Boros LG
Fermented wheat germ extract (Avemar) in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases
Authors
Journal
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Release date
2005; 1051:529-42.
Abstract/summary
Avemar, the product of industrial fermentation of wheat germ, possesses unique cancer-fighting characteristics. Taken orally, Avemar can inhibit metastatic tumor dissemination and proliferation during and after chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. Benefits of Avemar treatment have been shown in various human cancers, in cultures of in vitro grown cancer cells, in the prevention of chemical carcinogenesis, and also in some autoimmune conditions. This document reviews the clinical and experimental results obtained with this extract so far.
Keywords
Content type
Pubmed
Original publication
Professional work place of the authors
Metabolic Profiling of Cell Growth and Death in Cancer: Applications in Drug Discovery
Authors
Journal
Drug Discovery Today
Release date
2002; 7(6):18-26
Abstract/summary
Metabolic profiling using stable-isotope tracer technology enables the measurement of substrate redistribution within major metabolic pathways in living cells. This technique has been demonstrated that tranformed human cells exhibit profound metabolic shifts and that some and anti-cancer drugs produce their effects by forcing a reversion of these metabolic changes.
Content type
Pubmed
Original publication
Professional work place of the authors
Fermented wheat germ extract inhibits glycolysis/pentose cycle enzymes and induces apoptosis through poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation in Jurkat T-cell leukemia tumor cells
Authors
Journal
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Release date
2002; 277(48):46408-14.
Abstract/summary
The fermented extract of wheat germ, trade name Avemar, is a complex mixture of biologically active molecules with potent anti-metastatic activities in various human malignancies. Here we report the effect of Avemar on Jurkat leukemia cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and the activity of key glycolytic/pentose cycle enzymes that control carbon flow for nucleic acid synthesis. The cytotoxic IC(50) concentration of Avemar for Jurkat tumor cells is 0.2 mg/ml, and increasing doses of the crude powder inhibit Jurkat cell proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion.
Content type
Pubmed
Original publication
Professional work place of the authors
A metabolic hypothesis of cell growth and death in pancreatic cancer
Authors
Journal
Pancreas
Release date
2002; 24(1):26-33.
Abstract/summary
INTRODUCTION: Tumor cells, just as other living cells, possess the potential for proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. There is a specific metabolic phenotype associated with each of these conditions, characterized by the production of both energy and special substrates necessary for the cells to function in that particular state. Unlike that of normal living cells, the metabolic phenotype of tumor cells supports the proliferative state.
Keywords
Content type
Pubmed
Original publication
Professional work place of the authors
Wheat germ extract decreases glucose uptake and RNA ribose formation but increases fatty acid synthesis in MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells
Authors
Journal
Pancreas
Release date
2001; Volume 23:141-147
Abstract/summary
The fermented wheat germ extract with standardized benzoquinone composition has potent tumor propagation inhibitory properties. The authors show that this extract induces profound metabolic changes in cultured MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells when the [1,2-13C2]glucose isotope is used as the single tracer with biologic gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. MIA cells treated with 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL wheat germ extract showed a dose-dependent decrease in cell glucose consumption. uptake of isotope into ribosomal RNA (2.4%, 9.4%, and 28.0%), and release of 13CO2.
