cancer- prone mouse from exposure to
ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, the damaging radiation found in
sunlight, the team reported today at the American Association
for Cancer Research Centennial Conference on Translational
Cancer Medicine.
According to the researchers, inositol and IP6 could decrease
the severity of side effects from radiation therapy, saving
healthy cells while simultaneously increasing the potency of
the treatment against cancer cells. Both molecules are potent
antioxidants, the Maryland researchers say, capable of
preventing reactive molecules from injuring DNA and turning
cells cancerous.
"Both of these potent antioxidants have been shown to have
broad- spectrum anti-tumor capabilities, and now our studies
confirm the degree to which these molecules protect against
the DNA-damaging effects of ionizing radiation," said
Abulkalam M. Shamsuddin, M.D., professor of pathology at the
University of Maryland School of Medicine. "Radiation damage
is radiation damage, regardless of the source, so there could
also be a protective role for IP6 in any form of radiation
exposure, whether it is from a therapeutic dose or from solar,
cosmic or nuclear sources."
While both inositol and IP6 are related to B vitamins, they
are not considered essential dietary nutrients. In the 1980s,
however, researchers discovered that these molecules, abundant
within the hulls of seeds and grains, had definitive
protective effects against colorectal cancer.
Inspired by reports of a clinical trial begun in 2001 at
Clinical Hospital in Split, Croatia, which suggested IP6
enhanced the effectiveness of radiotherapy while lessening the
side effects, Shamsuddin and his colleagues sought to
investigate the extent of the protective properties of these
molecules. With funding from IP-6 Research, Inc., a company
formed by Shamsuddin, the researchers began a study to
determine how human skin cells responded to UVB radiation when
dosed with IP6.
Normally, cells permanently damaged by radiation undergo a
genetically programmed process of cell suicide, called
apoptosis. Shamsuddin reports that UVB-irradiated human
keratinocytes, when treated with IP6, were more likely to
survive. Untreated skin cells were more likely to undergo
apoptosis, indicating that the DNA in those cells was
damaged irreparably and fatally. According to Shamsuddin,
the treated cells take an extended pause at the point in the
cellular life cycle where innate mechanisms repair DNA
before the cell divides.
"IP6 certainly has some interactivity with DNA, but how
exactly it works to repair DNA is still something of a
mystery. There are reports that IP6 binds with DNA repair
molecule Ku to bring about the repair process," Shamsuddin
said. "More importantly, we still don't know how IP6 can
appear to help healthy cells live while also enhancing the
ability of radiation to kill cancer cells."
Shamsuddin and his team found that when mice engineered to be
prone to skin cancer were given drinking water containing a
two-percent solution of IP6, they were much less likely to
develop tumors. Twenty- three percent of treated mice
developed tumors, compared to 51 percent of untreated, or
control mice, which developed tumors. Moreover, the mice in
the treated group that did develop cancer had only half as
many tumors as the control mice.
Similarly, Shamsuddin saw that mice treated with a topical
cream containing four percent IP6 plus one percent inositol
were also less likely to develop tumors. When they
administered the cream an hour before UVB irradiation akin to
sun exposure, 62 percent of the treated mice developed tumors
compared to 76 percent of the control mice. According to
Shamsuddin, their findings indicate that either topical or
ingested IP6 might confer protection against ionizing
radiation.
Ionizing radiation occurs in the environment in many forms,
originating from both natural and human-contrived sources. In
humans, exposure to ionizing radiation occurs primarily
through therapeutic techniques (such as anticancer
radiotherapy), and sunbathing. Astronauts, pilots and
passengers of high-altitude aircraft also are inordinately
exposed to solar radiation. Such radiation exposures have a
cumulative effect, increasing the chances of developing cancer
over time, researchers say. "It is possible that people
regularly exposed to ionizing radiation, such as airline
pilots, frequent fliers or people who handle radioactive
materials, might take IP6 prophylactically to prevent possible
long term effects of exposure," Shamsuddin said.
According to Shamsuddin, IP6 could also offer protection
against accidents or purposeful incidents involving nuclear
material. "It could also be advisable to use IP6 plus inositol
as a cautionary treatment following a nuclear disaster or
dirty bomb," Shamsuddin said.
The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is
to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the
world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated
to advancing cancer research. The membership includes nearly
26,000 basic, translational, and clinical researchers; health
care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the
United States and more than 70 other countries. AACR marshals
the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to
accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment
of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational
programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants.
The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 participants
who share the latest discoveries and developments in the
field. Special Conferences throughout the year present novel
data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research,
treatment, and patient care. AACR publishes five major
peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer
Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer
Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Its most recent publication, CR, is a magazine for cancer
survivors, patient advocates, their families, physicians, and
scientists. It provides a forum for sharing essential,
evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in
cancer research, survivorship, and advocacy.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, or A*STAR, is
Singapore's lead agency for fostering world-class scientific
research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore.
A*STAR actively nurtures public sector research and
development in Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and
Engineering, with a particular focus on fields essential to
Singapore's manufacturing industry and new growth industries.
It oversees 14 research institutes and supports extramural
research with the universities, hospital research centres and
other local and international partners. At the heart of this
knowledge intensive work is human capital. Top local and
international scientific talent drive knowledge creation at
A*STAR research institutes. The Agency also sends scholars for
undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral training in the best
universities, a reflection of the high priority A*STAR places
on nurturing the next generation of scientific talent.
The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is a member of the
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It is a
national initiative with a global vision that seeks to use
genomic sciences to improve public health and public
prosperity. Established in 2001 as a centre for genomic
discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology,
genetics and biology towards the goal of individualized
medicine. The key research areas at the GIS include Systems
Biology, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Cancer Biology &
Pharmacology, Human Genetics, Infectious Diseases, Genomic
Technologies, and Computational & Mathematical Biology. The
genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilized to train new
scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and
industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of
high impact.
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------=
-----
=A9 2007 Newswise. All Rights Reserved.
Who loves ya. Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian! http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com
Man Is A Herbivore! http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk
bran could protect DNA from the harmful effects of radiation,
researchers from the University of Maryland report. Inositol
and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) protected both human skin
cells and a skin cancer- prone mouse from exposure to
ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, the damaging radiation found in
sunlight, the team reported today at the American Association
for Cancer Research Centennial Conference on Translational
Cancer Medicine.
According to the researchers, inositol and IP6 could decrease
the severity of side effects from radiation therapy, saving
healthy cells while simultaneously increasing the potency of
the treatment against cancer cells. Both molecules are potent
antioxidants, the Maryland researchers say, capable of
preventing reactive molecules from injuring DNA and turning
cells cancerous.
"Both of these potent antioxidants have been shown to have
broad- spectrum anti-tumor capabilities, and now our studies
confirm the degree to which these molecules protect against
the DNA-damaging effects of ionizing radiation," said
Abulkalam M. Shamsuddin, M.D., professor of pathology at the
University of Maryland School of Medicine. "Radiation damage
is radiation damage, regardless of the source, so there could
also be a protective role for IP6 in any form of radiation
exposure, whether it is from a therapeutic dose or from solar,
cosmic or nuclear sources."
While both inositol and IP6 are related to B vitamins, they
are not considered essential dietary nutrients. In the 1980s,
however, researchers discovered that these molecules, abundant
within the hulls of seeds and grains, had definitive
protective effects against colorectal cancer.
Inspired by reports of a clinical trial begun in 2001 at
Clinical Hospital in Split, Croatia, which suggested IP6
enhanced the effectiveness of radiotherapy while lessening the
side effects, Shamsuddin and his colleagues sought to
investigate the extent of the protective properties of these
molecules. With funding from IP-6 Research, Inc., a company
formed by Shamsuddin, the researchers began a study to
determine how human skin cells responded to UVB radiation when
dosed with IP6.
Normally, cells permanently damaged by radiation undergo a
genetically programmed process of cell suicide, called
apoptosis. Shamsuddin reports that UVB-irradiated human
keratinocytes, when treated with IP6, were more likely to
survive. Untreated skin cells were more likely to undergo
apoptosis, indicating that the DNA in those cells was
damaged irreparably and fatally. According to Shamsuddin,
the treated cells take an extended pause at the point in the
cellular life cycle where innate mechanisms repair DNA
before the cell divides.
"IP6 certainly has some interactivity with DNA, but how
exactly it works to repair DNA is still something of a
mystery. There are reports that IP6 binds with DNA repair
molecule Ku to bring about the repair process," Shamsuddin
said. "More importantly, we still don't know how IP6 can
appear to help healthy cells live while also enhancing the
ability of radiation to kill cancer cells."
Shamsuddin and his team found that when mice engineered to be
prone to skin cancer were given drinking water containing a
two-percent solution of IP6, they were much less likely to
develop tumors. Twenty- three percent of treated mice
developed tumors, compared to 51 percent of untreated, or
control mice, which developed tumors. Moreover, the mice in
the treated group that did develop cancer had only half as
many tumors as the control mice.
Similarly, Shamsuddin saw that mice treated with a topical
cream containing four percent IP6 plus one percent inositol
were also less likely to develop tumors. When they
administered the cream an hour before UVB irradiation akin to
sun exposure, 62 percent of the treated mice developed tumors
compared to 76 percent of the control mice. According to
Shamsuddin, their findings indicate that either topical or
ingested IP6 might confer protection against ionizing
radiation.
Ionizing radiation occurs in the environment in many forms,
originating from both natural and human-contrived sources. In
humans, exposure to ionizing radiation occurs primarily
through therapeutic techniques (such as anticancer
radiotherapy), and sunbathing. Astronauts, pilots and
passengers of high-altitude aircraft also are inordinately
exposed to solar radiation. Such radiation exposures have a
cumulative effect, increasing the chances of developing cancer
over time, researchers say. "It is possible that people
regularly exposed to ionizing radiation, such as airline
pilots, frequent fliers or people who handle radioactive
materials, might take IP6 prophylactically to prevent possible
long term effects of exposure," Shamsuddin said.
According to Shamsuddin, IP6 could also offer protection
against accidents or purposeful incidents involving nuclear
material. "It could also be advisable to use IP6 plus inositol
as a cautionary treatment following a nuclear disaster or
dirty bomb," Shamsuddin said.
The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is
to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the
world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated
to advancing cancer research. The membership includes nearly
26,000 basic, translational, and clinical researchers; health
care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the
United States and more than 70 other countries. AACR marshals
the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to
accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment
of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational
programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants.
The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 participants
who share the latest discoveries and developments in the
field. Special Conferences throughout the year present novel
data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research,
treatment, and patient care. AACR publishes five major
peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer
Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer
Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Its most recent publication, CR, is a magazine for cancer
survivors, patient advocates, their families, physicians, and
scientists. It provides a forum for sharing essential,
evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in
cancer research, survivorship, and advocacy.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, or A*STAR, is
Singapore's lead agency for fostering world-class scientific
research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore.
A*STAR actively nurtures public sector research and
development in Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and
Engineering, with a particular focus on fields essential to
Singapore's manufacturing industry and new growth industries.
It oversees 14 research institutes and supports extramural
research with the universities, hospital research centres and
other local and international partners. At the heart of this
knowledge intensive work is human capital. Top local and
international scientific talent drive knowledge creation at
A*STAR research institutes. The Agency also sends scholars for
undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral training in the best
universities, a reflection of the high priority A*STAR places
on nurturing the next generation of scientific talent.
The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is a member of the
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It is a
national initiative with a global vision that seeks to use
genomic sciences to improve public health and public
prosperity. Established in 2001 as a centre for genomic
discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology,
genetics and biology towards the goal of individualized
medicine. The key research areas at the GIS include Systems
Biology, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Cancer Biology &
Pharmacology, Human Genetics, Infectious Diseases, Genomic
Technologies, and Computational & Mathematical Biology. The
genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilized to train new
scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and
industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of
high impact.
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------=
-----
=A9 2007 Newswise. All Rights Reserved.
Who loves ya. Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian! http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com
Man Is A Herbivore! http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk