Professor Dr. Hans-Ulrich Humpf
In vitro and in vivo modulation of growth regulatory effects as a possible mechanism for the disruption of
the cancer promoting properties of fumonisin B1
Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a secondary metabolite of Fusarium verticillioides, a
fungus infecting maize. It causes fatal deseases in animals and is associated with several diseases in humans.
FB1 is hepatocarcinogenic in rats and exhibits low cancer-initiating and potent cancer-promoting
acitivities in the liver. Mechanisms related to cancer promotion induced by FB1 are not fully
understood, but studies suggest that the modulation of lipid metabolism could play an important role. Three
major aspects will be investigated:
Evaluating the role of FB1 on cholesterol metabolism.
Investigating the modulation role of essential fatty acids on the growth regulatory effects of
FB1 in cell culture systems, including normal and cancer cell lines.
Investigating the modulation effects of essential dietary fatty acid on the cancer promoting activity of
FB1 in vivo, utilizing a short-term cancel model in rat liver.
