Growth inhibition of head and neck carcinomas by D ‐allose

BACKGROUND: An inhibitory effect of D-allose, a rare sugar, on several cancer cell lines has been reported. This study aimed to investigate the growth inhibition of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by D-allose. METHODS: We treated 3 head and neck carcinoma cell lines with D-allose, D-fructose, D-psicose, and D-glucose. Cell growth assays as well as analyses of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, cell cycle, apoptosis, and uptake of 14C-glucose were performed. RESULTS: D-allose had inhibitory effects on all 3 cell lines and tended to upregulate mRNA expression of glucose transporters, p21 and p53, and downregulate mRNA expression of cyclin A2, cyclin B1, and CDC2. We observed that D-allose tended to interfere with the intracellular uptake of D-glucose and induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that D-allose inhibits the growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. D-allose has a considerable potential as a new anticancer agent in those patients.