Luteolin induces ferroptosis in prostate cancer cells by promoting TFEB nuclear translocation and increasing ferritinophagy.

BACKGROUND: As the second most common cancer in men and the leading cause of cancer-related death, prostate cancer (PCa) could potentially be treated by inducing ferroptosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether luteolin could induce ferroptosis in PCa cells through the transcription Factor EB (TFEB). METHODS: Different concentrations of luteolin were applied to treat normal prostate epithelial cells RWPE-1 and PCa cell lines DU145, PC-3, VCaP, and LNcaP. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), Necrostain-1 (Nec-1), 3-methyladenine (3-MA), chloroquine (CQ), and the apoptosis inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-FMK) were added to treat DU145 and PC-3 cells. Additionally, we knocked down TFEB and performed in vitro cell experiments. Finally, tumor-forming experiments in nude mice were conducted to verify luteolin mechanism in PCa after knocking down TFEB. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in RWPE-1 at 12, 24, and 48 h after treatment with 60 µM luteolin. However, a significant difference was observed between DU145 and PC-3 cells. Luteolin exhibited a promoting effect on PCa cell death. After treatment with luteolin, cell viability, and Ki67 expression were decreased, and AnV-PI-positive dead cells were increased. Fer-1, Nec-1, 3-MA, and Z-VAD-FMK reversed luteolin effects on DU145 and PC-3 cell viability, proliferation, and AnV-PI-positive dead cells. Among them, Fer-1 and 3-MA were more effective. Luteolin-induced increased autophagy and ferroptosis in DU145 and PC-3 cells. Moreover, luteolin promoted ferroptosis by inducing increased autophagy in DU145 and PC-3 cells. However, knockdown of TFEB reversed the ability of luteolin to induce lysosome degradation of ferritin. In addition, luteolin promoted PCa ferroptosis by inducing ferritinophagy in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Luteolin-induced ferroptosis in PCa cells by promoting TFEB nuclear translocation and increasing ferritinophagy.

Astragaloside IV-PESV inhibits prostate cancer tumor growth by restoring gut microbiota and microbial metabolic homeostasis via the AGE-RAGE pathway.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is becoming the most common malignancy in men worldwide. We investigated the effect of astragaloside IV combined with PESV on the gut microbiota and metabolite of PCa mice and the process of treating PCa. METHODS: Nude mice were genetically modified to develop tumors characteristic of PCa. The treatment of PCa mice involved the administration of a combination of astragaloside IV and peptides derived from scorpion venom (PESV). Feces were collected for both 16 S rDNA and metabolic analysis. Fecal supernatant was extracted and used for fecal transplantation in PCa mice. Tumor development was observed in both PCa mice and nude mice. Tumor histopathology was examined, and the expression of inflammatory factors and the AGE-RAGE axis in PCa tissues were analyzed. RESULTS: PCa mice treated with Astragaloside IV in combination with PESV showed a significant reduction in tumor volume and weight, and stabilization of gut microbiota and metabolites. At the Genus level, significant differences were observed in Porphyromonas, Corynebacterium, Arthromitus and Blautia, and the differential metabolites were PA16_016_0, Astragaloside+, Vitamin A acid, Nardosinone, a-Nortestoster, D-Pantethine, Hypoxanthine, Pregnenolone, cinnamic acid, Pyridoxa, Cirtruline and Xanthurenate. There was a correlation between gut microbiota and metabolites. After the fecal transplantation, tumor growth was effectively suppressed in the PCa mice. Notably, both the mRNA and protein levels of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) were significantly decreased. Furthermore, the expression of inflammatory factors, namely NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6, in the tumor tissues was significantly attenuated. Conversely, upregulation of RAGE led to increased inflammation and reversed tumor growth in the mice. CONCLUSION: Astragaloside IV combined with PESV could treat PCa by intervening in gut microbiota composition and metabolite by targeting RAGE.

[Explore the mechanism of astragaloside IV-PESV on proliferation, migration, and autophagy of prostate cancer cells based on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway].

OBJECTIVE: Explore the effects of Astragaloside IV and Scorpion Venom Peptide on the activity, migration, apoptosis, cell cycle, autophagy, and the expression of proteins related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells. METHODS: The human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3 were randomly divided into blank control group, Astragaloside IV group, Scorpion Venom Peptide group, Astragaloside IV-Scorpion Venom Peptide group, and rapamycin (positive drug group). After corresponding drug treatments for 24 hours, logarithmic growth phase tumor cells were collected for testing. Cell proliferation was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Transwell assay, apoptosis assay, cell cycle assay, and immunofluorescence analysis were performed to detect the activity and migration capacity of prostate cancer cells in each group, as well as their effects on apoptosis, cell cycle, and the autophagy target LC3. Western blot analysis was employed to measure the protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, Beclin1, LC3, and P62. RESULTS: Compared to the blank control group, the Astragaloside IV-Scorpion Venom Peptide group exhibited a significant decrease in the activity of prostate cancer cells (P<0.05) and a reduction in the cell invasion ability (migration capacity) (P<0.05). The early apoptosis rate (LR), late apoptosis rate (UR), and total apoptosis rate all increased (P<0.05). The proportion of cells in the G1 phase increased (P<0.05), while the proportion in the G2+S phase decreased (P<0.05). The immunofluorescence expression of LC3 significantly increased (P<0.05). The expression of LC3Ⅱ and Beclin1 proteins in prostate cancer cells LNCaP and PC-3 was upregulated (P<0.05), while the expression of P62, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins was downregulated (P<0.05).Astragaloside IV-Scorpion Venom Peptide is superior to the Astragaloside IV group or Scorpion Venom Peptide group alone in inhibiting the activity and migration capacity of prostate cancer cells, suppressing cell mitosis, promoting early apoptosis, upregulating the expression level of LC3, and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway while promoting autophagy (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The mechanism by which Astragaloside IV-Scorpion Venom Peptide inhibits the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells, suppresses cell mitosis, promotes early apoptosis, and enhances autophagy may be related to the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Quercetin in Tonglong Qibi decoction ameliorates testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats by regulating Nrf2 signalling pathways and oxidative stress.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological disease in older males. Existing pharmacotherapy shows several side effects, and the exploration of new therapeutic strategies is of high significance. Tonglong Qibi (TQ) decoction was proved to ameliorate BPH, while the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In the current study, we explored the anti-BPH effects of TQ in vivo and identified its main therapeutic component and the underlying mechanisms in vitro. We demonstrated that TQ mitigated BPH in rats and showed no toxicity to the liver and reproductive system. Network pharmacology identified quercetin as the main component in TQ treating BPH. Quercetin reduced proliferation, oxidative stress, and increased Nrf2 expression in hyperplastic prostate epithelial cells. These findings indicate that quercetin in TQ alleviates BPH via inhibiting oxidative stress and activating the Nrf2 signalling pathway.

Four types of RNA modification writers predict the prognosis of prostate cancer.

RNA modification is an important part of epigenetic regulation. However, the relationship between RNA modification writers and prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. We obtained transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas; the expression of writers for four RNA modifications (N6-methyladenosine, N1-methyladenosine, alternative polyadenylation and adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing) was altered in PCa tissue when compared with normal tissue. RNA modification writers affect the expression of immune checkpoints. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that the RNA modification was related to the cell cycle. Hub genes were screened using machine learning, and a risk score model was established using multivariate Cox analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses showed that a risk score model based on RNA modification writers could be an independent prognostic factor for PCa. In conclusion, our study showed that RNA modification writers are differentially expressed in PCa and might influence the development of PCa by regulating immune checkpoints and the cell cycle. The risk score model of RNA modification writers is predicted to be an independent prognostic factor for PCa. Thus, RNA modification writers might be used as potential indicators for the clinical diagnosis of PCa.

[Magnetic resonance and magnetoelectric therapy combined with Danhong Tongjing Prescription for the treatment of CP/CPPS and its effects on secretory IgA, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and interleukin-8].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of magnetic resonance and magnetoelectric therapy (MRMT) combined with oral Danhong Tongjing Prescription (DTP) on chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and the changes in the levels of cytokine-secretory IgA (sIgA), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) after treatment. METHODS: Totally 200 patients with CP/CPPS of the qi stagnation and blood stasis type were randomly divided into three groups to receive MRMT + DTP (n = 68), MRMT (n = 67) and DTP (n = 65), respectively, all for 12 weeks. After treatment, we compared the total effectiveness rate, patients' scores on NIH-CPSI and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome, and the expressions of sIgA, VCAM-1 and IL-8 in the EPS among the three groups of the patients. RESULTS: After treatment, the patients in the MRMT + DTP group, compared with those in the MRMT and DTP groups, showed a significantly higher total effectiveness rate (86.76% vs 79.10% and 78.46%, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) and lower scores on pain or discomfort (4.61 ± 2.37 vs 5.86 ± 3.26 and 6.94 ± 2.25 P < 0.01), abnormal urination symptoms (2.98 ± 1.75 vs 3.85 ± 2.01 and 3.94 ± 1.95) and quality of life (3.26 ± 1.87 vs 4.54 ± 2.13 and 4.69 ± 1.72). There were statistically significant differences in the total NIH-CPSI scores among the three groups (10.64 ± 5.91 vs 4.59 ± 6.87 vs 15.54 ± 5.76, P < 0.05). The MRMT + DTP group also exhibited a remarkably lower TCM syndrome score than the MRMT and DTP groups (5.56 ± 3.42 vs 7.37 ± 4.57 and 8.16 ± 3.65, P < 0.05). Compared with the baseline, the expressions sIgA, VCAM-1 and IL8 were all markedly decreased after treatment in the MRMT + DTP (Z = －7.170, Z = －7.182, Z = －7.18), MRMT (Z = －6.802, Z = －6.973, Z = －6.768) and DTP groups (Z = －5.963, Z = －6.990 Z = －5.618) (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the former than in the latter two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance and magnetoelectric therapy combined with Danhong Tongjing Prescription has a good therapeutic effect on CP/CPPS of the qi stagnation and blood stasis type, probably by regulating sIgA, VCAM-1, IL-8 and other cytokines, activating the function of the immune system, inhibiting inflammation, and promoting the absorption of local inflammatory substances.

Application of network pharmacology and molecular docking to elucidate the potential mechanism of Astragalus-Scorpion against prostate cancer.

The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the Astragalus-Scorpion drug pair in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). We employed network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to retrieving the active ingredients and corresponding targets of Astragalus-Scorpion by using TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, TCMID and Swiss Target Prediction Databases. The targets related to PCa were retrieved through GeneCards. Cytoscape software was used to construct the 'active ingredient-target disease' network, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on the common targets. Autodock software was used for molecular docking verification. In total, 26 active ingredients, 340 potential targets related to active ingredients and 122 common targets were screened from Astragalus-Scorpion drug pair. The core targets of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were JUN, AKT1, IL6, MAPK1 and RELA, whereas the core active ingredients were quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin, 7-o-methylisomucronulatol and calycosin. Nearly 762 GO entries and 154 pathways were obtained by using the pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking results revealed that quercetin and kaempferol bind to AKT1 and formononetin binds to RELA, all of which were found to be stable bounds.

Xihuang pills targeting the Warburg effect through inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in prostate cancer.

Objective: Prostate cancer, marked by a high incidence and mortality rate, presents a significant challenge, especially in the context of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with limited treatment options due to drug resistance. This study aims to explore the anti-tumor effects of Xihuang Pills (XHP) on CRPC, focusing on metabolic reprogramming and the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Methods: In vitro and in vivo biofunctional assays were employed to assess the efficacy and mechanisms of XHP. Subcutaneous xenografts of PC3 in mice served as an in vivo model to evaluate XHP's anti-tumor activity. Tumor volume, weight, proliferation, and apoptosis were monitored. Various assays, including CCK8, TUNEL assay, QRT-PCR, and Western Blotting, were conducted to measure metabolic reprogramming, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle in prostate cancer cells. RNA-seq analysis predicted XHP's impact on prostate cancer, validating the expression of Wnt/ß-catenin-related proteins and mRNA. Additionally, 58 compounds in XHP were identified via LC-MS/MS, and molecular docking analysis connected these compounds to key genes. Results: In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that XHP significantly inhibited CRPC cell viability, induced apoptosis, and suppressed invasion and migration. mRNA sequencing revealed differentially expressed genes, with functional enrichment analysis indicating modulation of key biological processes. XHP treatment downregulated Wnt signaling pathway-related genes, including CCND2, PRKCG, and CCN4. Moreover, XHP effectively inhibited glucose uptake and lactate production, leading to reduced HIF-1α and glycolytic enzymes (GLUT1, HK2, PKM2), suggesting its potential in attenuating the Warburg effect. Molecular docking analysis suggested a plausible interaction between XHP's active compounds and Wnt1 protein, indicating a mechanism through which XHP modulates the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Conclusion: XHP demonstrated remarkable efficacy in suppressing the growth, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasiveness of prostate tumors. The interaction between XHP's active constituents and Wnt1 was evident, leading to the inhibition of Wnt1 and downstream anti-carcinogenic factors, thereby influencing the ß-catenin/HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis.

Exploring the mechanism of action of Sparganii Rhizoma-Curcumae Rhizoma for in treating castration-resistant prostate cancer: a network-based pharmacology and experimental validation study.

Sparganii Rhizoma-Curcumae Rhizoma (SR-CR) is a classic drug pair for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), but its mechanism has not been clarified. The study aims to elucidate the potential mechanism of SR-CR in the management of CRPC. The present study employed the TCMSP as well as the SwissTargetPrediction platform to retrieve the chemical composition and targets of SR-CR. The therapeutic targets of CRPC were identified through screening the GeneCards, Disgenet, and OMIM databases. Subsequently, the Venny online platform was utilized to identify the shared targets between the SR-CR and CRPC. The shared targets were enrichment analysis using the Bioconductor and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) databases. The active ingredients and core targets were verified through molecular docking and were validated using PC3 cells in the experimental validation phase. A total of 7 active ingredients and 1126 disease targets were screened from SR-CR, leading to a total of 59 shared targets. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis resulted in 1309 GO entries. KEGG pathways analysis yielded 121 pathways, primarily involving cancer-related signaling pathways. The results from molecular docking revealed stable binding interactions between the core ingredients and the core targets. In vitro cellular assays further demonstrated that SR-CR effectively suppressed the activation of the Prostate cancer signaling pathway in PC3 cells, leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation and promotion of apoptosis. The SR-CR exert therapeutic effects on CRPC by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis through the Prostate cancer signaling pathway.

Feasibility study of lncRNA DHRS4-AS1 sponge miR-222-3p in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid cancer is a commonly occurring malignant tumour within the endocrine system, the incidence of which has been increasing steadily in our country. It has been the focus and direction of research in recent decades to continuously explore the diagnostic markers and molecular mechanisms of thyroid cancer and provide new possibilities for the healing of patients. In this study, lncRNA DHRS4-AS1 was identified as the research target, and the regulatory function of abnormal expression of DHRS4-AS1 on thyroid cancer was discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thyroid cancer (116) and non-cancer normal (82) tissue samples were collected in this paper, and the expression of DHRS4-AS1 and miR-222-3p in tissues and cells were evaluated by RT-qPCR. CCK-8 and flow cytometry were used to detect cell survival status. The mechanism of DHRS4-AS1 sponge miR-222-3p was analysed by dual-luciferase reporter gene detection. RESULTS: In the present study, DHRS4-AS1 was down-regulated in both thyroid tissue and cell samples, while miR-222-3p expression was elevated. The ROC curve reflected the diagnostic value of DHRS4-AS1 in thyroid cancer [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.887, sensitivity = 76.7%, specificity = 95.1%]. DHRS4-AS1 regulates the development of thyroid cancer by targeting miR-222-3p. In addition, in vitro experiments demonstrated that overexpression of DHRS4-AS1 (pcDNA3.1-DHRS4-AS1) inhibited the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells and promoted cell apoptosis, while down-regulating the level of miR-222-3p. CONCLUSIONS: DHRS4-AS1 acts as a miR-222-3p sponge in thyroid cancer, and overexpression of DHRS4 AS1 down-regulates cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis. These findings demonstrate the potential of DHRS4-AS1 as a diagnostic factor for thyroid cancer.

Effects of icariin and curcumol on autophagy, ferroptosis, and lipid metabolism based on miR-7/m-TOR/SREBP1 pathway on prostate cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of icariin (ICA) and curcumol on autophagy, ferroptosis, and lipid metabolism in prostate cancer (PCa), in vitro and in vivo. Normal prostate epithelial cells RWPE-1 and PCa cell lines DU145 and PC-3 were treated with ICA and curcumol. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) or 3-MA was added to treat DU145 and PC-3 cells. In addition, we knocked down miR-7. The mechanism of ICA and curcumol in PCa cells after the knockdown of miR-7 was verified by in vitro nude mice tumorigenesis experiments. ICA and curcumol had no significant effect on the viability of RWPE-1 cells, but there was a significant difference between DU145 and PC-3 cells. After treatment with ICA and curcumol, the proliferation of PCa cells was inhibited, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and miR-7 expression were increased. The combined treatment of ICA and curcumol had a more significant effect. ICA and curcumol treatment induced autophagy and ferroptosis in PCa cells, and si-miR-7 reversed the effects of ICA and curcumol on autophagy and ferroptosis. MiR-7 targeted mTOR and regulated the expression of the mTOR/SREBP1 pathway in PCa cells. ICA and curcumol may affect the lipid metabolism of PCa cells by affecting SREBP1. In addition, the effects and mechanisms of ICA and curcumol on autophagy, ferroptosis, and lipid metabolism in PCa cells were verified in vivo. ICA and curcumol synergistically regulated the miR-7/mTOR/SREBP1 pathway to induce autophagy and ferroptosis in PCa cells and affected lipid metabolism.

Astragalus-Scorpion Drug Pair Inhibits the Development of Prostate Cancer by Regulating GDPD4-2/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway and Autophagy.

Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) is an epithelial malignancy of the prostate that currently lacks effective treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can play an anticancer role through regulating the immune system, anti-tumor angiogenesis, regulating tumor cell apoptosis, autophagy dysfunction, and other mechanisms. This study attempted to explore the active ingredients and potential mechanism of action of the Astragalus-Scorpion (A-S) drug pair in PCa, in order to provide new insights into the treatment of PCa. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to analyze the A-S drug pair and PCa targets. Bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze the LncRNAs with significant differences in PCa. The expression of LC3 protein was detected by immunofluorescence. CCK8 was used to detect cell proliferation. The expressions of GDPD4-2, AC144450.1, LINC01513, AC004009.2, AL096869.1, AP005210.1, and BX119924.1 were detected by RT-qPCR. The expression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy-related proteins were detected by western blot. LC-MS/MS was used to identify the active components of Astragalus and Scorpion. Results: A-S drug pair and PCa have a total of 163 targets, which were mainly related to the prostate cancer and PI3K/AKT pathways. A-S drug pair inhibited the formation of PCa, promoted the expression of LC3Ⅱ and Beclin1 proteins, and inhibited the expression of P62 and PI3K-AKT pathway proteins in PCa mice. Astragaloside IV and polypeptide extract from scorpion venom (PESV) were identified as the main active components of the A-S drug pair. GDPD4-2 was involved in the treatment of PCa by Astragaloside IV-PESV. Silencing GDPD4-2 reversed the therapeutic effects of Astragaloside IV-PESV by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusion: Astragaloside IV-PESV is the main active components of A-S drug pair treated PCa by regulating the GDPD4-2/PI3K-AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy.

Curcumol Inhibits the Development of Prostate Cancer by miR-125a/STAT3 Axis.

Aim: This study aimed to learn the antineoplastic activity of curcumol (Cur) on prostate cancer (PCa) and elucidate its potential molecular mechanism. Methods: The proliferation, invasion, and migration of PCa cells (PC3 and 22RV1) were detected by the cell counting kit 8 (CCK8), transwell, and wound healing assay, respectively. The expression of genes and proteins was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting (WB), respectively. The protein expression in tissues and cells was tested through immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunocytochemistry (ICC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to quantify the level of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The interaction between microRNA125a (miR-125a) and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was confirmed via dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: Cur effectively restrained the proliferation, invasion, and migration of PC3 and 22RV1 cells. After Cur intervention, miR-125a, miR-375, miR-149, miR-183, and miR-106b were all upregulated in PC3 cells, among which miR-125a was the most significantly upregulated. Dual-luciferase reporter assay combined with qRT-PCR and WB experiments confirmed that miR-125a targeted STAT3. Both in vitro and in vivo, Cur enhanced miR-125a expression and suppressed the activation of the STAT3 pathway in PCa. Also, Cur effectively inhibited the growth of PCa. Conclusion: Cur inhibited the development of PCa by miR-125a/STAT3 axis. This may provide a potential agent for treating PCa.

Curcumol inhibits the malignant progression of prostate cancer and regulates the PDK1/AKT/mTOR pathway by targeting miR­9.

Curcumol has been reported to exert anti­tumor activity, but its intrinsic molecular mechanism in prostate cancer remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of curcumol on prostate cancer and identify its possible internal regulatory pathway using in vitro cell culture and in vivo tumor model experiments. The cytotoxicity of curcumol was detected using a Cell Counting Kit­8 assay and it was found that curcumol had no obvious toxicity or side effects on RWPE­1 cells. Wound healing, Transwell and flow cytometry assays demonstrated that curcumol could affect the activity of PC3 cells. The luciferase reporter assay also indicated that microRNA (miR)­9 could directly target pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1). After PC3 cells were transfected with miR­9 inhibitor or treated with curcumol, the expression levels of the PDK1/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway­related proteins [PDK1, phosphorylated (p)­AKT and p­mTOR] were increased or decreased, respectively. Next, the prostate cancer cell xenograft model was established. Tumor size and the expression levels of PDK1/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway­related factors were altered following treatment with curcumol. The in vitro and in vivo experiments collectively demonstrated that curcumol could inhibit the PDK1/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by upregulating the expression level of miR­9. The present study found that curcumol regulates the PDK1/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway via miR­9 and affects the development of prostate cancer. These findings could provide a possible scientific insight for research into treatments for prostate cancer.

Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanisms of Xihuang Pills Against Prostate Cancer via Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation In Vitro and In Vivo.

Background: Drug resistance is the major cause of increasing mortality in prostate cancer (PCa). Therefore, it an urgent to develop more effective therapeutic agents for PCa treatment. Xihuang pills (XHP) have been recorded as the efficient anti-tumor formula in ancient Chinese medical literature, which has been utilized in several types of cancers nowadays. However, the effect protective role of XHP on the PCa and its underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Methods: The active ingredients of XHP were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and BATMAN-TCM. The potential targets of PCa were acquired from the Gene Cards and OMIM databases. R language and Perl language program were utilized to clarify the interaction between the PCa-related targets and the potential targets of XHP. The potential targets of XHP for prostate cancer were gathered from the Gene ontology and KEGG pathway. Furthermore, cell proliferation assays were verified by PC3 and LNCaP cells. The efficacy and potential mechanism tests were confirmed by the PCa PC3 cells and mice subcutaneous transplantation. The effects of PI3K/Akt/mTOR-related proteins on proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of PCa cells were measured by the Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK8), TUNEL assay, real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (QRT-PCR), and Western Blotting, respectively. Results: The active components of four traditional Chinese medicines in XHP were searched on the TCMSP and Batman TCM database. The biological active components of XHP were obtained as OB ≥30% and DL ≥0.18. The analysis of gene ontology and KEGG pathway identified the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway as the XHP-associated pathway. Collectively, the results of in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that XHP had the effect of inhibiting on the proliferation of PC3 and LNCaP cells. XHP promoted the apoptosis and restrained the cell cycle and invasion of the PC3 cells and subcutaneous transplantation. Meanwhile, the suppression of XHP on the level of expression of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR-pathway-related pathway proteins has been identified in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway-related pathway proteins were confirmed as the potential XHP-associated targets for PCa. XHP can suppress the proliferation of prostate cancer via inhibitions of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Enhancement of anticancer activity of docetaxel by combination with Fuzheng Yiliu decoction in a mouse model of castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Docetaxel (Doc) is the gold standard of care for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients, although the therapeutic effects are modest. Fuzheng Yiliu decoction (FZYL) comprises multiple herbs, and has been used for >10 years to treat various cancers, including hepatocellular tumors, malignant gastrointestinal tumors, and prostate cancer. In the study reported, we evaluated the anticancer effects of FZYL and of a combination of Doc and FZYL in CRPC tumor-bearing mice, and explored the underlying mechanisms. PC-3 tumor-bearing mice were treated with FZYL, Doc, Doc + FZYL or vehicle solution. Tumor volume was monitored, and tumor weight, proliferation and apoptosis of tumor tissues were measured. Deep sequencing was used to profile the miRNA expression patterns in tumor tissues. Our results suggested that FZYL alone could depress tumor growth, and the combination of Doc and FZYL treatment exhibited enhanced anticancer effects. Doc + FZYL regulated the expression of 10 miRNAs: miR-34b-5p, miR-674-3p, miR-140-3p, miR-342-3p, miR-214-3p, miR-149-5p, miR-378c, miR-29b-3p, miR-218-5p, and miR-378a-3p, involving in the PI3K-Akt pathway in the treatment of CRPC.