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Thymosin α1 as a Chemopreventive Agent in Lung and Breast Cancer
Author(s) -
MOODY TERRY W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1415.040
Subject(s) - carcinogenesis , lung cancer , estrogen receptor , lung , thymosin , breast cancer , carcinogen , mammary gland , estrogen , medicine , cancer , cancer research , mammary tumor , genetically modified mouse , endocrinology , biology , transgene , biochemistry , gene , genetics
: The ability of thymosin α1 (Tα1) to prevent lung and breast cancer was investigated. Lung adenomas developed in A/J mice injected with carcinogens, such as urethane. The lung adenoma number was reduced by 15–45% if animals were daily treated subcutaneously (s.c.) with Tα1 (0.4 mg/kg). Tα1 (1 μM) directly inhibited the growth of mouse lung cell lines. These results suggest that Tα1 may prevent mouse lung carcinogenesis because it directly inhibits the growth of lung cancer cells. Tα1 prevented mammary carcinogenesis in two animal models. In the Fisher rat, an animal model of mammary cancer that is estrogen receptor dependent, tumors were initiated by the injection of N‐methylurea (NMU). The rat survival was significantly increased by the daily injection of Tα1. In the SV40T antigen mouse, a transgenic female mouse that spontaneously gets mammary cancer in an estrogen receptor‐independent manner, survival was increased and tumor burden was significantly decreased by daily injection of Tα1. These results indicate that Tα1 is a chemopreventive agent in animal models for lung and breast carcinogenesis.