Inhibitory effects of dietary glucosylceramides in squamous cell carcinoma

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861383
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Tottori University
• Principal Investigator: Yazama Hiroaki 鳥取大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (30444631)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 頭頸部癌 / 抗腫瘍効果 / セラミド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found that dietary glucosylceramides isolated from rice bran (Glu-Cer), known as a health food, had anti-tumor activity in HNSCC xenograft model, and extended mouse survival time in comparison with vehicle control. Then, we found that oral administration of Glu-Cer inhibited angioinvasion and significantly decreased SCCKN growth in the xenograft model. In tumor-invated areas, VEGF and HIF-1α in tumor cells, as well as VEGF receptor-2 in endothelial cells decreased after treatment. Dietary Glu-Cer increased serum levels of sphingosine-based ceramides compared to the control. In SCCKN and UV♀2 cells, C6-ceramide suppressed the expressions of pro-angiogenic signals in vitro. These results might suggest that sphingosine-based ceramide suppresses the growth of head and neck tumors due to the inhibition of pro-angiogenic signals.
And we have already started to examine some mechanisms about tumor invasion and metastasis.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学