title: Systemic and local injections of lupeol inhibit tumor growth in a melanoma-bearing mouse model.
abstract: Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer and it is procured from activated or genetically altered epidermal melanocytes. In the present study, the tumor-suppressive effects of systemic and local injections of lupeol, a triterpene extracted from Indian lettuce (Lactuca indica), in a melanoma-bearing mouse model were evaluated. Mice were injected once with lupeol or olive oil (solvent control) subcutaneously into the skin of the back or into the tumor tissue. Seven days after the injection, the tumor growth rates were calculated and the tumor tissues were collected. Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were performed. The tumor growth rates in the lupeol-injected group were significantly decreased compared to those observed in the non-treated (NT) and solvent control groups. Lupeol also significantly decreased the areas positively stained for Ki-67 and PCNA in the tumor tissues compared to those in the NT and solvent control groups. The results of the present study demonstrated that systemic and local injections of lupeol suppress tumor growth and induce cell cycle arrest in a melanoma-bearing mouse model. These data suggest that lupeol may be effective as a novel therapeutic option for melanoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nitta
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.affiliation: Institute for Food and Brewing, Akita Prefectural Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Research Center, Akita, Akita 0101623, Japan.
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.affiliation: Institute for Food and Brewing, Akita Prefectural Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Research Center, Akita, Akita 0101623, Japan.
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2525201, Japan.
authors.forename: Kikumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogiwara
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuka
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imagawa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
authors.forename: Inoru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yokoe
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
authors.forename: Saburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Tottori 6808553, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamoto
keywords: Ki-67; anticancer; lupeol; melanoma; proliferating cell nuclear antigen; systemic injection