title: Putative supramolecular complexes formed by carotenoids and xanthophylls with ascorbic acid to reverse multidrug resistance in cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The molecular basis of interaction of selected carotenoids and xanthophylls with ascorbic acid on cancer cells was studied to determine their anticancer effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drug accumulation was measured in a human ABCB1 gene-transfected mouse lymphoma cell line and in a human lung cancer cell line by flow cytometry; furthermore, their anticancer effects were determined in mice in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several carotenoids inhibited the multidrug resistance of cancer cells. Ascorbic acid improved the effect of certain xanthophylls, but the effect of capsanthin was not modified. Capsanthin had weak (12%) but capsorubin (85%) had a remarkable antiproliferative effect on A549 lung cancer cells. Capsorubin reduced immediate-early tumor antigen expression, while capsanthin was not effective. Capsorubin accumulates selectively in the nuclei of cancer cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Authors suggest a special complex formation between membrane-bound capsorubin and ascorbic acid, which can be exploited in experimental chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10., Szeged 6720, Hungary. molnarj@comser.szote.u-szeged.hu
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Julianna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serly
authors.forename: Rozália
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pusztai
authors.forename: Irén
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vincze
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Györgyi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horváth
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deli
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maoka
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zalatnai
authors.forename: Harukuni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tokuda
authors.forename: Hoyoku
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishino
mesh_terms: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D024341:Xanthophylls; C006889:capsanthin; C035624:capsorubin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid