Lycopene / GSTs Cancer Research Results

Lyco, Lycopene: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Lycopene is a naturally occurring carotenoid found predominantly in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables.

Antioxidant Properties:
-Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. It helps neutralize free radicals, which can reduce oxidative stress—a factor implicated in cancer development. Possible concern about interfering with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However this review disagrees.
Inflammation Reduction:
-Some studies suggest that lycopene may help lower levels of inflammation, another process linked to cancer progression

At supraphysiological or extremely high concentrations, lycopene may have the potential to switch from an antioxidant to a prooxidant role
-The prooxidant effect of lycopene has been observed under conditions of high oxygen tension. In vitro studies have suggested that in environments with elevated oxygen levels, lycopene might promote rather than neutralize the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
-The presence of metal ions (such as iron or copper) in the environment can catalyze reactions where antioxidants, including lycopene, contribute to oxidative processes. These metals can interact with lycopene, potentially leading to the formation of radicals.

The mevalonate pathway produces cholesterol and a variety of isoprenoids, which are important for maintaining cell membrane integrity, protein prenylation, and other essential cellular functions.
-One of the primary enzymes in this pathway is HMG-CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase), which is the target of statin drugs used for lowering cholesterol. Some studies suggest that lycopene might downregulate the activity of HMG-CoA reductase or other enzymes in the mevalonate pathway. By doing so, lycopene could potentially reduce the synthesis of cholesterol and isoprenoids that are necessary for rapid cell proliferation—an especially relevant aspect in cancer cells.

Lycopene typically used in a 100mg/day range for cancer (inhibition of the the Melavonate Pathway)
-also has antiplatelet aggregation capability.

-Note half-life 16–20 days.
BioAv Heat processing, especially when combined with a small amount of fat, significantly enhances lycopene’s bioaccessibility and absorption. (20% under optimal conditions)
Pathways:
- ROS usually goes down, but may go up or down depending on dose and environment. Lycopene may also be modified to be a "oxdiative product" which may change the behaviour.
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, p38↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP9↓, IGF-1↓, uPA↓, VEGF↓, ROCK1↓, FAK↓, RhoA↓, NF-κB↓, ERK↓
- reactivate genes thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth : EZH2↓, P53↑, Sp proteins↓,
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, TNF-α↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓,
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, Integrins↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, ERK↓, JNK, - SREBP (related to cholesterol).
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells Label Primary Interpretation Notes
1 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↓ ROS ↓ ROS Driver Potent antioxidant activity Lycopene is a strong singlet-oxygen quencher with antioxidant dominance
2 IGF-1 / PI3K → AKT signaling ↓ IGF-1 signaling; ↓ AKT ↔ minimal Secondary Growth factor signaling attenuation Reduced IGF-1–driven proliferation is a key cancer-relevant effect
3 Cell cycle regulation ↑ G0/G1 arrest ↔ spared Phenotypic Cytostatic growth control Cell-cycle effects reflect growth factor modulation
4 Gap junction communication (connexins) ↑ gap junction signaling ↑ gap junction signaling Secondary Normalization of cell–cell communication Enhanced gap junctions are associated with reduced tumor progression
5 NF-κB / inflammatory signaling ↓ inflammatory signaling ↓ inflammatory tone Secondary Anti-inflammatory environment Inflammation reduction contributes to chemopreventive effects


GSTs, Glutathione S-transferases: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a family of phase II detoxification enzymes that play key roles in catalyzing the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to a wide range of electrophilic compounds. This family includes multiple isoenzymes (e.g., GST-α, GST-μ, GST-π) with tissue-specific expression patterns and overlapping as well as distinct substrate specificities.

-GSTs are important for detoxifying potentially harmful compounds, including products of oxidative stress, environmental toxins, and chemotherapeutic agents.
-They contribute to the cellular defense mechanism against oxidative damage and help maintain cellular redox balance.
-Beyond detoxification, GSTs can modulate cell signaling pathways, potentially affecting cell proliferation, apoptosis, and drug resistance.

-GST-π is commonly upregulated in several cancers such as breast, lung, colorectal, and hematologic malignancies.
-Elevated expression of specific GST isoenzymes—most notably GST-π—has been associated with a poorer prognosis in several cancer types. This is often linked to resistance to chemo- or radiotherapy, as higher GST activity can lead to more efficient detoxification of these agents, reducing their cytotoxic effects.
-In contrast, reduced GST expression in some contexts might indicate a less robust detoxification system, which can correlate with increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and possibly a less aggressive tumor phenotype.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
3528- Lyco,    The Importance of Antioxidant Activity for the Health-Promoting Effect of Lycopene
- Review, Nor, NA - Review, AD, NA - Review, Park, NA
*antiOx↑, *ROS↓, *BioAv↝, *Half-Life↑, *BioAv↓, *BioAv↑, *cardioP↑, *neuroP↑, *H2O2↓, *VitC↑, *VitE↑, *GPx↑, *GSH↑, *MPO↓, *GSTs↓, *SOD↑, *NF-kB↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, *IL10↑, *MAPK↓, *Akt↓, *COX2↓, *TNF-α↓, *TGF-β1↑, *NO↓, *GSR↑, *NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *TAC↑, *Inflam↓, *BBB↑, *neuroP↑, *memory↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

antiOx↑, 1,   GPx↑, 1,   GSH↑, 1,   GSR↑, 1,   GSTs↓, 1,   H2O2↓, 1,   HO-1↑, 1,   MPO↓, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   ROS↓, 1,   SOD↑, 1,   TAC↑, 1,   VitC↑, 1,   VitE↑, 1,  

Cell Death

Akt↓, 1,   MAPK↓, 1,  

Migration

TGF-β1↑, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature

NO↓, 1,  

Barriers & Transport

BBB↑, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

COX2↓, 1,   IL10↑, 1,   IL1β↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,   Inflam↓, 1,   NF-kB↓, 1,   TNF-α↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

BioAv↓, 1,   BioAv↑, 1,   BioAv↝, 1,   Half-Life↑, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers

IL6↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

cardioP↑, 1,   memory↑, 1,   neuroP↑, 2,  
Total Targets: 34

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: GSTs, Glutathione S-transferases
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:119  Target#:1153  State#:%  Dir#:1
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

Home Page