The emerging role of fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) in cancers

[pca2004]

New paper [1].

Every now & then we see a paper claiming that, if only we could inhibit a particular protein, cancer would be more manageable. Here's another: fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5).

But wait, this is a paper from four Artelo Biosciences, CA, employees (& someone, oddly, from the Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.) Perhaps Artelo Biosciences is going to spend serious money on developing a FABP5 inhibitor?

"Fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5, or epidermal FABP) is an intracellular chaperone of fatty acid molecules that regulates lipid metabolism and cell growth. In patient-derived tumours, FABP5 expression is increased up to tenfold, often co-expressed with other cancer-related proteins. High tumoral FABP5 expression is associated with poor prognosis. FABP5 activates transcription factors (TFs) leading to increased expression of proteins involved in tumorigenesis. Genetic and pharmacological preclinical studies show that inhibiting FABP5 reduces protumoral markers, whereas elevation of FABP5 promotes tumour growth and spread. Thus, FABP5 might be a valid target for novel therapeutics. The evidence base is currently strongest for liver, prostate, breast, and brain cancers, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which could represent relevant patient populations for any drug discovery programme. Teaser: This review presents the growing evidence that upregulated fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) plays a role in the progression of multiple cancer types, and may represent a novel therapeutic target."

There have been 17 PCa-FABP5 papers since 2000.

Interestingly, from 2019:

"Identification and characterization of oligomeric proanthocyanidins with significant anti-cancer activity in adzuki beans ( Vigna angularis)" [2]

"Proanthocyanidins are a class of polyphenols found in many plants, such as cranberry, blueberry, and grape seeds. Chemically, they are oligomeric flavonoids. Many are oligomers of catechin and epicatechin and their gallic acid esters." [3]

The Japanese study examined proanthocyanidin fractions from adzuki beans:

"These fractions showed significant anti-cancer activity against the human PC-3 prostate cancer cell line.

"They also significantly suppressed the expression of the fatty acid-binding protein 5 gene, which plays critical roles in cell growth and metastasis in prostate cancer."

I was wondering about commonly available grape seed extracts. Products are sometimes standardized to 95% proanthocyanidins.

-Patrick

[1] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/372...

[2] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/316...

[3] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proan...

[MateoBeach]

Nice to see the proanthrocyanidins and their oligo-polymers provide another possible avenue for phytochemical health enhancement and a possible support in fighting PC. So grape seed extracts and skins, and cocoa are very rich. But cannot top cinnamon bark. A teaspoon anyone?

As far as the OPCs: “Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) strictly refer to dimer and trimer polymerizations of catechins. OPCs are found in most plants and thus are common in the human diet. Especially the skin, seeds, and seed coats of purple or red pigmented plants contain large amounts of OPCs.[6] They are dense in grape seeds and skin, and therefore in red wine and grape seed extract, cocoa, nuts and all Prunus fruits (most concentrated in the skin), and in the bark of Cinnamomum (cinnamon)[4] and Pinus pinaster (pine bark; formerly known as Pinus maritima), along with many other pine species. OPCs also can be found in blueberries, cranberries (notably procyanidin A2),[26] aronia,[27] hawthorn, rosehip, and sea buckthorn.[28]

Thanks for finding and posting this. You are a “ferret” (in the best sense). Paul

[marnieg46 in reply to MateoBeach]

So Paul does Resveratrol fit in here or is that something different again?

[MateoBeach in reply to marnieg46]

Resveratrol is not specifically an OPC but occurs along with it. I take Resveratrol even though technical bioavailability is low. Because it supports gut microbiome which metabolize it into other probably beneficial bio active derivatives that are actually the beneficial molecules. Hugs, Marnie