Investigating the Efficacy of Potential Diet-Derived Phytochemicals on LNCaP Cell Lines Under Physiological Conditions

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is increasingly prevalent in Nigeria and chemoprevention has a potential role to stem the initiation, promotion and progression of prostate carcinogenesis. The in vivo efficacy of phytochemicals depends on bioavailability, as the concentration of the compounds reaching target sites are known to reduce tremendously. With lower concentrations being achieved in target organs, the outcome on key players of carcinogenesis needs to be understood. The effect of curcumin, 3,3’-Diindolylmethane and epigallocatechin-3-gallate were interrogated on LNCaP cell lines by imitating in vivo conditions. The LNCaP cell lines were firstly, treated with low doses of curcumin, DIM and EGCG respectively. Subsequently, to investigate chemopreventive potentials of selected phytochemicals, cell lines were pre-treated and subsequently stimulated with testosterone. Lastly, to investigate the therapeutic potential of selected phytochemicals, cell lines were pre-stimulated before receiving respective treatments. From results, the effect of low dose treatments on the androgen receptor (AR) was dose-dependent. AR inhibition was observed more with cell lines that received a pre-treatment than cell-lines that received a pre-stimulation. All findings indicate that the investigated phytochemicals are potential chemopreventive regimens than curative regimens, since inhibitory effects on AR were enhanced more with a pre-treatment than a pre-stimulation. Furthermore, increased bioavailability of chemopreventive regimens will enhance efficacy.