Leukemia Latest Studies

About every 3 minutes, one person in the United States of America is diagnosed with blood cancer. Around 176,200 people in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2019. Around 1,399,180 people in the USA are living with, or are in remission from blood cancer. In every 9 minutes, at least 1 person in the USA dies from a blood cancer. Around 156 people die each day or more than 6 people die every hour due to blood cancer in the USA.

For leukemia, around 61,780 people are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia in the USA.in 2019 and it is estimated that 399,967 people are already living with or are in remission from Leukemia in the USA. The 5 – year survival rate for leukemia is only 61.4% after 5 years as stated in the report by National Cancer Institute, USA! Very few patients survive for more than 10 years only due to the common reoccurrence of this cancer. Conventional treatment modalities for cancer including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have failed to eradicate cancer entirely.

From 2011 to 2015, leukemia was the 6th most common cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the USA. Moreover, Leukemia is diagnosed 10 times more often diagnosed in adults than children. Everyday around 150 – 179 Americans are diagnosed with leukemia and 67 lose their battle against it. Leukemia is the most common cancer in Hispanic children and adolescents. 5 – year survival rate is around 3% to 4% lower for Hispanics than that of non – Hispanic whites.

To bring a better solution against such deadly disease, researchers and doctors have discovered natural anti-oxidants in the form of Annatto based Tocotrienol (Eannatto – DeltaGold) which can also be used with other chemotherapeutic drugs that exhibit strong anti-cancer activities and one of these kinds of research is “Gamma-Tocotrienol and Simvastatin Synergistically Induce Cytotoxicity In Leukemia Cell Lines, K-562 and HL-60” where it was observed that Gamma-Tocotrienol, an isoform of Vitamin E, and simvastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug exhibit synergy in induction of cytotoxicityin K-562 and HL-60 leukemia cell lines. Eannatto, has successfully harvested Annatto for Tocotrienols rich in Delta – Tocotrienol and Gamma – Tocotrienol to help Leukemia patients throughout the globe in their fight against blood cancer.

Most research in the past 50 – 60 years has been focused on Tocopherols and 50% of all the research in last 30 years has been done on Tocotrienols in last 5 years. Half of the Tocotrienol research ever published has been published in last 10 years as shown in Fig. 1. Each day it is becoming increasingly understood that Tocotienols (especially Eannatto – DeltaGold) are the right form of Vitamin E. Well in excess of 100 studies and clinical trials have shown the surprising benefits of Tocotrienols – without any known side effects.

Study – Gamma-Tocotrienol and Simvastatin Synergistically Induce Cytotoxicity In Leukemia Cell Lines, K-562 and HL-60.

Statins and Tocotrienols regulate the cholesterol biosynthesis – pathway by inhibiting the 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG – CoA) reductase. Tocotrienols modulate the 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG – CoA) reductase by post – transcriptional down – regulation. Also, Tocotrienols contain a farnesol moiety in their side – chain that triggers degradation of HMG-CoA reductase. These effects lead to suppression of cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Several studies have shown that statins have suppressive effects in in vitro experiments on acute myelocytic leukemia cell lines. Since both statins & Gamma – Tocotrienols (Eannatto – DeltaGold) are associated with decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis, we hypothesized that if the cytotoxicity of these drugs on cancer cells is related to impaired biosynthesis of cholesterol, combination of them may synergize in cytotoxicity on leukemic cells.

K-562 and HL-60 leukemia cells were grown in Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s medium with penicillin or streptomycin, 10% fetal bovine serum and 20% fetal bovine serum were added respectively. K-562 and HL-60 leukemia cells were seeded in 96 well plates, were grown overnight, and treated for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours with simvastatin in concentrations of 1 µM, 2 µM, 4 µM, and 5 µM; Gamma – Tocotrienol (Eannatto – DeltaGold) in concentrations of 20 µM, 40 µM, and 80 µM; and a combination of the two drugs in the same concentrations. For the 24 hour dose, cells were seeded at a density of 5000/well and for 48 and 72 hour doses, at 3500/well. Following the treatment, MTS/PMS reagent (Promega, Madison, WI), [3 – (4, 5 – dimethylthiazol – 2 – yl) – 5 – (3 – carboxymethoxyphenyl) – 2 – (4 – sulfophenyl) – 2H – tetrazolium, inner salt] mixed with and an electron coupling reagent (phenazine methosulfate), was added at 40 µg/well and incubated at 37°C for 2 hours. The solubilized formazan crystals at 450 nm were measured as an indicator of cytotoxicity. The presence of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) as an indicator of cell viability was measured with the CellTiter Glo® assay (Promega). Cells were again seeded, grown overnight, and dosed as mentioned above.  Following treatment, the assay was conducted as specified by the manufacturer.

Both Simvastatin and Gamma – Tocotrienol (Eannatto – DeltaGold) induced cytotoxicity in K-562 and HL-60 cell lines by the MTS and Cell Titer Glo Assays.  The IC50 at 72 hour incubation were as follows 1) HL-60: simvastatin – 16.543 uM, gamma tocotrienol – 36.297 uM;  2) K-562: simvastatin – 5.235 uM, gamma tocotrienol – 34.947 uM.  We used CompuSyn to calculate the IC50.  When combined, simvastatin and Gamma – Tocotrienol (Eannatto – DeltaGold) exhibit synergy at lower concentrations when examined by isobologram analysis.

Summary

Why Tocotrienol?

  • Antioxidants, especially Tocotrienol was observed to exhibit anti-cancer activity against blood cancer cells by lowering inflammation and oxidative stress as shown in Fig. 2. Also, DeltaGold Tocotrienol (Eannatto – DeltaGold) has majorly been studied for cancer for 5 years and they have been observed to reduce inflammation which is quite important since inflammation encourages tumor growth. Also, Tocotrienols have been observed to reduce chronic inflammation by decreasing an inflammatory protein connected with cancer called Nf-kB, as well as other biomarkers. Estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) and estrogen-receptor-negative (ER-) both were observed to be reduced by the action of Tocotrienol by inhibition of HMGCR activity.
  • Angiogenesis which is the process of formation of blood vessels in cancer cells like in your brain cancer. Tocotrienol promotes cancer cell death to a very great extent and good results of anti-angiogenesis property of Tocotrienols have been observed against blood cancer cells in the study.
  • Apoptosis or programmed cell death is the process of elimination and death of cancer cells. Reports have indicated that Delta-Tocotrienol and Gamma-Tocotrienol have been observed to induce apoptosis in leukemia cells in vitro via nuclear chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. According to studies, it has also been observed that Gamma-Tocotrienol induced apoptosis in leukemia cells by inhibiting NF-kB, activating the caspase cascade, increasing cyt.c release and nuclear fragmentation.
  • Cell Proliferation is the process by which cancer cells copy their DNA and divide into two cancer cells during mitosis and rapidly multiply into more cancer cells. Tocotrienol isoforms have been observed to suppress cell proliferation.
  • Chemoprevention and anti-cancer activity against Leukemia have been observed in Tocotrienols.
  • Chemosensitization is the combination of Tocotrienol with several chemotherapeutic drugs such as celecoxib, statins or dietary components such as curcumin, polyphenols, etc. A combination of simvastatin and Gamma-Tocotrienol induce cytotoxicity and exhibit synergy in leukemia cells.
  • Helps maintain Healthy Cells and remember: when you think of your health, think of your cells. We have thirty eight trillion of them! Tocotrienols play an important role in maintaining cellular health which includes preventing cells from going rancid and aberrant. Tocotrienols could potentially urn “rancid” and “aberrant” cells back to normal.
  • The cytotoxic effect has been observed to be exerted against human T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia cells by the three isomers of Alpha-Tocotrienol, Gamma-Tocotrienol, and Delta- Annatto-Tocotrienol which comprises of 90% of Delta-Tocotrienol and 10% of Gamma-Tocotrienol reportedly delayed the development of mammary tumor and reduced the number and size of the tumor via enhancing both apoptosis and senescent-like growth arrest.
  • Cancer stem cell death has been observed by the action of Tocotrienols especially Delta – Tocotrienols (DeltaGold – Eannatto). Even after chemotherapies, radiation and surgeries, there are stem cells of those cancerous tissues left revolving in your body which can lead to your cancer coming back. Henceforth, their death is very necessary and Tocotrienols have been observed to kill cancer stem cells.
  • Anti-Tumor effects against cancer have been observed by all kinds of Tocotrienols isoforms.
  • Tumor nutrition can also be obstructed by Tocotrienol as they may well work on dual antitumor mechanisms that include the removal of the vital nutrient to tumor lifeline.
  • Immune System: One study showed that Annatto Tocotrienol combined with antibiotics had the greatest efficacy in decreasing bacteria when compared with Tocotrienol or antibiotic treatment alone. This antimicrobial effect of Tocotrienol was strongly associated with increased activity of natural killer cells against MRSA, including improved results for repairing wounds.Taking Tocotrienols in this instance would show even stronger beneficial results for the immune system and its T cells. A study was done with DeltaGOld Tocotrienol to assess T and B lymphocytes in a mitogen – challenge (toxin pathogen secretes). Delta – Tocotrienol was the strongest in “Antioxidant Assay” and the fastest in the “Micronutrient Assay”. Interestingly, Delta – Tocotrienol is complemented by Vitamin C as vitamins C and E are known to synergize.

Dosage

  • Around 200-900 mg/day of Tocotrienols have been used to treat different kinds of cancers without any adverse effects and with good results.
  • Substances that complement Tocotrienol for cancer include Vitamins C, D, Selenium, B complex.

Why Tocotrienol and Not Tocopherol?

  • Tocopherol, the enemy of Tocotrienol: Tocopherol interferes with the functioning of Tocotrienol as it attenuates blood cancer inhibition, inhibits absorption, reduces adipose storage, and compromises cholesterol and triglyceride reduction.
  • Tocotrienol, the protector of State: Tocotrienol has more mobility than Tocopherol due to its small structure so it can cover a larger area targeting more number of blood cancer cells.
  • Small structure and less molecular weight: The higher anti-oxidant activity of Tocotrienols is due to their small structure and less molecular weight which assist in their integration of the cell, unlike Tocopherols.
  • Tocopherol in your food: The amount of antioxidants like Tocopherols required by your body is already present in our daily diet so we won’t get any benefit from Tocopherol supplementation.
  • Absorption: As compared to Tocopherols, Tocotrienols absorb better in the body and Tocopherols have been observed to prevent absorption of Tocotrienols.

References

Note:

  1. To read studies in detail, follow the references and links given.
  2. The dosages given must not be taken as the advice of a medical practitioner. Consult your physician for the optimum dosage to be consumed.