ATSU-KCOM faculty discover possible new use for Alli

Research shows weight loss product decreases cancer in mice

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (June 17,2009) – A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) graduate study student Shawn Dowling, M.S., under the supervision of Biochemistry Professor Richard Cenedella, Ph.D., and Associate Professor James Cox, Ph.D., recently received acceptance of their manuscript into the journal Lipids. The manuscript, entitled “Inhibition of fatty acid synthase by Orlistat accelerates gastric tumor cell apoptosis in culture and increases survival rates in gastric tumor bearing mice in vivo,” shows that the anti-obesity drug Orlistat, known as Alli, an FDA approved over-the-counter weight-loss product, decreases the development of gastrointestinal cancer in mice.

The team worked on this project for almost two years. “We became interested in Orlistat due to emerging data that showed it can inhibit fatty acid synthesis and that it is not absorbed into the body from the digestive tract,” Dr. Cenedella said. “If it stays in the gut, it might destroy cancer cells in the GI tract,” he explained.

Dr. Cox is a recognized authority on cancer cell matastasis, particularly melanoma cancer, and Dr. Cenedella’s laboratory, funded for more than 40 years by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study lipids and disease, has published more than 100 peer reviewed manuscripts and was one of the first to report on the mechanism of cachexia, the wasting away associated with cancer.

“Dowling’s work showed that Orlistat inhibited the growth of GI tumor cells in the ‘test tube’ and prolonged the survival of mice with GI cancer similar to human cancer,” said Dr. Cenedella. The next step is to conduct an epidemiological study to examine the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer in people who use Orlistat (Alli) versus people who do not use Orlistat (Alli).

Lipids, published by Scientists for Scientists, was introduced in 1966 and is one of the premier journals published in the lipid field today. This monthly journal features full-length original research articles, short communications, methods papers, and review articles on timely topics. All papers are meticulously peer reviewed and edited by some of the foremost experts in their respective fields.