Naturopathic Compound Suppresses Growth of Prostate Cancer Cell Cultures

A recent paper by cancer researchers working with prostate cancer cell cultures supports claims of the efficacy of a naturopathic formulation as an anticancer treatment.

Investigators at Indiana University (Indianapolis, USA) evaluated the effects of the dietary supplement ProstaCaid (PC), which contains mycelium from medicinal mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum, Coriolus versicolor, Phellinus linteus), saw palmetto berry, pomegranate, pumpkin seed, green tea [40% epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)], Japanese knotweed (50% resveratrol), extracts of turmeric root (BCM-95), grape skin, pygeum bark, sarsaparilla root, Scutellaria barbata, eleuthero root, Job's tears, astragalus root, skullcap, dandelion, coptis root, broccoli, and stinging nettle, with purified vitamin C, vitamin D3, selenium, quercetin, citrus bioflavonoid complex, beta-sitosterolzinc, lycopene, alpha lipoic acid, boron, berberine and 3.3'-diinodolymethane (DIM). The ingredients form a collection of the natural products best known to be rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

In the current study, which was published in the April 4, 2011, online edition of the International Journal of Oncology, the investigators exposed cultures of prostate cancer cells to PC and then evaluated its effects on gene expression, tumor growth, and tumor invasiveness.

They reported that PC treatment inhibited cell proliferation in the population of highly invasive human hormone independent PC-3 prostate cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PC suppressed the metastatic behavior of PC-3 cells by the inhibition of cell adhesion, cell migration, and cell invasion. DNA-microarray analysis demonstrated that PC inhibited proliferation through the modulation of expression of CCND1, CDK4, CDKN1A, E2F1, MAPK6, and PCNA genes.

Senior author Dr. Daniel Silva, associate professor of medicine at Indiana University, said, "The formula we studied has been shown to inhibit growth of human androgen dependent as well as independent prostate cancer cells, and suppresses the metastatic potential of these cells. We were able to identify specific genes, which are responsible for growth of human prostate cancer cells and show, on the molecular level, how it affects the cancer cells. Natural compounds in this formula are known to be without the side effects associated with traditional cancer chemotherapy drugs.”

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