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Background/aim: Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are a heterogeneous class of particles that differ in size and density from each other. Small dense LDL (sdLDL) particles are considered more atherogenic than larger particles. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum levels of sdLDL in patients who died from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) or cancer in a cohort of patients followed up in the De Bellis Research Hospital for 20 years., Patients and Methods: A total of 75 participants who died of cancer and 87 who died of CVD were enrolled and they were matched for age and sex with 135 healthy controls, i.e. without CVD or cancer and are still alive., Results: Patients who died from cancer had the highest value of LDL IV subfraction (0.25±1.16), followed by those who died from CVD (0.17±0.96)., Conclusion: The integrated profile of sdLDL between CVD and cancer suggests that therapeutic modulation of sdLDL may be associated with a risk reduction for these diseases., (Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: The expression of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1-R) seems to be modulated by bioactive natural components such as the flavonoid quercetin. The aim of this study was to determine in an animal model of induced-colon cancer, whether quercetin inhibits colon carcinogenesis through changes in the expression of CB1-R., Materials and Methods: C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned to standard diet or experimental diet supplemented with 0.5% quercetin. Azoxymethane (AOM) (10 mg/kg body weight) or saline solution (PBS) was intraperitoneally injected, once weekly for 6 weeks., Results: The diet supplemented with quercetin induced CB1-R gene expression and protein, inhibiting the protein levels of STAT3 and p-STAT3 (both mediators of cell proliferation). Dietary quercetin also caused a significant increase in Bax/Bcl2 ratio protein expression., Conclusion: The anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of quercetin in AOM-treated mice are mediated by induction of the protein and gene expression levels of CB1-R., (Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: Riboflavin transport in enterocytes is mediated by three translocators: RFVT3 located on the apical membrane, and RFVT1 and RFVT2 on the basolateral membrane. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the expression levels of RFVTs are altered in human colorectal cancer (CRC)., Materials and Methods: In human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (CaCo2, DLD-1, HT-29) and in tissues of patients with CRC, gene and protein expression levels were evaluated by real time-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Intracellular flavin content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography., Results: RFVT3 and RFVT2 gene and protein expression levels were higher in DLD-1 and HT-29 compared to Caco2 cells. In HT-29 cells, the RFVT1 protein level was drastically lower. These differences are presumably responsible for the higher total flavin content in DLD-1 and HT-29 cells. In tumor tissues of patients with CRC, RFVT1 content was reduced at both protein and mRNA levels compared to normal mucosa. RFVT3 and RFVT2 gene expression levels were increased, while protein expression was reduced, with a small reduction in riboflavin amount., Conclusion: This study provides first evidence that transcription/translation of RFVTs are profoundly altered in CRC., (Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: The study of fatty acid composition of the erythrocytes' membrane can be considered an appropriate biomarker for investigating the relations of the pattern of fatty acids metabolism to a specific disease. The aim of the present study was to analyze the fatty acid profile in red blood cell membranes of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC)., Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with CRC and 13 patients with no malignant disease were enrolled in the study. Fatty acids were extracted from erythrocytes' membranes and quantified by gas chromatography. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test., Results: Patients with CRC showed significantly lower mean percentage of n-3 polynunsatured fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) than controls (5.1% vs. 8.0%, respectively). This finding was reflected in the higher ratio n-6-PUFA/n-3-PUFA observed in cancer patients., Conclusion: Lipidomic analysis of erythrocyte membranes confirmed the presence of an altered fatty acid profile in patients with CRC., (Copyright© 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a diet supplementation with either olive oil, or n-3 or n-6-polyunsaturatedFatty acids (PUFAs) on tumour development and gene expression for lipogenic enzymes in Apc(Min/+) mice., Materials and Methods: In the control group, the mice received a standard diet, the OO group was fed on a diet with 12% olive oil, the OM-3 group with 12% salmon fish rich in n-3 PUFAs, the OM-6 group with 12% oenothera oil rich in n-6 PUFAs. Gene expression of lipogenic enzymes was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction., Results: All mice in the treated groups presented a reduction in total intestinal polyp number and load, which was particularly marked in the OM-3 group. Treated mice showed an induction of low density lipoprotein receptor gene expression and a significant reduction of expression of lipogenic gene., Conclusion: Our data provide new insights into the mechanism of cell growth inhibition and apoptotic regulation by dietary olive oil and PUFAs in Apc(Min/+) mice.

Background: Olive oil intake has been shown to induce beneficial effect on health. This study aimed to investigate the effects of olive oil polyphenol hydroxytyrosol (HT) on cell proliferation and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity in human hepatoma Hep3B and HepG2 cell lines., Materials and Methods: Cell growth after HT treatment was measured by 3-(4,5 di-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. Lipogenic enzyme activity was evaluated by radiochemical assay. Cell total antioxidant activity and cell interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured by enyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods., Results: HT caused an evident antiproliferative effect mediated by inhibition of lipogenic enzymes. Moreover, HT induced activation of the cell antioxidant system and reduced cellular IL-6 levels., Conclusion: Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms of action of HT in the context of inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and prevention of oxidative stress in human hepatoma cells. Our results also show a down-regulation of lipogenic enzymes involved in cell proliferation.

Background: The leptin receptor is involved in modulating leptin activity, acting as a carrier protein. A link between leptin or leptin receptor and cancer development has been proposed and here, the hypothesis that leptin and its receptor might be implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and invasion was investigated., Patients and Methods: A total of 71 consecutive patients with CRC were enrolled in the study. Serum leptin and leptin receptor levels were evaluated by commercial ELISA kits., Results: The multinomial logistic regression model showed a positive association of leptin and leptin receptor with advanced tumor stages, which was significant for the leptin receptor in stage IV of disease., Conclusion: High circulating levels of leptin receptor occur in patients with advanced stage of colon cancer, suggesting a role for leptin in cancer progression and aggressiveness.

Background: Anandamide (AEA) is an endogenous agonist for cannabinoid receptor CB1-R and seems to be involved in the control of cancer growth. Polyamines are compounds that play an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Our aim was to investigate the effect of AEA on the polyamine levels (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) and cell growth of three human colon cancer cell lines, positive for CB1-R., Materials and Methods: After AEA treatment of DLD-1, HT-29 and SW620 cells, polyamine analysis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and cell growth was measured by 3-(4,5 di-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. CB1 gene expression was determined using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)., Results: AEA significantly reduced polyamine levels and cell proliferation dose-dependently when the tested cell lines were exposed for 24 h and 48 h. This inhibitory effect was mediated by CB1-R, since SR 1411716A, a selective CB-1 receptor antagonist, was able to entirely antagonize the effect of AEA. CB1-R mRNA levels were enhanced after AEA treatment in DLD-1 cells, whereas no induction was found in HT-29 and SW620 cells., Conclusion: It appears that mechanisms by which AEA may affect growth of colon cancer cells involve a decrease in cell proliferation rate by reducing the polyamine levels.