Characterizing the efficacy of fermented wheat germ extract against ovarian cancer and defining the genomic basis of its activity

Patricia L Judson; Entidhar Al Sawah; Douglas C Marchion; Yin Xiong; Elona Bicaku; Nadim Bou Zgheib; Hye Sook Chon; Xiaomang B Stickles; Ardeshir Hakam; Robert M Wenham; Sachin M Apte; Jesus Gonzalez-Bosquet; Dung-Tsa Chen; Johnathan M Lancaster

doi:10.1097/IGC.0b013e318258509d

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Characterizing the efficacy of fermented wheat germ extract against ovarian cancer and defining the genomic basis of its activity

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Characterizing the efficacy of fermented wheat germ extract against ovarian cancer and defining the genomic basis of its activity

Patricia L Judson, Entidhar Al Sawah, Douglas C Marchion, Yin Xiong, Elona Bicaku, Nadim Bou Zgheib, Hye Sook Chon, Xiaomang B Stickles, Ardeshir Hakam, Robert M Wenham, …

International journal of gynecological cancer, Vol.22(6), pp.960-967

07/2012

DOI: 10.1097/IGC.0b013e318258509d

PMCID: PMC4036555

PMID: 22740002

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Abstract

Most women with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (OVCA) ultimately develop chemoresistant recurrent disease. Therefore, a great need to develop new, more active, and less toxic agents and/or to optimize the efficacy of existing agents exists. In this study, we investigated the activity of Avemar, a natural, nontoxic, fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE), against a range of OVCA cell lines, both alone and in combination with cisplatin chemotherapy and delineated the molecular signaling pathways that underlie FWGE activity at a genome-wide level. We found that FWGE exhibited significant antiproliferative effects against 12 human OVCA cell lines and potentiated cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Pearson correlation of FWGE sensitivity and gene expression data identified 2142 genes (false discovery rate < 0.2) representing 27 biologic pathways (P < 0.05) to be significantly associated with FWGE sensitivity. A parallel analysis of genomic data for 59 human cancer cell lines matched to chemosensitivity data for 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone, a proposed active component of FWGE, identified representation of 13 pathways common to both FWGE and 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone sensitivity. Our findings confirm the value of FWGE as a natural product with anticancer properties that may also enhance the activity of existing therapeutic agents. Furthermore, our findings provide substantial insights into the molecular basis of FWGE's effect on human cancer cells.

Cell Survival - drug effects

Signal Transduction

Plant Extracts - pharmacology

Humans

Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use

Cisplatin - pharmacology

Benzoquinones - pharmacology

Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics

Cisplatin - therapeutic use

Cell Line, Tumor

Female

Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology

Benzoquinones - therapeutic use

Ovarian Neoplasms - drug therapy

Plant Extracts - therapeutic use

Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor

Details

Title: Subtitle: Characterizing the efficacy of fermented wheat germ extract against ovarian cancer and defining the genomic basis of its activity
Creators: Patricia L Judson - Department of Women's Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Entidhar Al Sawah
Douglas C Marchion
Yin Xiong
Elona Bicaku
Nadim Bou Zgheib
Hye Sook Chon
Xiaomang B Stickles
Ardeshir Hakam
Robert M Wenham
Sachin M Apte
Jesus Gonzalez-Bosquet
Dung-Tsa Chen
Johnathan M Lancaster
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International journal of gynecological cancer, Vol.22(6), pp.960-967
DOI: 10.1097/IGC.0b013e318258509d
PMID: 22740002
PMCID: PMC4036555
NLM abbreviation: Int J Gynecol Cancer
ISSN: 1048-891X
eISSN: 1525-1438
Publisher: Elsevier BV; England
Grant note: R21 CA110499 / NCI NIH HHS R21 CA-110499-01A2 / NCI NIH HHS P30 CA076292 / NCI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 07/2012
Academic Unit: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Record Identifier: 9983931811702771

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