title: Carcinogenic effects in a phenylketonuria mouse model.
abstract: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a metabolic disorder caused by impaired phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). This condition results in hyperphenylalaninemia and elevated levels of abnormal phenylalanine metabolites, among which is phenylacetic acid/phenylacetate (PA). In recent years, PA and its analogs were found to have anticancer activity against a variety of malignancies suggesting the possibility that PKU may offer protection against cancer through chronically elevated levels of PA. We tested this hypothesis in a genetic mouse model of PKU (PAH(enu2)) which has a biochemical profile that closely resembles that of human PKU. Plasma levels of phenylalanine in homozygous (HMZ) PAH(enu2) mice were >12-fold those of heterozygous (HTZ) littermates while tyrosine levels were reduced. Phenylketones, including PA, were also markedly elevated to the range seen in the human disease. Mice were subjected to 7,12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) carcinogenesis, a model which is sensitive to the anticancer effects of the PA derivative 4-chlorophenylacetate (4-CPA). Tumor induction by DMBA was not significantly different between the HTZ and HMZ mice, either in total tumor development or in the type of cancers that arose. HMZ mice were then treated with 4-CPA as positive controls for the anticancer effects of PA and to evaluate its possible effects on phenylalanine metabolism in PKU mice. 4-CPA had no effect on the plasma concentrations of phenylalanine, phenylketones, or tyrosine. Surprisingly, the HMZ mice treated with 4-CPA developed an unexplained neuromuscular syndrome which precluded its use in these animals as an anticancer agent. Together, these studies support the use of PAH(enu2) mice as a model for studying human PKU. Chronically elevated levels of PA in the PAH(enu2) mice were not protective against cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. nsidell@emory.edu
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sidell
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasquali
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism; D002273:Carcinogens; D065633:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000378:metabolism; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D010648:Phenylacetates; C029716:4-chlorophenylacetic acid; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C585496:CYP1B1 protein, human; C585498:Cyp1b1 protein, mouse; D065633:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1; C025136:phenylacetic acid