Other
Alexandra N. Nash, DMD (she/her/hers)
Pediatric Dental Resident
Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Lauren Ming, DDS
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Ashlee Cosantino, DDS
Program Director
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Mark L. Cannon, DDS
Research Mentor
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Glenview, Illinois, United States
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure cancer cell line inhibition in two syngeneic mouse cancer models, 4T1 mammary carcinoma and B16F10 melanoma, with 20% xylitol (prebiotic) solution intratumorally administered.
Methods: This study included two strains of humanized immunocompetent female mice: 20 C57BL/6 and 20 BALB/c. The BALB/c group was injected with 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells, and the C57BL/6 group was injected with B16F10 melanoma cells. When tumor sizes reached 50 to 100 mm3, both treatment groups were injected daily with 20% xylitol solution intratumorally and subcutaneously. Control mice received sterile saline. Tumor tissue and terminal blood were collected for pharmacokinetic, metabolomic and histopathologic analyses upon mouse expiration.
Results: After 5 days of 20% xylitol injections, tumor volumes reduced by 40% in the 4T1 cancer line. Tumor stroma deteriorated resulting with substantial xylitol leak. Thereafter, experimental and control tumor volumes would become clinically comparable by demise. Metabolomic analysis revealed clear differences between experimental and control tumor cellular metabolism. Lymph node histological analysis demonstrated metastasis in both groups by the time of euthanasia. The metabolomic analysis demonstrates that xylitol reduces tumor production of histamine, NADP+, ATP, and glutathione thereby improving host immune response with ROS.
Conclusions: Treatment with 20% xylitol solution reduced growth and metastasis of both tumor cell lines until stroma deterioration. The results of this study suggest that xylitol has potential as an adjunct to oncological treatment and is being further investigated along with improved methods of delivery.