Effect of inositol hexaphosphate on the development of UVB-induced skin tumors in SKH1 hairless mice

Comp Med. 2009 Apr;59(2):147-52.

Abstract

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a naturally occurring polyphosphorylated carbohydrate that is abundant in many plants and in various high-fiber foods, such as cereals and legumes. IP6 has a striking, broad-spectrum anticancer activity in various in vitro and animal models, in which it interferes with key pathways in malignancy to inhibit cell proliferation, cell-cycle progression, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis and to induce apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of IP6 in drinking water on the incidence of UVB-induced skin cancer in the SKH1 (Crl: SKH1-hr) mouse model. One group of 15 mice received 2% IP6 in drinking water and UVB exposure, and the other group (n = 15) received UVB exposure only. All mice in both groups were fed an IP6-deficient diet (AIN 76A). The treatment group started receiving 2% IP6 in the drinking water 3 d before irradiation. Mice were irradiated 3 times each week, starting at a dose of 1.5 kJ/m2, with weekly increases in increments of 1.5 kJ/m2 to a final dose of 7.5 kJ/m2. Tumor formation was monitored until the week 31. IP6 in drinking water significantly decreased tumor incidence by 5-fold and tumor multiplicity by 4-fold. These results show that IP6 has an antiphotocarcinogenic effect and can protect against UVB-induced tumor formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phytic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Phytic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Random Allocation
  • Skin Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Skin* / metabolism
  • Skin* / pathology
  • Skin* / radiation effects
  • Ultraviolet Rays / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • Phytic Acid