Positional isomers of aspirin are equally potent in inhibiting colon cancer cell growth: differences in mode of cyclooxygenase inhibition

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2013 Apr;345(1):85-94. doi: 10.1124/jpet.112.201970. Epub 2013 Jan 24.

Abstract

We compared the differential effects of positional isomers of acetylsalicylic acid (o-ASA, m-ASA, and p-ASA) on cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition, gastric prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, human adenocarcinoma colon cancer cell growth inhibition, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell-cycle progression. We also evaluated the gastric toxicity exerted by ASA isomers. All ASA isomers inhibit COX enzymes, but only the o-ASA exerted an irreversible inhibitory profile. We did not observe a significant difference between ASA isomers in their ability to decrease the in vivo synthesis of PGE2 and SOD activity. Furthermore, all isomers increased the levels of gastric and TNF-α when administered orally at equimolar doses. We observed a dose-dependent cell growth inhibitory effect; the order of potency was p-ASA > m-ASA ≈ o-ASA. There was a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation and an increase in apoptosis, with a concomitant Go/G1 arrest. The ulcerogenic profile of the three ASA isomers showed a significant difference between o-ASA (aspirin) and its two positional isomers when administered orally at equimolar doses (1 mmol/kg); the ulcer index (UI) for o-ASA indicated extensive mucosal injury (UI = 38), whereas m-ASA and p-ASA produced a significantly decreased toxic response (UI = 12 and 8, respectively) under the same experimental conditions. These results suggest that the three positional isomers of ASA exert practically the same biologic profile in vitro and in vivo but showed different safety profiles. The mechanism of gastric ulcer formation exerted by aspirin and its two isomers warrants a more detailed and thorough investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Aspirin / chemistry
  • Aspirin / pharmacology*
  • Aspirin / toxicity
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Colonic Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / toxicity
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Isomerism
  • Male
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Stomach Ulcer / chemically induced
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Aspirin