Prostate cancer ranks third in cancer incidence and sixth in cancer mortality in men. The current conventional treatment at advanced stage does not improve patients' long-term survival rates. Thus, there is a vital need for the detection of new therapies.
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of novel integrative polybotanical compounds () - ProstaCaid (PC) and galectin-3 inhibitor - PectaSol-c Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP), supplied by EcoNugenics (Santa Rosa, CA), alone and especially in combination with radiotherapy on prostate cancer cells survival.
Human prostate cancer cells (PC-3, Du-145 and Cl-1) were cultured at standard conditions. The cells were treated with PC and MCP alone or in combination with single dose (2 and 4 Gy) radiotherapy given by 6 MV photon beam at a dose rate of 418 cGy/min. Cells survival was measured using XTT colorimetric assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis will be determined by FACS analysis and Annexin V assay. Western blot analysis will be used to assess the effect of selected compounds or their combination on the expression of NF- B related proteins (I B , p*I B and p65) as well as of Cyclin D and COX-2 proteins. NF- B activity will be analyzed using ELISA NF- B activity kit.
The prostate cancer cells tested demonstrated different sensitivity to radiation. Nevertheless, PC and MCP decreased almost similarly the survival of these cells in a dose dependent manner. The combination of these agents with radiotherapy demonstrated an additional promising inhibitory effect on cell survival. A modification in NF- B signaling pathway as a possible mechanism(s) of tested agents efficacy is currently tested.
These findings suggest that integrative polybotanical compounds - PC and MCP may contribute to the inhibition of prostate cancer cells survival. Further studies are ongoing to characterize the biological activity and the mechanisms of PC and MCP anti-cancer efficacy.
