title: Modulation of growth of human prostate cancer cells by the N-acetylcysteine conjugate of phenethyl isothiocyanate.
abstract: There is growing evidence that thiol conjugates of isothiocyanates present in cruciferous vegetables are effective cancer chemopreventive and potentially active therapeutic agents. The effects of the N-acetylcysteine conjugate of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC-NAC) on tumor cell growth were analyzed in human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, androgen-dependent, and DU-145, androgen-independent. Exposure of the cells to PEITC-NAC at high concentrations caused cytolysis, while at lower concentrations PEITC-NAC mediated a dose-dependent growth modulation, with reduction of DNA synthesis and growth rate, inhibition of clonogenicity and induction of apoptosis in both types of prostate cancer cells. PEITC-NAC decreased cells in S and G2M phases of cell cycle, blocking cells entering replicating phases. In parallel, a significant enhancement of cells expressing the cell cycle regulator p21 as well as its intensity was determined using a fluorescent antibody technique. The action of PEITC-NAC was time-dependent, with the magnitude of inhibition increasing to 50-65% after PEITC-NAC exposure for several days. Interaction of tumor cells with dissociation products of PEITC-NAC, PEITC and NAC, are proposed as the mechanism of growth regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chiao
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krzeminski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Conaway
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D017879:Isothiocyanates; C058305:phenethyl isothiocyanate