Antiproliferative activity of the dietary isothiocyanate erucin, a bioactive compound from cruciferous vegetables, on human prostate cancer cells.
It is becoming increasingly clear that many dietary agents, such as isothiocyanates (ITCs) from cruciferous vegetables, can retard or prevent the process of prostate carcinogenesis. Erucin (ER) is a dietary ITC, which has been recently considered a promising cancer chemopreventive phytochemical. The potential protective activity of ER against prostate cancer was investigated using prostate adenocarcinoma cells (PC3), to analyze its effects on pathways involved in cell growth regulation, such as the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDKs) inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1) (p21), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/AKT, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2 signaling pathways. We have shown for the first time that ER increases significantly p21 protein expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner to inhibit PC3 cell proliferation (P ≤ 0.01). Compared to the structurally related sulforaphane, a well-studied broccoli-derived ITC, ER showed lower potency in inhibiting proliferation of PC3 cells, as well as in modulating p21 and pERK1/2 protein levels. Neither of the naturally occurring ITCs was able to affect significantly pAKT protein levels in prostate cells at all concentrations tested (0-25 μM). It is clearly important for the translation of laboratory findings to clinical approaches to investigate in animal and cell studies the molecular mechanisms by which ITCs may exert health promoting effects.
Foundation Prof. Antonio Imbesi, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. antonietta.melchini@ifr.ac.uk
Antonietta
A
Melchini
Maria H
MH
Traka
Stefania
S
Catania
Natalizia
N
Miceli
Maria Fernanda
MF
Taviano
Patrizia
P
Maimone
Marta
M
Francisco
Richard F
RF
Mithen
Chiara
C
Costa
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D008297:Male; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D013440:Sulfides; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; C073539:erucin; C016766:sulforaphane