Title:Abiraterone Acetate, in Combination with Apigenin, Attenuates the Survival of
Human Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer Cells
Volume: 22
Issue: 18
Author(s): Fatih Genc, Ugur Simal Atabey, Riza Serttas and Suat Erdogan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Trakya University, Balkan Campus, Edirne, Turkey
Keywords:
Abiraterone acetate, apigenin, apoptosis, castration sensitive prostate cancer, LNCaP, Western blot.
Abstract:
Background: Abiraterone acetate (AA) is a selective inhibitor of CYP17 α-hydroxylase, which is crucial for
androgen biosynthesis. Apigenin (Api) is a natural plant-derived flavonoid with potent antiproliferative and antimigration
effects.
Objectives: We aimed to investigate the possible role of Api in combination with the androgen receptor inhibitor AA in
the treatment of androgen-sensitive human prostate cancer LNCaP cells.
Methods: The cells were either exposed to 10 μM AA, 25 μM Api, or in combination for 48 hours, then the viability
rate was determined by the MTT test, whilst apoptosis and cell cycle phases were assessed by image-based cytometry.
The expression of selected mRNA and proteins were evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively.
Results: The combination of AA and Api significantly inhibited LNCaP as well as androgen-insensitive PC3 cell survival
in a manner more marked than observed with either single treatment. Co-administration of Api with AA triggered
apoptosis. This effect was demonstrated by Hoechst staining, and up-regulation of Bax, cytochrome c, caspase -3, and -
8 and down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression confirmed the effect. AA and Api each individually arrested the cell cycle
in the G1 phase, with dual applications, leading to no further increase in the effect produced. The expression of NF-κB
p105/p50 and the phosphorylation of AKT markedly decreased after apigenin treatment, with combination treatment
leading to a favourable effect in terms of further augmenting the reduction.
Conclusion: The co-administration of Api with AA strongly enhanced the efficacy of AA therapy in the treatment of
prostate cancer cells. These data suggested that the combination of AA and Api would be a potential chemotherapeutic
strategy against prostate cancer.