Constantinou C et al. – Evidence presented in this review regarding the additive or synergistic anticarcinogenic effects obtained when vitamin E analogs are used in combination with other cancer chemotherapeutic agents, supports further research to design the most promising vitamin E derivatives and clinically test them in adjuvant chemotherapeutic treatments. Methods
Review
Results
Historically, most research focused on α-tocopherol, however more recent evidence suggests that the other isomers of vitamin E (β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols and α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols) differ in their proapoptotic potencies
Mitochondria are the major target for the induction of apoptosis by vitamin E isomers and analogs; various signaling pathways regulated by these agents are likely to contribute towards maximizing the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis triggered initially by the mitochondria
No direct link exists between the antioxidant activity of each isomer/derivative and proapoptotic potency
Tocotrienols are more effective proapoptotic agents than tocopherols
Synthetic modifications of the naturally occurring compounds may improve their apoptotic potency
Vitamin E isomers and derivatives regulate caspase-independent pathways of apoptosis
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