Cytotoxic effects of treosulfan on prostate cancer cell lines.
OBJECTIVE
Despite various therapeutical options in metastatic prostate cancer, the lack of a curative approach motivates further investigations. Treosulfan is an alkylating agent that has proven its indication in the treatment of e.g. ovarian carcinoma. This study focused on the objective of evaluating the effect of in vitro intoxication of human prostate carcinoma cell lines with treosulfan.


METHODS
Human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 were treated with treosulfan concentrations from 0.5-500 microM for up to six days. Analysis of cell viability was performed using colorimetric WST-1 assay. Control data were obtained from identical cell lines cultivated without treosulfan.


RESULTS
Incubation with treosulfan inhibited cell viability and led to cell death in all cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After one day, viability of LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 cells was constantly reduced with a dose rate of at least 10 microM (p < 0.001), 10 microM (p < 0.0001) and 100 microM (p < 0.0001) treosulfan, respectively. Minimum dose rates leading to death of nearly all LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 cells were 250 microM, 100 microM and 200 microM treosulfan, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate a sensitivity of prostate carcinoma cells to the cytotoxic activity of treosulfan. Therefore, treosulfan might be a promising compound for novel treatment protocols for prostate cancer.
Feyerabend
Susan
S
Department of Urology, University of Tübingen Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany.
Feil
Gerhard
G
Krug
Jutta
J
Kassen
Annette
A
Stenzl
Arnulf
A
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002066:Busulfan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; C018404:treosulfan; D002066:Busulfan