Cyclic bisbibenzyls induce growth arrest and apoptosis of human prostate cancer PC3 cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cytotoxic effects of four cyclic bisbibenzyls, Riccardin C (Ric), Pakyonol (Pak), Marchantin M (Mar), and Plagiochin E (Pla) against chemoresistant prostate cancer PC3 cells.


METHODS
Cell growth was assayed by MTT method, and apoptotic related protein Bcl-2 and Bax, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were examined by Western blotting. Cell cycle and apoptosis of PC3 cells were evaluated with flow cytometry and morphologic examinations.


RESULTS
The four compounds inhibited proliferation and elicited cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner with IC(50) values of 3.22 micromol/L for Ric, 7.98 micromol/L for Pak, 5.45 micromol/L for Mar, and 5.99 micromol/L for Pla, respectively. Furthermore, exposed to these chemicals caused a decrease in the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and an increase in proapoptotic Bax expression. PARP cleavage and caspase-3 activity were also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that cyclic bisbibenzyls could be used for the development of novel therapeutic chemicals against prostate cancer.
Xu
Ai-hui
AH
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji-nan 250012, China.
Hu
Zhi-min
ZM
Qu
Jian-bo
JB
Liu
Shang-ming
SM
Syed
Ali Kazim Abbas
AK
Yuan
Hui-qing
HQ
Lou
Hong-xiang
HX
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001632:Bibenzyls / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001632:Bibenzyls; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053148:Caspase 3