Preventive Effects by Black Raspberries of Endometrial Carcinoma Initiation and Promotion Induced by a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Scope: The chemopreventive effects of black raspberries (BRBs) have not been studied in endometrial tumorigenesis. Here, they are examined in a mouse model of endometrial cancer.

Methods and results: Wild-type and Pten heterozygous (+/-) female mice are weaned at 3 weeks and fed with four AIN-93G diets: 93G; 93G+5% BRBs powder; high-fat (HF); and HF+5% BRBs. Body weight and diet consumption are recorded weekly until the mice are euthanized at 28 weeks of age. Mice fed with HF diets are found to significantly gain body weight over time. BRBs are not found to affect the development of obesity. Mice in the HF+BRBs group consume less food than the HF-only mice. HF+BRBs diets suppress uterine tumor initiation and promotion more than the HF-only diet by inhibiting cell proliferation. It also reduces HF-induced levels of plasma leptin and 17β-estradiol (E2). Urolithin A, a metabolite of BRBs, suppresses cell proliferation induced by leptin and E2.

Conclusion: BRBs are preventive in HF-mediated uterine tumorigenesis because they suppress cell growth and plasma leptin and E2 levels.

Keywords: Pten mouse; black raspberry; diet; endometrial carcinoma; estrogen; leptin.