Lupeol Protects Abnormalities in Cell Surface Moities during 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene Induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Carcinogenesis

Lupeol, a pentacyclic triterpene, possesses diverse pharmacological and biochemical activities including anticancer and antioxidant effects. Abnormalities in the status of glycoconjugates and lipids in the cell results in malignant transformation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of lupeol on cell surface glycoconjugates and lipids abnormalities during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Oral squamous cell carcinoma was developed in the buccal pouches of golden Syrian hamsters by treating with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin, three times a week, for 14 weeks. The status of glycoconjugates and lipids were measured using specific colorimetric methods. We observed 100% tumor formation with marked abnormalities in the status of glycoconjugates and lipids in hamsters treated with DMBA alone. Oral administration of lupeol at a dose of 50mg/kg bw, completely prevented the formation of tumors and restored the status of glycoconjugates and lipids in hamsters treated with DMBA. The results of the present study thus suggest that lupeol has the potential to protect cell surface abnormalities during DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer, the fifth most common malignancy worldwide, accounts for 3-4% in Western countries and 40-50% of all cancers in developing countries including India. India has recorded the highest incidence of oral cancer worldwide and approximately 100,000 individuals are suffering from oral cancer in any given year . Long term tobacco smoking, tobacco chewing, betel quid chewing and alcohol consumption play a major role in the pathogenesis of oral cancer . 7, 12dimethylbenz[a]anthracene is commonly preferred to induce oral cancer in the buccal pouch of golden Syrian hamsters. DMBA induced oral tumor in the hamster buccal pouch revealed 70-80% homology with human oral tumor, both morphologically and histologically . The glycoproteins and proteoglycans comprise the extracellular matrix and are the determinant of cellular and biochemical events in the tissues. Cell surface glycoconjugates and sialic acid play an important role in cell-cell communication and cell adhesion. Sialic acids, a nine-carbon keto sugars, play prominent role in the regulation of the immune response as well as in the progression and metastasis of malignant tumors . The status of glycoconjugates is used to diagnose early detection as well as predicting prognosis of the cancerous lesions. Sialic acid or fucose exists as terminal units of oligosaccharides of glycoproteins.