Effects of cerulenin on the endogenous fatty acid synthetic activity in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
OBJECTIVE
Inhibition of cerulenin on the endogenous fatty acid synthetic activities of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral mucosa was assayed.


METHODS
Squamous cell carcinoma and normal oral mucosa were collected fresh from surgical specimens. The collected tissues were minced in RPMI 1640 and divided into 3 groups: cerulenin treated, dimethylsulfoxide treated, and control. The tissues were incubated in [1(2)-(14)C]acetic acid, sodium salt for the last 2.5 hours of the treatment at 37 degrees C in 5% CO(2). After labeling, total lipids were extracted and counted for (14)C by scintillation counting.


RESULTS
Endogenous fatty acid synthetic activities of oral squamous cell caranoma in the cerulenin-treated group decreased by 19% at 1 hour, 64% at 2 hours, and 87% at 4 hours; remained nearly unchanged in the dimethylsulfoxide-treated group; and increased slightly in the control group. The oral mucosa tissues were only mildly affected by cerulenin in fatty acid synthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Cerulenin significantly inhibits fatty acid synthetic activity in squamous cell carcinoma and only mildly affected the oral mucosa, indicating that the fatty acid synthetic pathway may be exploited as a target for developing anticancer drugs.
Guo
Chuan-Bin
CB
Peking University, Beijing, The People's Republic of China. guodazuo@sina.com
Cui
Nian-Hui
NH
Yu
Guang-Yan
GY
Liu
Ding-Xin
DX
Meng
Shu-Cong
SC
Song
Qing
Q
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D002569:Cerulenin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005227:Fatty Acids; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012997:Solvents; D002569:Cerulenin; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide