title: Modified apple polysaccharide prevents against tumorigenesis in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer: role of galectin-3 and apoptosis in cancer prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and preventable cancers. Regular consumption of apples is conducive to reduction in CRC risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effects of modified apple polysaccharide (MAP) on tumorigenesis in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred male ICR mice were administered with 1, 2-dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Forty mice were given no further treatment, the rest were fed basal diet blended with three different doses of MAP; 2.5, 5, and 10% (20 mice in each group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MAP significantly protected ICR mice against DMH/DSS-induced tumorigenesis. The incidence of tumor development was 90% (18/20) in the mice treated with DMH/DSS, but that was reduced to 25% (5/20), 15% (3/20), and 5% (1/20), respectively, in the mice treated with basal diets plus 2.5, 5, and 10% of MAP. Study of apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells revealed that MAP moderately increased apoptosis, suggesting that the anti-tumor potency of MAP was probably attributed to its ability to induce apoptosis. Western blot analysis demonstrated that carbohydrate-binding protein galectin-3 changed in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm during the process from colitis to colon cancer in the model. And MAP could inhibit the binding of galectin-3 to its ligand: this is, at least in part, the possible mechanism of MAP by enhancing apoptosis and preventing tumorigenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that MAP has a potential role in clinical prevention and treatment for colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032 Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yinbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xianghe
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Yongchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hongquan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Shousong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Qibing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003092:Colitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D037502:Galectin 3; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides