Antiproliferative effects of carbon monoxide on pancreatic cancer

HO-1/CO system in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metabolism — Targeting HO-1 as an anti-tumor therapy

“…Iron and biliverdin were implicated in the HO-1-mediated increase in the resistance of pancreatic cancer cells. In contrast, in the recent study Vitek et al [63] have demonstrated that exposure of pancreatic cancer cells of several cell lines to CO, delivered either in the form of CORM-2 or a gas, has attenuated the proliferation of tumor cells. Moreover, it was suggested that CO-induced decrease in neovascularization of pancreatic cancer is mediated through Akt inhibition [63].…”

“…Antitumor effect of CO in regards to its inhibitory effect on angiogenesis has been also recently suggested by Vitek et al [63] and Ahmad et al [64]. In pancreatic cancer model, both in vitro and in vivo, CO exerted antiproliferative effects and inhibited microvascular density of xenotransplanted tumors [63]. Ahmad et al have found that 50 μM CORM-2 inhibits VEGFinduced cell proliferation, migration through the inhibition of VEGF-R2 activity and Akt phosphorylation in HUVEC cells [64].…”

“…In NSCLC overexpression of HO-1 or treatment with CO-releasing molecule, CORM-2, attenuated the expression of miR-378, what resulted in the inhibition of the synthesis of angiogenic mediators [61]. Antitumor effect of CO in regards to its inhibitory effect on angiogenesis has been also recently suggested by Vitek et al [63] and Ahmad et al [64]. In pancreatic cancer model, both in vitro and in vivo, CO exerted antiproliferative effects and inhibited microvascular density of xenotransplanted tumors [63].…”

Endothelium and cancer metastasis: Perspectives for antimetastatic therapy

“…In contrast, NO, prostacyclin (PGI2) or carbon oxide (CO) represents a group of agents of endogenous origin that in physiological conditions modulate vascular activity reveling their vasoprotective potential. An important influence of NO [105] or CO [106] on tumor progression and metastasis has already been shown, however, not fully understood yet. On the contrary, metastasis inhibiting activity has been intensively studied and shown for prostacyclin and its several stable analogues; [107,108] therefore, prostacyclin related pathways appears to be a promising direction in anticancer research.…”

Gasotransmitter delivery via self-assembling peptides: Treating diseases with natural signaling gases

“…As a result, CO has been investigated as an anti-cancer agent. In studies on the effects of CO on human pancreatic cancer cells, both CO gas and COreleasing molecules suppressed carcinogenesis [51]. These effects extended to a xenograft mouse model of pancreatic cancer in which CO therapy inhibited cancer cell proliferation and decreased microvascular density of the xenotransplanted tumor tissue.…”