Antitumor activity of tributyrin in murine melanoma model.

Butyric acid has been known to inhibit growth and to induce differentiation of a variety of tumor cells. Butyrate-treated tumor cells have also been observed to undergo apoptosis. Although butyrate compounds have demonstrated antitumor activity in murine tumor models and have already been admitted to clinical trials in tumor patients, the exact mechanism of their antitumor effects has not been elucidated. The results of our study showed antitumor activity of tributyrin, a butyric acid prodrug, in murine melanoma model and are strongly suggestive that antiangiogenic effects could participate in antitumor effects of butyrate compounds in vivo.