The effect of castanospermine on the metastatic properties of prostate cancer cells.
BACKGROUND
Most deaths from prostate cancer result from the metastatic spread of the disease. Castanospermine has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in mouse and rat models. We hypothesized that castanospermine might inhibit metastasis in the Dunning model of rat prostate adenocarcinoma by interfering with the metastatic properties of tumor cells.


METHODS
We examined the cytotoxicity of castanospermine toward the metastatic MAT-LyLu and nonmetastatic AT. 1 cell lines and its effects on cell motility and adhesion to endothelial cells. We assessed castanospermine's effects on in vivo metastasis in Copenhagen rats.


RESULTS
Castanospermine was not cytotoxic toward the MAT-LyLu and AT. 1 cell lines at concentrations through 10 micrograms/mL, nor did it significantly affect cell motility, adhesion to endothelial cells, or in vivo metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the Dunning model, castanospermine did not appear to significantly affect cell characteristics related to metastatic potential.
Yee
C S
CS
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0932, USA.
Schwab
E D
ED
Lehr
J E
JE
Quigley
M
M
Pienta
K J
KJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D007212:Indolizines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D054836:Indolizidines
D007212:Indolizines; C037806:castanospermine; D054836:Indolizidines