Studies on anti-tumor and antimetastatic activities of fullerenol in a mouse breast cancer model Original Research Article

The purpose was to examine the anti-tumor and antimetastatic activities of fullerenol and their related mechanisms. Thirty EMT-6 tumor-bearing mice were injected intraperitoneally with 0.1 ml saline or 0.1 ml saline containing fullerenol C60(OH)20 (0.08 and 0.4 mg/ml) daily for 16 days. Using tumor tissues, we investigated imbalances in the oxidative defense system and the expression of several angiogenesis factors. C60(OH)20 exhibits anti-tumor and antimetastatic activities in EMT-6 breast cancer metastasis model. Treatment with C60(OH)20 was found to modulate oxidative stress significantly. The expression of several angiogenesis factors was reduced in tumor tissues after treatment with fullerenol. Importantly, CD31 (also known as PECAM-1, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule) expression and vessel density were markedly reduced in tumors from fullerenol-treated mice compared with controls. Modulation of oxidative stress in tumor tissues, inhibition of the formation of angiogenesis factors, and subsequent reduction in tumor vessel density and the nutrient supply to tumor cells could be important mechanisms by which fullerenol aggregates inhibit tumor growth and suppress carcinoma metastasis in vivo.