# B216 Effects of lycopene supplementation on plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 and lung squamous metaplasia in smoke-exposed ferrets. Chun Liu, Fuzhi Lian, Robert M Russell and Xiang-Dong Wang, Nutrition and Cancer Biology Laboratory, USDA-HNRCA Tufts University, Boston, MA. Lycopene appears to protect against a broad range of epithelial cancers, e.g., prostate, breast and lung. Lung cancer risk is independently associated with higher levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and lower levels of IGF binding protein-3 (I GFBP-3). However, it is unknown whether lycopene can affect blood IGF-I/IGFBP-3 levels and inhibit smoke-induced lung carcinogenesis. We evaluated the effects of lycopene supplementation at a low dose (1.1 mg/kg/day that is equivalent to an intake of 15 mg/day in humans) and a high dose (4.3 mg/kg/day that is equivalent to 60 mg/day in humans) on blood IGF-I/IGFBP-3 levels and lung histopathological changes in ferrets with or without cigarette smoke-exposure for 9 weeks (n = 6-12 in each group). We found that ferrets supplemented with lycopene and exposed to smoke had significantly higher plasma IGFBP-3 levels (P < 0.01) and lower IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio (P < 0.01) than ferrets exposed to smoke alone group. Further, both low- and high-dose lycopene supplementations substantially inhibited smoke-induced squamous metaplasia in the lungs of ferrets. No squamous metaplasia was found in the lungs of control ferrets with or without lycopene supplementation. We also observed that lycopene levels were increased in a dose-dependent manner in both plasma and lungs of ferrets supplemented with lycopene alone. However, lycopene levels were markedly lower in both plasma and lungs of ferrets supplemented with lycopene and exposed to smoke. In ferrets supplemented with lycopene, all-trans-lycopene was the predominant isomer (~66%) found in the lung tissues of ferrets, whereas 13-cis-lycopene and 9-cis-lycopene were ~20% and ~14%, respectively. Smoke-exposure increased cis isomers (13-cis, 26%, and 9-cis, 22%) of lycopene in the lungs of ferrets. In conclusion, 1) lycopene supplementation reduced the development of lung squamous metaplasia in smoke-exposed ferrets; 2) cigarette smoke exposure decreased the elevated levels of lycopene in both plasma and lung of lycopene-supplemented ferrets; 3) lycopene may mediate its protective effects against lung cancer risk through up-regulating IGFBP-3, and interrupting the signal transduction pathway of IGF-1. (Supported by NIH Grant # ES11537) Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.