title: Targeting cell cycle machinery as a molecular mechanism of sulforaphane in prostate cancer prevention.
abstract: Epidemiological studies recently concluded that consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, etc. is inversely related to prostate cancer risk, although the mechanism of prevention and the responsible phytochemicals are unknown. Since clinically significant prostate cancer eventually can grow independent of androgen, the association of the growth and tumorigenesis of such prostate cancer cells with sulforaphane (SFN) which is a predominant isothiocyanate in cruciferous vegetables, investigated. These vegetables contain high concentrations of glucosinolate glucoraphanin, which yield sulforaphane when hydrolyzed by the plant enzyme myrosinase. This study showed that exposure of human androgen-independent DU-145 prostate cancer cells to SFN resulted in the inhibition of growth and tumorigenesis, as revealed by a reduction in cell density, DNA synthesis, and clonogenesis. Analyses of the mechanism revealed that SFN mediated cell cycle arrest by modulating the expression and functions of cell cycle regulators. SFN induced signals that inhibited the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase cdk4 with an up-stream induction of cdk inhibitor p21WAF-1/Cip-1, and reduced cyclin D1. The inhibition of cdk kinase activity could be affected with <1 micro M SFN within 24 h. As a result, phosphorylation of Rb proteins, which activates the transition from G1- to S-phase, was significantly decreased and the cell cycle progression retarded. SFN also down-regulated the expression of bcl-2, a suppressor of apoptosis, and activated caspases to execute apoptosis in the prostate cancer cells. The regulators of cell cycle have thus been revealed as targets of sulforaphane for growth arrest and apoptosis induction. The potential of SFN, as an active dietary factor to inhibit initiation and post-initiation of prostate cancer carcinogenesis is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Longgui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Delong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tauseef
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Fung-Lung
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Clifford
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conaway
authors.forename: Jen-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chiao
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016196:S Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D016213:Cyclins; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; C495900:CDK4 protein, human; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D020169:Caspases; C016766:sulforaphane