Alpha-Lipoic-Acid / TumCI Cancer Research Results

ALA, Alpha-Lipoic-Acid: Click to Expand ⟱
Features: antioxidant, energy production in cell mitochondria
Alpha-Lipoic-Acid: also known as lipoic acid or thioctic acid (reduced form is dihydrolipoic acid).
"Universal antioxidant" because it is both water- and fat-soluble and can neutralize free radicals.
-Treatment sometimes as ALA/N (alpha-lipoic acid/low-dose naltresone)
-Also done in IV
-Decreases ROS production, but also has pro-oxidant role.
Normal adult can take 300 milligrams twice a day with food, but they should always take a B-complex vitamin with it. Because B complex vitamins, especially thiamine, and biotin, and riboflavin, are depleted during this metabolic process.
α-Lipoic acid acts as a chelating agent for metal ions, a quenching agent for reactive oxygen species, and a reducing agent for the oxidized form of glutathione and vitamins C and E.
-It seems a paradox that LA functions as both antioxidant and prooxidant. LA functions the pro-oxidant only in special cancer cells, such as A549 and PC9 cells which should show high-level NRF2 expression and high glycolytic level. Through inhibiting PDK1 to further prohibit NRF2; LA functions as anticancer prooxidant.

α-lipoic acid possesses excellent silver chelating properties.

ALA → ROS ↑ (cancer cells; high dose / stressed mitochondria)
ALA → ROS ↓ (normal cells; low–moderate dose)
same pattern seen with: Vitamin C, Menadione, Quercetin, EGCG, Resveratrol
- ALA acts as pro-Oxidant only in cancer cells:#278 - Pro-Oxidant Dose margin >100uM:#304

- Bioavailability: 80-90%, but conversion to EPA/DHA is 5-10% (and takes longer time).
- AI (Adequate Intake): 1.1-1.6g/day.
- human studies have shown that ALA levels decline significantly with age
- 1g of ALA might achieve 500uM in the blood.
- ALA is poorly soluble, lecithin has been used as an amphiphilic matrix to enhance its bioavailability.
- Pilot studies or observational interventions have used flaxseed supplementation (rich in ALA) in doses providing roughly 3–4 g of ALA daily.
- Flaxseed oil is even more concentrated in ALA – typical 50–60% ALA by weight.
- single walnut may contain 300mg of ALA
- chia oil contains 55-65% ALA.
- α-LA can also be obtained from the diet through the consumption of dark green leafy vegetables and meats
- ALA is more stable in chia seeds, (2grams of ALA per tablespoon)
- ALA degrades when exposed to heat, light, and air. (prone to oxidation)

-Note half-life 1-2 hrs.
BioAv 30-40% from walnuts, 60-80% from supplements. Co-ingestion with fat improves absorption. Both fat and water soluble
Pathways:
- induce ROS production
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, UPR↑, GRP78↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑,
- Lowers AntiOxidant defense in Cancer Cells: NRF2↓, SOD↓, GSH↓ Catalase↓ HO1↓ GPx↓
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, IGF-1↓, VEGF↓, FAK↓, NF-κB↓, TGF-β↓, α-SMA↓, ERK↓
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI, TNF-α↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓,
- inhibits glycolysis and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, GLUT1↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, PFKs↓, PDKs↓, ECAR↓, OXPHOS↓, GRP78↑, Glucose↓, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, EGFR↓, Integrins↓,
- small indication of inhibiting Cancer Stem Cells : CSC↓, CD24↓, β-catenin↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, ERK↓, JNK,
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Cancer-Relevant Pathways
Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells Label Interpretation Notes
1 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↑ ROS (dose- & stress-dependent) ↓ ROS Conditional Driver Biphasic redox behavior ALA/DHLA redox cycling can push already stressed cancer mitochondria past tolerance while buffering ROS in normal cells
2 Glutathione (GSH) system ↓ functional buffering ↑ GSH regeneration Secondary Redox amplification vs protection In cancer cells, GSH consumption accompanies ROS escalation; in normal cells DHLA supports GSH recycling
3 Mitochondrial function (ΔΨm) ↓ ΔΨm (stress-induced) ↔ stabilized Secondary Mitochondrial selectivity Cancer cells with unstable ETC show depolarization; normal cells tolerate or benefit metabolically
4 NF-κB signaling ↓ survival signaling ↓ inflammatory tone Secondary Redox-sensitive transcription NF-κB suppression reduces cancer cell survival programs but is anti-inflammatory in normal tissue
5 Cell proliferation ↓ proliferation ↔ spared Phenotypic Cytostatic selectivity ALA slows cancer cell cycling without universal apoptosis
6 Apoptosis ↑ apoptosis (conditional) ↓ apoptosis Phenotypic Threshold-dependent death Occurs in cancer cells when redox stress exceeds buffering capacity
7 NRF2 antioxidant response ↑ NRF2 (adaptive, often insufficient) ↑ NRF2 (protective) Adaptive Stress compensation NRF2 reflects attempted redox recovery; not a kill mechanism


TumCI, Tumor Cell invasion: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Tumor cell invasion is a critical process in cancer progression and metastasis, where cancer cells spread from the primary tumor to surrounding tissues and distant organs. This process involves several key steps and mechanisms:

1.Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT): Many tumors originate from epithelial cells, which are typically organized in layers. During EMT, these cells lose their epithelial characteristics (such as cell-cell adhesion) and gain mesenchymal traits (such as increased motility). This transition is crucial for invasion.

2.Degradation of Extracellular Matrix (ECM): Tumor cells secrete enzymes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), that degrade the ECM, allowing cancer cells to invade surrounding tissues. This degradation facilitates the movement of cancer cells through the tissue.

3.Cell Migration: Once the ECM is degraded, cancer cells can migrate. They often use various mechanisms, including amoeboid movement and mesenchymal migration, to move through the tissue. This migration is influenced by various signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment.

4.Angiogenesis: As tumors grow, they require a blood supply to provide nutrients and oxygen. Tumor cells can stimulate the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) through the release of growth factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This not only supports tumor growth but also provides a route for cancer cells to enter the bloodstream.

5.Invasion into Blood Vessels (Intravasation): Cancer cells can invade nearby blood vessels, allowing them to enter the circulatory system. This step is crucial for metastasis, as it enables cancer cells to travel to distant sites in the body.

6.Survival in Circulation: Once in the bloodstream, cancer cells must survive the immune response and the shear stress of blood flow. They can form clusters with platelets or other cells to evade detection.

7.Extravasation and Colonization: After traveling through the bloodstream, cancer cells can exit the circulation (extravasation) and invade new tissues. They may then establish secondary tumors (metastases) in distant organs.

8.Tumor Microenvironment: The surrounding microenvironment plays a significant role in tumor invasion. Factors such as immune cells, fibroblasts, and signaling molecules can either promote or inhibit invasion and metastasis.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
3442- ALA,    α‑lipoic acid modulates prostate cancer cell growth and bone cell differentiation
- in-vitro, Pca, 22Rv1 - in-vitro, Pca, C4-2B - in-vitro, Nor, 3T3
tumCV↓, TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, ROS↑, Hif1a↑, JNK↑, Casp↑, TumCCA↑, Apoptosis↑, selectivity↑,
1124- ALA,    Alpha lipoic acid inhibits proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transition of thyroid cancer cells
- in-vitro, Thyroid, BCPAP - in-vitro, Thyroid, HTH-83 - in-vitro, Thyroid, CAL-62 - in-vitro, Thyroid, FTC-133 - in-vivo, NA, NA
TumCP↓, AMPK↑, mTOR↓, TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, EMT↓, E-cadherin↑, β-catenin/ZEB1↓, Vim↓, Snail↓, Twist↓, TGF-β↓, p‑SMAD2↓, TumCG↓,
297- ALA,    Insights on the Use of α-Lipoic Acid for Therapeutic Purposes
- Review, BC, SkBr3 - Review, neuroblastoma, SK-N-SH - Review, AD, NA
PDH↑, TumCG↓, ROS↑, AMPK↑, EGR4↓, Half-Life↓, BioAv↝, *GSH↑, *IronCh↑, *ROS↓, *antiOx↑, *neuroP↑, *Ach↑, *lipid-P↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, TumCP↓, FDG↓, Apoptosis↑, AMPK↑, mTOR↓, EGFR↓, TumCI↓, TumCMig↓, *memory↑, *BioAv↑, *BioAv↝, *other↓, *other↝, *Half-Life↓, *BioAv↑, *ChAT↑, *GlucoseCon↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 3 of 3

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

ROS↑, 2,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

AMPK↑, 3,   FDG↓, 1,   PDH↑, 1,  

Cell Death

Apoptosis↑, 2,   Casp↑, 1,   JNK↑, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics

tumCV↓, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence

TumCCA↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

EMT↓, 1,   mTOR↓, 2,   TumCG↓, 2,  

Migration

E-cadherin↑, 1,   p‑SMAD2↓, 1,   Snail↓, 1,   TGF-β↓, 1,   TumCI↓, 3,   TumCMig↓, 3,   TumCP↓, 2,   Twist↓, 1,   Vim↓, 1,   β-catenin/ZEB1↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature

EGFR↓, 1,   EGR4↓, 1,   Hif1a↑, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

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

Clinical Biomarkers

EGFR↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 29

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

antiOx↑, 1,   GSH↑, 1,   lipid-P↓, 1,   ROS↓, 1,  

Metal & Cofactor Biology

IronCh↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

GlucoseCon↑, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics

Ach↑, 1,   other↓, 1,   other↝, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

IL1β↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,  

Synaptic & Neurotransmission

ChAT↑, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

BioAv↑, 2,   BioAv↝, 1,   Half-Life↓, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers

IL6↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

memory↑, 1,   neuroP↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 18

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: TumCI, Tumor Cell invasion
3 Alpha-Lipoic-Acid
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#:29  Target#:324  State#:%  Dir#:1
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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