[Tom]

Dear Al and Becky,

I have had this piece of an article floating around my desktop for a few weeks and noticed your post regarding PI-3K inhibition. I had been researching articles on fibrotic lung disease and COPD, as a dear friend is going down the tubes fast with such a condition. I purchased her some IP-6 from the Vitamin Shoppe, and it is called Cell Forte. The "forte" name relates to a large study that uses retinoids to treat emphysema. I stumbled on this article, but do not have the source close at hand. When I have had a little sleep and can look for it again, I will post it as well. The part of the research that is germaine to your PI-3K quandry is below:




Mechanism of Cancer Suppression

The mechanism by which IP6 or myo-inositol exert chemopreventive and
anti-cancer effects is not completely understood. IP6 is rapidly
absorbed by cells (in vitro and in vivo) and metabolized to lower
phosphates and inositol (reviewed by Shamsuddin). It has been suggested
that lower inositol phosphates may mediate cancer inhibition, although
direct evidence for this is lacking. Both IP6 and its lower phosphates have
metal chelating activity and may interfere with tumor formation by suppressing
metal catalyzed oxidation of fats. Alternatively, IP6 may block the activity
of key enzyme(s) affecting cell proliferation. One enzyme candidate is PI-3
kinase which plays a central role in signal transduction and cell
transformation triggered by growth factor or tumor promoter. IP6 has been
reported to inhibit PI-3 kinase activity in vitro (Z. Dong, Univ. of
Minnesota, Austin). While this enzyme inhibition may explain the
chemopreventive effect of IP6, it is not known whether it mediates IP6's
effect on pre-existing tumors or
established cancer cells. Other, as yet, unknown mechanism may be
involved in the anti-cancer effect of IP6.