Vitamin E succinate decreases lung cancer tumor growth in mice.
BACKGROUND
In vitro studies have shown that Vitamin E succinate (VES) arrests lung cancer proliferation; however, in vivo studies have not been performed. This study examined in vivo effects of VES on lung cancer.


METHODS
An in vitro dose-response curve of human A549 lung cancer tumors to VES was established. A549 tumors were established in the right submammary fat pads of athymic nude mice (C57/BL/6J-Hfh11nu). Seven days after injection, mice were separated into VES and control groups. VES mice (n = 12) underwent daily intraperitoneal (IP) injection of VES (150 mg/kg in 7% dimethyl sulfoxide, 93% polyethylene glycol); control mice (n = 11) were injected with vehicle only. At 27 days, harvested tumors were measured and weighed. Lungs were stained for metastases using hematoxylin-eosin. Tumor volume and weights were compared using a two-sample t test. Tumor growth curves were compared using a mixed model analysis of variance.


RESULTS
In vitro studies demonstrated dose-dependent manner inhibition of A549 cell proliferation by VES (IC(50) 18 mug/mL). Tumor volumes and weights differed significantly between VES and control mice with volumes of 192.6 +/- 20.4 mm(3)versus 292.9 +/- 31.4 mm(3) (P = 0.01) and weights of 168.6 +/- 20.0 mg versus 255.7 +/- 37.0 mg, respectively (P = 0.05). Tumor growth differed significantly (P < 0.001). Both groups of mice showed pulmonary metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung cancer cells appear to respond to VES, albeit incompletely. Because tumor cell response is seen, lung cancer patients may derive some benefit from VES and should be considered in eventual clinical studies using this vitamin E derivative.
Quin
Jacquelyn
J
Division of Cardiothoracic, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9638, USA. jquin@siumed.edu
Engle
Deborah
D
Litwiller
Abigail
A
Peralta
Elizabeth
E
Grasch
Anthony
A
Boley
Theresa
T
Hazelrigg
Stephen
S
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D024505:Tocopherols; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D014810:Vitamin E; D024505:Tocopherols