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Xinhuai Zhao talks
with ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions
about this month's Fast Breaking Paper in the field of
Agricultural Sciences.
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Article Title: Flavones and flavonols exert
cytotoxic effects on a human oesophageal adenocarcinoma
cell line (OE33) by causing G2/M arrest and inducing
apoptosis
Authors: Zhang, Q;Zhao, XH;Wang, ZJ
Journal: FOOD CHEM TOXICOL, Volume: 46, Issue: 6, Page:
2042-2053, Year: JUN 2008
* NE Agr Univ, Dept Food Sci, Minist Educ, Key Lab Dairy
Sci, Harbin 150030, Heilongjiang, Peoples R China.
* NE Agr Univ, Dept Food Sci, Minist Educ, Key Lab Dairy
Sci, Harbin 150030, Heilongjiang, Peoples R China.
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Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
Phytochemicals are a hot topic in both food and medical sciences, and many
scientists are interested in this field, which may be the reason why our
paper was highly cited. Our paper reports on a study describing the effects
of a number of dietary flavones and flavonols on a human esophageal
carcinoma cell line (OE33) in vitro, which had not previously been
well–studied. We identified the anticancer activities of these
compounds in this cancer cell and revealed the molecular pathways and
important genes (esp.14-3-3s) that mediate the anticancer activities of
flavones and flavonols.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
"Our research will explore the molecular mechanisms
underlying the anticancer activities of flavonoids
and find the relationship between the structures of
phytochemicals and their anticancer
activities..."
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The paper describes some new target genes regulated by flavones and
flavonols in human esophageal carcinoma cells (OE33), for example, 14-3-3s,
and provides new proof of the anticancer activities of plant-derived foods.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper in
layman’s terms?
Dietary flavonoids, which include flavones, flavonols, isoflavones,
flavanols, flavanones, flavanonols, isoflavones, and chalcones, are
ubiquitously found in plant-derived foods and medical plants. This study
has made significant contributions to the improved understanding of the
anticancer effect of phytochemicals. It also makes us aware of the
importance of plant-derived food-intake.
How did you become involved in this research, and were
there any problems along the way?
Evidence has been accumulated indicating that dietary intake of plant-based
diets can reduce the risk of many cancers, especially the cancers in the
digestive system. As a digestive system cancer, esophageal cancer has a
high incidence and high mortality rate in China.
Considerable epidemiological investigations indicate that flavonoids have
an important role in the anticancer activities of plant-derived foods.
However, the molecular mechanism of the effect of flavonoids on cancer
remains unclear. Therefore, we are attempting to understand this mechanism
by studying the effects of flavones and flavonols on a human esophageal
carcinoma cell line. It is fortunate that I and my coauthors have found
some promising results.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
Our research will explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the
anticancer activities of flavonoids and find the relationship between the
structures of phytochemicals and their anticancer activities, which may
provide more evidence to reveal the anticancer effects of flavonoids.
Do you foresee any social or political implications for
your research?
Understanding the molecular mechanism of the inhibitory effects of flavones
and flavonols on some cancer cells will provide a guideline for people to
help prevent cancer by regulating their dietary patterns, or to treat
cancer by finding or reformulating new anticancer drugs.
Professor Xinhuai Zhao
Key Laboratory of Dairy Science
Ministry of Education
Northeast Agricultural University
Heilongjiang, PRC
KEYWORDS: PROSTATE-CANCER CELLS; CYCLE ARREST;
CARCINOMA-CELLS; HUMAN BREAST; TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVITY; P53-INDEPENDENT
PATHWAY; ANTICANCER AGENTS; APIGENIN; INDUCTION; RISK.
