Vanadium in the detection, prevention and treatment of cancer: the in vivo evidence.
Vanadium, a dietary micronutrient, is yet to be established as an essential part of the human diet. Over the past century, several biological effects of vanadium, such as insulin-mimetic action as well as amelioration of hyperlipidemia and hypertension, have been discovered. This transition element is known to influence a battery of enzymatic systems, namely phosphatases, ATPases, peroxidases, ribonucleases, protein kinases and oxidoreductases. Multiple biochemical and molecular actions of vanadium have been implicated in its inhibitory effects on various tumor cells of human origin. Successful in vitro studies over the past few decades have advanced the anticancer research on vanadium into the preclinical stage. Vanadium in several animal cancer models provides protection against all stages of carcinogenesis--initiation, promotion, and progression. This review focuses on the current advances in cancer prevention and treatment as well as early detection by vanadium compounds in preclinical animal models while pointing to possible mechanisms of such diverse beneficial effects. Clinical pharmacokinetic and potential toxicity studies on vanadium are also highlighted in this review. Supporting and challenging evidence as well as future directions of vanadium research exploring the possibility of using this dietary agent for detection, prevention and treatment of human cancers are critically discussed.
Bishayee
Anupam
A
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, 4209 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States. abishayee@neoucom.edu
Waghray
Abhijeet
A
Patel
Mehool A
MA
Chatterjee
Malay
M
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014639:Vanadium / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D017968:Vanadium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014131:Trace Elements; D017968:Vanadium Compounds; C411475:bis(4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)sulfatooxovanadium(IV); D014639:Vanadium; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene