Indole-3-carbinol and 3,3'-diindolylmethane induce apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells.
Cruciferous vegetables contain glucobrassicin which, during metabolism, yields indole-3-carbinol (I3C). In a low pH environment I3C is converted into polymeric products, among which 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) is the main one. The apoptotic effects of I3C and DIM were exhibited in human breast cancer cells. The objectives of this study were: (a) examination of the potential effects of I3C and DIM on the proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell lines with different p53 status; (b) to try to characterise the mechanism(s) involved in these effects. Our results indicate that both indole derivatives suppress the growth of these cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, by inducing apoptosis. It appears that these indolic compounds may offer effective means against prostate cancer. Induction of apoptosis was p53-independent. Moreover, the indole derivatives employed did not affect the levels of bcl-2, bax and fasL.
Faculty of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel.
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Nachshon-Kedmi
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Yannai
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Haj
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Fares
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; C494826:BAX protein, human; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D007211:Indoles; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C016517:indole-3-carbinol; C016392:3,3'-diindolylmethane