title: Inhibition of tumor growth by quercetin with increase of survival and prevention of cachexia in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats.
abstract: Quercetin, a flavonoid abundantly present in fruit, vegetables, wine and tea, has revealed several properties such as antioxidant, antiproliferative and anticancer. Cachexia is a poorly understood syndrome present in already compromised cancer patients, decreasing the quality of life and increasing mortality. Many studies have been performed in an attempt to discover an effective treatment for cachexia, but none of the tested therapies has fulfilled expectations. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of quercetin in the therapeutic treatment of cachexia and reversion of tumor growth in rats bearing Walker 256 carcinosarcoma (W256). Rats bearing W256 were treated daily with I.P. quercetin injections, at different doses (10, 15, 25 and 35 mg/kg). The results show that 10 mg/kg quercetin inhibited tumor growth by about 50% (ED(50)) when compared with controls (CTR). Moreover, two animals of this group presented complete tumor regression. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression decreased in rats bearing W256 treated with 10 mg/kg quercetin when compared with CTR. Thus, the inhibition of tumor growth, survival increase, decrease of MMP-2 and VEGF levels and reduction of cachexia in animals treated with quercetin strongly support the anticancer function of this flavonoid.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Biologia, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: Maria Eleonora F
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Giselle Z
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Justo
authors.forename: Maria Cristina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gomes-Marcondes
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aoyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011794:Quercetin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011794:Quercetin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C522363:Mmp2 protein, rat