Anti-tumour activity of deer growing antlers and its potential applications in the treatment of malignant gliomas

Abstract

A recent study showed that antlers have evolved a high rate of growth due to the expression of proto-oncogenes and that they have also evolved to express several tumour suppressor genes to control the risk of cancer. This may explain why deer antler velvet (DAV) extract shows anti-tumour activity. The fast growth of antler innervation through the velvet in close association to blood vessels provides a unique environment to study the fast but non-cancerous proliferation of heterogeneous cell populations. We set out to study the anti-cancer effect of DAV in glioblastoma (GB) cell lines in comparison with temozolomide, a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat high-grade brain tumours. Here we report, for the first time, that DAV extract from the tip, but not from mid-parts of the antler, exhibits an anti-tumour effect in GB cell lines (T98G and A172) while being non-toxic in non-cancerous cell lines (HEK293 and HACAT). In T98G cells, DAV treatment showed reduced proliferation (37.5%) and colony-formation capacity (84%), inhibited migration (39%), induced changes in cell cycle progression, and promoted apoptosis. The anticancer activity of DAV extract as demonstrated by these results may provide a new therapeutic strategy for GB treatment.

SWATH-MS Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Deer Antler from Two Regenerating and Mineralizing Sections

“…In this sense, creatine kinase B-type is involved in binding ATP, probably from the bloodstream into velvet antler cells, and serotransferrin (TRFE) is linked to cell proliferation. Particularly interesting functions among DAP proteins in the tip vs. mid sections may relate to the anti-cancer activity mentioned earlier; recently, Chonco et al [5] reported properties against glioblastoma in an extract from the tip, but not from the middle parts of the antler. However, it remains to be elucidated which protein or peptide is responsible for this important activity.…”

“…As a result, the study postulated that several tumor genes (e.g., TP53) could be suppressed to control the high risk of developing cancer. In this sense, several studies have found in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effects of deer antler velvet extract in human tumors such as glioblastoma [5], prostate [6,7], colon [8] and breast [9]. Velvet antler has been used as traditional medicine for over 2000 years and it is recognized in the pharmacopoeias of China, Korea and Japan.…”

Bioactive constituents of animal-derived traditional Chinese medicinal materials for breast cancer: opportunities and challenges

“…Recently, it was discovered that antler polypeptides and polysaccharides also exhibited antitumor effects. It was reported that antler velvet extract reduced proliferation, inhibited migration, and promoted apoptosis in glioblastoma cell lines, indicating that it may serve as a new therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma treatment (Chonco et al, 2021). Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), Zheng et al (2020) identified several bioactive polypeptides with potential tumor-suppressing properties from the water-soluble extract of pilose antler, including extracellular matrix repair proteins, intercellular adhesion proteins, and angiogenesis inhibitors.…”

Health Effects of Peptides Extracted from Deer Antler

“…Several studies have been conducted using molecular techniques and cellular and animal models to confirm the pharmacological effects of these components. Deer antler has great potential in treating many diseases such as bone injuries [ 4 ], neurodegenerative diseases [ 5 ], tumors [ 6 ], and inflammatory conditions [ 7 ].…”