Alpha-Lipoic-Acid / COX2 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↓">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


COX2, cycloocygenase-2 (Cox-2) mRNA and Cox-2 protein: Click to Expand ⟱
Source: HalifaxProj(inhibit)
Type:
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that plays a critical role in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, which are lipid compounds involved in various physiological processes, including inflammation, pain, and fever. COX-2 is an inducible enzyme, meaning its expression is typically low in normal tissues but can be upregulated in response to inflammatory stimuli, growth factors, and certain oncogenic signals.
-Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis, plays a key role in inflammation and circulatory homeostasis.
-COX-2 is an inducible enzyme that is upregulated in response to pro-inflammatory signals, including cytokines (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α) and growth factors.

COX-2 is often overexpressed in various tumors, including colorectal, breast, lung, and prostate cancers.
The prostaglandins produced by COX-2, particularly prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), have several effects that can facilitate cancer progression:
Cell Proliferation: PGE2 can promote the proliferation of cancer cells by activating signaling pathways such as the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways.
Nonselective NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2. Epidemiological studies have suggested that regular use of NSAIDs may reduce the risk of certain cancers, particularly colorectal cancer.
Drugs specifically targeting COX-2, such as celecoxib, have been developed.

COX-2 and xanthine oxidase are ROS-producing pro-oxidant enzymes that contribute to inflammation. Elevated COX‑2 levels, often found in inflammatory conditions or certain types of cancers, can contribute to increased production of ROS.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
3550- ALA,    Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Beneficial or Harmful in Alzheimer's Disease?
- Review, AD, NA
*antiOx↑, *Inflam↓, *PGE2↓, *COX2↓, *iNOS↓, *TNF-α↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, *BioAv↓, *Ach↑, *ROS↓, *cognitive↑, *neuroP↑, *BBB↑, *Half-Life↓, *BioAv↑, *Casp3↓, *Casp9↓, *ChAT↑, *cognitive↑, *eff↑, *cAMP↑, *IL2↓, *INF-γ↓, *TNF-α↓, *SIRT1↑, *SOD↑, *GPx↑, *MDA↓, *NRF2↑,
3549- ALA,    Important roles of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid in regulating cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric issues in metabolic-related dementia
- Review, AD, NA
*Inflam↓, *other↝, *other↝, *neuroP↑, *BioAv↝, *adiP↑, *BBB↑, *Casp6↓, *Casp9↓, *TNF-α↓, *IL6↓, *IL1β↓, *ROS↓, *NO↓, *iNOS↓, *COX2↓, *JNK↓, *p‑NF-kB↓, *Aβ↓, *BP↓, *memory↑, *cAMP↑, *ERK↑, *Akt↑, cognitive?,
1255- PI,  ALA,    Antileukemic effects of piperlongumine and alpha lipoic acid combination on Jurkat, MEC1 and NB4 cells in vitro
- in-vitro, CLL, NA
COX2↓, Casp3↑,

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:


Cell Death

Casp3↑, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

COX2↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

cognitive?, 1,  
Total Targets: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

antiOx↑, 1,   GPx↑, 1,   MDA↓, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   ROS↓, 2,   SOD↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

adiP↑, 1,   cAMP↑, 2,   SIRT1↑, 1,  

Cell Death

Akt↑, 1,   Casp3↓, 1,   Casp6↓, 1,   Casp9↓, 2,   iNOS↓, 2,   JNK↓, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics

Ach↑, 1,   other↝, 2,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

ERK↑, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature

NO↓, 1,  

Barriers & Transport

BBB↑, 2,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

COX2↓, 2,   IL1β↓, 2,   IL2↓, 1,   IL6↓, 2,   INF-γ↓, 1,   Inflam↓, 2,   p‑NF-kB↓, 1,   PGE2↓, 1,   TNF-α↓, 3,  

Synaptic & Neurotransmission

ChAT↑, 1,  

Protein Aggregation

Aβ↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

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

Clinical Biomarkers

BP↓, 1,   IL6↓, 2,  

Functional Outcomes

cognitive↑, 2,   memory↑, 1,   neuroP↑, 2,  
Total Targets: 41

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: COX2, cycloocygenase-2 (Cox-2) mRNA and Cox-2 protein
3 Alpha-Lipoic-Acid
1 Piperine
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#:66  State#:%  Dir#:%
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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