Abstract #2336: Anti-PAK1 products Bio 30 and Brazilian green propolis extract (GPE) suppress the growth of human NF and glioma xenografts in mice

More than 70% of human cancers including breast, pancreatic cancer and glioma as well as neurofibromatosis (NF) tumors require the kinase PAK1 for their growth. Although there are a few pure chemical compounds such as FK228 and CEP-1347 that directly or eventually block the oncogenic PAK1 signaling pathways, so far none of them is available for the treatment of these formidable tumors. We have identified a few natural anti-PAK1 products including Bio 30, a caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) -rich water-miscible extract of propolis from New Zealand (NZ) and the anti-cancer polyphenol Artepillin (ARC)-rich Brazilian green propolis extract (GPE) which block the growth of NF tumors in mouse xenograft models. CAPE is an anti-cancer polyphenol primarily derived from young buds of poplar trees, which is collected by honey bees to make honey combs. We previously demonstrated that CAPE and ARC selectively block the PAK1 signaling pathways in cell culture. Naturally CAPE-based Bio 30, and ARC-based GPE block the growth of both NF1 and NF2 tumor cells in vitro . Furthermore, Bio 30 (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.) twice a week) almost completely blocks the growth of both human malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) NF1 tumors and NF2 schwannomas as well as grade-4 glioma xenografts in mice. Similarly GPE (500 mg/kg, i.p., twice a week) almost completely suppresses the growth of NF2 tumor xenograft in mice . Currently clinical Bio 30 trials for NF and glioma patients are in progress. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 2336.