Theracurmin® efficiently inhibits the growth of human prostate and bladder cancer cells via induction of apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest.

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer properties of Theracurmin®, a novel form of the yellow curry pigment curcumin, as well as explore the molecular mechanisms of the potential anticancer effects of Theracurmin® on human prostate cancer and bladder cancer cells in vitro. The proliferation of cancer cells was examined by using the Cell Counting Kit-8. The clonogenic growth potential was determined by clonogenic assay. Cell cycle distribution was evaluated by flow cytometry using propidium iodide staining. Western blot analysis was applied to explore the expression patterns of molecules associated with apoptotic cell death and cell cycle checkpoint. We noted that Theracurmin® and curcumin exhibited similar anticancer effects in both androgen-dependent and -independent human prostate cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These agents reduced cell viability and clonogenic growth potential by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle disturbance in human prostate cancer cells. Theracurmin® and curcumin also exerted marked anticancer effects on human bladder cancer cells, even in cisplatin-resistant T24R2 cells, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, Theracurmin® and curcumin treatment decreased cell viability and clonogenicity via induction of apoptotic cell death and cell cycle dysregulation in human bladder cancer cells. In conclusion, our study suggests that Theracurmin® has potential as an anticancer agent in complementary and alternative medicine for these urological cancers.

Stratification of Contemporary Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy for High-risk Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: Published data have shown heterogeneous outcomes for high-risk prostate cancer. Thus, we tried to identify more precise risk stratification system for contemporary high-risk prostate cancer. METHODS: Classifying patients according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk groups, we reviewed data of 1,905 men who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at our institution from 2006 to 2013. For our analyses, high-risk prostate cancers meeting at least one of two following factors were categorized as unfavorable high-risk prostate cancer: biopsy primary Gleason pattern 5 and/or multiple (≥2) high-risk criteria present. All other men with high-risk prostate cancer were designated as having favorable high-risk disease. Postoperative outcomes, including biochemical recurrence-free survivals were assessed and compared via log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, primary Gleason 5 pattern on biopsy (p = 0.008) and multiple (≥2) high-risk criteria (p < 0.001) were observed to be independent predictors of the risk of biochemical recurrence amongst high-risk group undergoing RP. Favorable high-risk prostate cancer group showed a significantly higher 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival than unfavorable high-risk group (56.35 vs. 18.75 %; log-rank test: p < 0.001). Favorable high-risk group demonstrated significantly lower 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival than intermediate-risk group (56.07 vs. 82.05 %; log-rank test: p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A significant heterogeneity existed in biochemical outcomes of contemporary patients with high-risk prostate cancer who underwent definitive RP. According to primary Gleason pattern and number of high-risk criteria present, high-risk group should be stratified further into favorable and unfavorable disease.