RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 34 (2) June 2022, p. 368-379

PALM GAMMA-TOCOTRIENOL SUPPLEMENTATION SUPPRESS TUMOUR GROWTH AND METASTASIS IN A SYNGENEIC MOUSE MODEL OF BREAST CANCER

SHONIA SUBRAMANIAM1,2; AMMU KUTTY RADHAKRISHNAN3; JEYA SEELA ANANDHA RAO4; PREMDASS RAMDAS5; NG MEI HAN2; METHIL KANNAN KUTTY6 and KANGA RANI SELVADURAY2*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2021.0048
Received: 1 March 2021   Accepted: 28 September 2021   Published Online: 22 November 2021
ABSTRACT

Gamma-tocotrienol (γT3) is an isoform of vitamin E found abundantly in palm oil, which is reported topossess antioxidant and anticancer activities. However, the immune-modulating properties of γT3 have yetto be elucidated. Breast cancer (BC) was induced in female BALB/c mice by injecting 4T1 murine mammarycancer cells into their mammary fat pads. When the tumour was palpable, the animals were randomlyassigned into two groups: (i) control [fed twice daily with 50 μl vehicle (soy oil)] or (ii) experimental (fedtwice daily with 50 μl of 0.5 mg of γT3). Results show that mice fed with γT3 had reduced tumour growthand metastasis. However, there are no marked changes in the percentages of peripheral blood leukocytes andcytokines production in these animals. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies to murine CD4, IL12Rβ2,IL24 and FoxP3 on tumour sections from γT3 treated mice suggested that γT3 induced suppression oftumour growth and metastasis as well as reduced immunosuppression in the tumour microenvironment.It can be concluded that, γT3 has the potential to suppress tumour growth and metastasis in this model.Further investigation on the host immune response is possible by prolonging treatment duration against BC.

KEYWORDS:


1 Faculty School of Postgraduate Studies,
International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19,
Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

2Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi,
43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

3 Jeffery Cheah School of Medicine,
Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan,
Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

4 Pathology Division, School of Medicine,
International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19,
Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

5 Applied Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology,
School of Health Sciences, International Medical University,
126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil,
57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

6 Faculty of Medicine, Lincoln University,
2, Jalan Stadium SS 7/15, SS 7,
47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

* Corresponding author e-mail: krani@mpob.gov.my