GCP-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells via androgen receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
Genistein combined polysaccharide (GCP) is a nutritional supplement that can inhibit prostate cancer growth experimentally and clinically. It is composed predominantly of the isoflavones genistein, daidzein, and glycitein, which have anti-cancer properties. Although genistein is well studied, the properties of GCP are not well defined. The goal of this work was to better characterize the signaling pathways impacted by GCP in an effort to optimize its efficacy.


METHODS
Cell growth and apoptosis were evaluated by MTS proliferation, caspase-based assays, and flow cytometry. Modulation of androgen receptor (AR) levels and activation status of signaling molecules were monitored by immunoblot analysis. AR function was measured by evaluating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) message and protein levels and by reporter assays.


RESULTS
GCP inhibited proliferation of androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent LNCaP-p53(GOF) and 22Rv1 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner and cells were more responsive in the presence of androgen. GCP markedly suppressed mTOR-p70S6K signaling while Akt and p53 were only modestly modulated. GCP significantly attenuated androgen signaling as evidenced by diminished AR protein levels and a consequent reduction in transcriptional activity and PSA expression. AR expression was enhanced by de-repression of translation with inhibitors of PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling and by inhibition of proteasome-dependent degradation. Neither inhibitor could counteract GCP-mediated AR downregulation, suggesting the involvement of a mechanism(s) independent of these pathways.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that GCP mediates growth inhibition and apoptosis through multiple mechanisms including (1) molecular mimicry of androgen ablation (via AR downregulation) and (2) by providing an AR-independent, pro-apoptotic signal (mTOR inhibition).
Tepper
Clifford G
CG
Division of Basic Sciences, UC Davis Cancer Center, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817, USA.
Vinall
Ruth L
RL
Wee
Christopher B
CB
Xue
Lingru
L
Shi
Xu-Bao
XB
Burich
Rebekah
R
Mack
Philip C
PC
de Vere White
Ralph W
RW
D059002:Androgen Receptor Antagonists; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism
D059002:Androgen Receptor Antagonists; D019833:Genistein; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D011134:Polysaccharides; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D011494:Protein Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D025801:Ubiquitin; C410798:AR protein, human; C473311:genistein combined polysaccharide; C546842:MTOR protein, human