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1
P53 Tumor Suppressor Gene: Understanding P53
Based Anticancer Therapies Utilizing Dietary Agents
(At the end of this paper we made an announcement
concerning the 20th World Congress on Advances in
Oncology 18th International Symposium of Molecular
Medicine, featuring a program presenting several topics
related to our therapies.)
Abstract
The P53 tumor suppressor gene which has been dubbed both the Guardian of
the Genome (Lane 1992) and Science Molecule of the Year, is directly
involved in the initiation of apoptosis and programmed cell death, to prevent
an accumulation of abnormal cells. However apoptosis evasion is a
characteristic feature of human cancers that promote tumor formation and
progression (1). Presently, P53 is known to play a key role in practically all
types of human cancers, and the mutation or loss of P53 gene function, can
be identified in more than 50% of all human cancer cases worldwide (2).
Therefore mutant P53 function raises the possibility that the mutant protein
may be a good target for designing novel therapies.
The P53 pathway seems to play a critical role in therapeutic response and
both as a diagnostic and marker in the prognosis of therapeutic treatment
effects.
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Introduction
Active P53 binds to target DNA and determines the choice between trigger cell
cycle arrests at a check point to allow DNA repair or can activate a special
molecular pathway leading to the self-destruction of a cell through apoptosis.
Both alternatives provide any organism with genetic stability.
Damaged
Transcriptional upregulation of pro-
Stress
Chemotherapy apoptotic genes.
Pro-apoptotic BCL-2 members
BAX, Puma, Noxa
Initiating cyto C Release.
Tumor inhibition
Loss of P53 pathway function can contribute not only to
aggressive tumor behaviour but also to therapeutic
resistance
Oren M. (2003) decision making by P53 Life, death and cancer Cell death Differ 10 431-442
Figure 1
The critical role of P53 is made evident by the fact that it is mutated in
approximately 50% to 70% of all human cancers. In fact, P53 is the most
commonly mutated gene in human cancer. In human malignancies, very often
there are mutations or a loss of alleles in the gene located on the
chromosome 17P. More than 500 mutations in the P53 gene have been
discovered, although they are not equal in terms of biological activity.
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types of mutated P53 are likely to be ineffective in maintaining a non-
tumorigenic cellular phenotype when compared to a wild type P53.
However during a stress response from its P53 gene to any damage, recent
findings suggest that P53 induces apoptosis by trans-activating expression of
the BAX gene MRna (11) to increase BAX protein and simultaneously inhibit the
function of BCL2. RNA proteins are homologs, through BAX acts as an
accelerator of apoptosis while BCL2 serves to prolong life survival (12).
This suggests that P53 mutation not only serves to inactivate the pro-
apoptotic P53 pathway, but that may also play an additional role in tumor
progression. Mutant P53 itself provides a selective advantage to tumor cells
and promotes tumor growth. Recent data suggests that expression of mutant
P53 is not the equivalent of P53 loss, where mutant P53 can acquire new
functions.
BCL2 activity up-regulates in many types of cancer and correlates with cancer
cell resistance to a wide spectrum of chemotherapy agents (13). Over-
expression of the anti-apoptotic BCL2 proteins blocks cytochrome C release in
mitochondria in response to a variety of stimuli, whereas the pro-apoptotic
BAX protein releases cytochrome C that in turn activates an apoptotic
cascade, while the loss of BAX associates with tumor progression and with
shorter survival in metastatic breast cancer (14).
Figure 2
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BAX was the first identified P53regulated, pro-apoptotic BCL2 family
member. P53responsive elements have been unequivocally identified in the
BAX gene (15). BAX is specifically required for Puma mediated apoptosis, and
it also participates in the death response as an indirect target of P53 through
Puma (16) and Noxa, both implicated in P53dependent apoptosis.
Some studies show that the loss of BAX is responsible for nearly half of the
accelerated tumor growth in brain tumors that are related to loss of P53
function (17). BAX is inactive in approximately one third of invasive breast
cancers, where in a study of 119 women with metastatic breast cancer, it was
found that patients whose tumors had lost BAX activity, had poor responses to
combination chemotherapy, faster time to tumor progression, and shorter
overall survival (18).
This may suggest that turning on this pro-apoptotic gene may be important for
chemotherapy response, where one of the factors that can regulate BAX gene
activity is the P53 tumor suppressor gene, which also simultaneously inhibits
BCL2 during the process of apoptosis. Nevertheless because BAX proteins
antagonize BCL2 anti-apoptotic function, it is likely that the BCL2/BAX
balance ratio determines both the susceptibility of a cell to apoptosis as well
as therapeutic response to apoptosis stimuli (19).
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Figure 3
Therapeutic Strategy
Targeting mutant P53 and restoring the wild type function of P53 tumor
suppressor gene in tumor cells would be of potential therapeutic benefit and
an attractive strategy for anticancer treatments (26-27). Upon restoration of
P53 transcriptional activity, the apoptosis pathway would predominate.
Furthermore some of the P53 apoptosis targets such as BAX, Puma, Noxa, and
P21 could potentially be used as targets for gene therapy to increase the
effectiveness of chemotherapy.
A large number of dietary agents can exert effects on the human genome
either directly or indirectly to modulate gene expression. Extensive research
during the last half century demonstrated that numerous agents identified
from fruits and vegetables can interfere with several signaling pathways, and
were validated as apoptosis inducers in research experiments.
6
Figure 4
7
In human breast cancer cells curcumin, induces apoptosis through P53
dependent BAX induction (44) curcumin resveratrol and green tea polyphenols
are also known to down-regulate the expression of apoptosis suppressor
proteins, such as BCL2 and BCL-X in several cancer cell lines.
Conclusion
Most modern medicines currently available for treating cancer are very
expensive, toxic, and less effective in treating the disease. Therefore new
effective ways to treat cancer have become a priority. Thus, one must
investigate further in detail, dietary agents derived from natural sources
without toxicity. Hopefully they will find a place in the clinical management
of patients with malignancy.
Case Reports
We have been measuring the activity of P53 pathway, BAX, BCL2, Survivin and
P21 gene expression with a large number, variety, and grades of cancer
patients, developing a targeting therapy that could restore mutant P53 to a
normal wild type function as a first step after gaining results to modulate
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BAX, inhibit the BCL-2 and Survivin anti-apoptotic proteins. The targeting
therapy includes dietary agents such as curcumin and other compounds
empirically experimented upon by the author. It includes an extract of fish
oils rich in oligopeptide, that contain short-chain of amino acids shown to
have efficiency to target mutant P53 (48), fermented chlorella in tablets rich
in vitamins, minerals and nucleic acids. The fermenting process increases the
level of nutrients and absorptive power. Finally an antioxidant compound was
derived from modified vegetables and seeds, with low molecular weight
having an S.O.D. - like activity (49).
This targeting therapy is known as PSJ-53 therapy, had been first utilized in
experiments to restore mutant P53, and were proven by P53 gene expression
and P53 protein testing. Later experimentation in modulating BAX gene
expression and targeting BCL2 and Survivin anti-apoptotic proteins (50), were
shown to potentialize the efficiency of chemotherapy and radiation. Survivin,
a unique member of the IAPS inhibits Caspase 7-9 and promotes both cell
proliferation and angiogenesis (51). Measuring and targeting Survivin remains
a major goal in response to antineoplasic agents (52).
We present three cancer cases with blood analysis reports of P53 gene
expression and mutated protein levels before and after the treatment, along
with two cases with complete figures of the pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic
genes before and after treatment.
Methodology
P53 pathway activity and other pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes were
evaluated by measuring protein concentration and the level of P53 gene
expression, BCL2, BAX, Survivin , and P21 in the same peripheral venous blood
obtained from patients in the clinic.
The enzyme-link immunosorbent assay (Elisa) was used together with the
Polymer chain reaction (PCR) for the evaluation of the level of P53, BAX,
Survivin, P21 gene expression and for the qualitative detection of P53 protein.
Blood samples were collected in sterile tubes and sent to a laboratory
specializing in molecular marker tests, which offers complete reports and
discussion about each test.
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Table 1 - Effects of PSJ-53 Therapy on the Tumor Suppressor P53 Pathway
1 2 Feb 2009 N.D.** 26.1 2.7 x 105 The blood sample was
collected prior to PSJ-53
therapy
2 18 May 2009 16.8 N.D.** 8.9 x 1011 The blood sample was
collected after a 3 month
course of PSJ-53 therapy
3 21 Sep 2009 156.0 N.D.** 1.5 x 1013 The blood sample was
collected 4 months after
completion of the PSJ-53
therapy during which time no
further treatment was given.
The results clearly show the presence of mutated P53 prior to PSJ-53 therapy.
However after 2 months of the treatment we reversed the mutant P53 to a
normal wild type function, associated with an increase of the P53 gene
expression and protein level during this period of time.
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Table 3 F 56 years old Pancreatic Cancer 5 Years of Remission
3 17 Nov 2009 67.4 N.D.** 1.2 x 106 The blood sample was
collected after a 4 month
after completion of the
PSJ-53 therapy
The results clearly show the presence of mutated P53 prior to the PSJ-53
therapy. However after 2 months of therapy followed by 4 months of
treatment, we reversed the mutant P53 to a normal wild type function and
gradually the P53 wild protein production had risen to a high level leading to
increased self-destruction of cancer cells.
The patient refused chemotherapy but agreed to take some radiation therapy.
He was sent by his medical doctor to take molecular markers testing to first
check if radiotherapy will be efficient or not. P53, BAX or either P21 should
be active, sensitive to radiation and increase self-destruction of cancer cells.
New Reference range: P53 protein level wild 0.10 1.00 units/ml of plasma
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P53 protein level
units/ml of plasma
Date of Wild P53 Mutated P53 gene BCL-2 BAX Survivin P21
blood Ref.range* P53 (wild
No sample <0.33 Ref.range expression
collection units/ml of N.D.** level
plasma Ref.range *
<106
copies/ml of
plasma
After radiation therapy and further treatment with natural compounds, the
patient was free from liver metastases.
Date of Wild P53 Mutated P53 gene BCL-2 BAX Survivin P21
blood Ref.range* P53 (wild
No sample <0.33 Ref.range expression
collection units/ml of N.D.** level
plasma Ref.range *
<106
copies/ml of
plasma
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Ratio of the 1st Analysis BCL/BAX - 0.89
- Survivin/P21 0.53
The results clearly show after 2 months with PSJ-53 therapy that we reversed
mutant P53 to a wild type function, however P53 protein was produced only
to a certain extent. However we have targeted BCL2 and especially the high
expression of Survivin to a normal range and eliminated resistance in some
population of cancer cells and increased the self-destruction of cancer cells
through chemotherapy/radiation with a resultant decrease in lung nodule
size. P21 gene expression is very highly active (4.527) and promotes the self-
destruction of cancer cells. P21 is a P53-independent channel to apoptosis and
can be independent of P53 activated by another channel such as the TGF-B.
P21 is very sensitive to radiation in destroying cancer cells.
Date of Wild P53 Mutated P53 gene BCL-2 BAX Survivin P21
blood Ref.range* P53 (wild
No sample <0.33 Ref.range expression
collection units/ml of N.D.** level
plasma Ref.range *
<106
copies/ml of
plasma
We have clearly demonstrated that mutant P53 can be targeted together with
other pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes using dietary compounds, which
for many patients has been proven with many scientific examples. This is only
one example and not the publication of cancer cases followed under 1 or 2
year period as we have done with many patients (This child has now been
treated for over 2 years with excellent results, and has taken 5 blood
analyses,
Which each time indicated what treatment should be done. However, my last
article in the Townsend Letter 2014 (p.68-74) showed complete cases relative
to breast cancer with molecular markers testing done over a one year period
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and more. Step by step it showed improvement and the normal balance
between the pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes (pp.68-74).
New avenues are now focusing on targeting apoptosis in cancer, which include
Oncogenes, BCL2, and Survivin that increases cancer cell resistance to
chemotherapy/radiation regimen while scientific literature today has already
accumulated thousands of articles on laboratory reports, theories, and
studies.
We urgently need to put into clinical practice what we have discovered and
learned. Targeting P53 and other genes remain one of the greatest challenges
in the treatment of cancer. We have been working now for over 8 years with
molecular markers as a diagnostic, prognosis, and follow up to treatment,
selected the appropriate bioactive dietary compounds or anticancer agents,
exceeding 1000 cases, blood tests, and successes. This may be an incentive
for more doctors to venture into this new direction in order to achieve more
beneficial results with their patient treatment, especially in cases where we
can verify the ones who would be refractory to chemotherapy and have a poor
response. It is always best to first check through patient testing, to determine
whether or not chemotherapy would be beneficial.
It is now more than 8 years since I have been involved with the study and
clinical practice of Molecular Markers and cancer, including P53 mutation and
we are able to modulate treatment of patients according to the results of the
test and predict better how patients react to chemotherapy.
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This Congress is a real opportunity for M.D., N.D.'s that are looking for a
better way to treat patients and enter now in the future which has now
arrived.
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