Abstract 7304: Modulation of cytokine and chemokine profiles in pancreatic tumors and plasma via stage-specific intervention with Momordica Charantia juice in the LSL-KrasG12D/+, p48Cre/+ mouse model
Authors: Bugata Lakshmi Sai Pratyusha , Kumar Robin , Kabir Md. Imtiazul , Kant Rama , Agarwal Chapla , Agarwal Rajesh , Raina Komal 
Published: March 2024

According to the American Cancer Society ≈64,050 people will be newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States, while ≈55, 550 (men and women numbers combined) will die of this malignancy in 2023 alone. Epidemiological studies have indicated that a diet rich in natural agents might reduce pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) risk, prompting investigations into a natural agent with health benefits in pancreatic diseases [such as the fruits of Momordica Charantia (Bitter Melon)] as a potential natural and non-toxic anti-cancer approach against PDAC. Previously we have reported the protective effects of oral Bitter Melon Juice (BMJ-standardized-lyophilized powder) against growth and progression of PDAC in preclinical animal models (xenograft and patient-derived tumor models). In a recent study we reported the efficacy of BMJ against pancreatic cancer in the LSL-KrasG12D/+, p48Cre/+ transgenic mouse model [this model mimics the stage-specific progression of intraepithelial neoplasms to PDAC as it occurs in humans]. Both male and female LSL-KrasG12D/+, p48Cre/+ transgenic mice were subjected to BMJ intervention (daily oral gavage, dose: 200mg/kg body wt.) during different stages in disease progression. Intervention was started at 4 or 15 weeks of mice age and continued till study end (10 and 30 weeks of mice age respectively). Additionally, in one group of mice, intervention was initiated at 6 weeks of mice age and continued till 41 weeks of mice age (study end). Outcomes were compared with wild-type and disease-positive untreated control groups. Pancreatic tissue/tumors were harvested at study end and blood plasma was also collected. In the present study, we performed a stage specific evaluation of tissue and plasma cytokine/chemokine profiling after BMJ intervention to gain detailed mechanistic insights into the potential of BMJ to mediate it is anti-pancreatic cancer effect via modulation of inflammatory pathways associated with PDAC growth and progression. BMJ (15 weeks of treatment) demonstrated a significant response in modulating cytokine/chemokine profiles in LSL KrasG12D/+, p48Cre/+ mice pancreatic cancerous tissues (30 weeks old mice). BMJ intervention specifically downregulated the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1-gamma), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor (TNFR1), Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1/CD106) and L-selectin (CD62L). Furthermore, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis indicated significant inhibitory predictions on TNF-α, NF-κB and MCP-1 (CCL-2) associated inflammatory pathways. Overall, these outcomes signify that the anti- cancer effects of BMJ in KRAS harboring PDAC tumors is associated with down-regulation of inflammatory pathways associated with growth and progression of pancreatic cancer.

Citation Format: Lakshmi Sai Pratyusha Bugata, Robin Kumar, Md. Imtiazul Kabir, Rama Kant, Chapla Agarwal, Rajesh Agarwal, Komal Raina. Modulation of cytokine and chemokine profiles in pancreatic tumors and plasma via stage-specific intervention with Momordica Charantia juice in the LSL-KrasG12D/+, p48Cre/+ mouse model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7304.