UroToday - Evidence of a Novel Docetaxel Sensitizer, Garlic-Derived S-Allylmercaptocysteine, as a Treatment Option for Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer - Abstract

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Monday, 28 January 2008

Cancer Biology Group, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University

of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

The recent introduction of docetaxel in the treatment of hormone refractory

prostate cancer (HRPC) has made a small but significant impact on patient

survival. However, its effect is limited by intolerance and resistance. The

aim of our study was to investigate if the garlic-derived compound,

S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC), was able to act as a docetaxel sensitizing

agent. First, the effect of SAMC on docetaxel sensitivity was examined on 3

HRPC cell lines by colony forming assay. We found that SAMC increased the

efficacy of docetaxel on colony forming inhibition by 9-50% compared to

single agent treatment. Second, using the HRPC CWR22R nude mice model, we

found that the combination of SAMC and docetaxel was 53% more potent than

docetaxel alone (p = 0.037). In addition, there was no additive toxicity in

the mice treated with the combination therapy evidenced by histological and

functional analysis of liver, kidney and bone marrow. These results suggest

that SAMC is able to increase the anticancer effect of docetaxel without

causing additional toxic effect in vivo. Third, flow cytometry and Western

blotting analysis on HRPC cell lines demonstrated that SAMC promoted

docetaxel-induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptotic induction. In

addition, immunohistochemistry on CWR22R xenograft revealed a suppression of

Bcl-2 expression and upregulation of E-cadherin in the SAMC and docetaxel

treated animals. These results suggest that SAMC may promote

docetaxel-induced cell death through promoting G2/M cell cycle arrest and

apoptosis. Our study implies a potential role for SAMC in improving

docetaxel based chemotherapy for the treatment of HRPC. © 2008 Wiley-Liss,

Inc.

Written by

EW, Lee DT, Chiu YT, Chua CW, Wang X, Wong YC.

Reference

Int J Cancer. 2008 Jan 8 [Epub ahead of print]

doi:10.1002/ijc.23355

PubMed Abstract

PMID:18183597

Very early study on mice. We have yet to know if this will translate to men.

Interesting that they are using a garlic compound to increase the

effectiveness of chemo.