Anticancer Effect of Theranekron® on Androgen-Dependent Prostate Cancer Cells

Objectives

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant health problem in men worldwide. Although there are numerous treatment choices for PCa, acquired resistance limits treatment success. Therefore, there is a need for new approaches as powerful resources for use in alternative or supportive therapeutic strategies for anticancer therapeutics. Theranekron® is a commercially available alcoholic extract of Tarantula cubensis. Recent studies have shown the potent anticancer effect of theranekron in human tumors, including PCa. Herein, we comparatively examined the antiproliferative activity of theranekron and its biochemical action on androgenic signaling and cell cycle-related cyclin proteins in androgen-dependent PCa cells, LNCaP, VCaP, and 22Rv1.

Materials and Methods

Human androgen-dependent PCa cells, LNCaP (CRL-1740TM), 22Rv1 (CRL-2505TM), and VCaP (CRL-2876TM) were used to evaluate the effect of theranekron in vitro. The impact of theranekron on cell viability was evaluated using a WST-1-based viability test. Its impact on AR, cyclin A2, cyclin B1, and cyclin E1 was examined by immunoblotting. To test the anti-malignant effect of theranekron on 3D tumor formation of PCa cells, soft agar assay was used.

Results

Our results indicated that theranekron treatment significantly reduced the viability of PCa cells. It remarkably decreased the protein levels of AR, cyclin A2, cyclin B1, and cyclin E1 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Theranekron administration strongly limited the 3D tumor formation of LNCaP, 22Rv1, and VCaP cells.

Conclusion

Our findings strongly suggest that theranekron may offer potent therapeutic efficacy against androgen-dependent PCa cells. Moreover, it may be a potent component for preventing acquired resistance to chemotherapeutics.