In vitro cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of usnic acid on hormone‐dependent breast and prostate cancer cells

Abstract

The aim of the current study was first to investigate cytotoxic activity of usnic acid (UA) on hormone-dependent breast and prostate cancer, and normal cells. Cells were treated with increasing concentrations (25 to 150 µM) of UA for 48 hours and cell viability, quantitative and morphological analysis of cell death, and cell cycle analysis were performed. UA was shown to have selective cytotoxicity on hormone-dependent cancer cells with the IC levels of 71.4 and 77.5 µM for MCF7 and LNCaP cells, respectively. UA induced apoptotic cell death and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest without damaging normal cells. MCF7 cells were more sensitive to UA than LNCaP cells. Our results first revealed that UA is a promising candidate as an alternative agent for hormone-dependent breast and prostate cancers. However, molecular mechanism underlying the UA-mediated cell death in cancer cells should be investigated further.

Synergistic effects of hormone therapy drugs and usnic acid on hormone receptor‐positive breast and prostate cancer cells

“…Furthermore, some of the most effective cancer chemotherapeutic agents (dophyllotoxin, etoposide, teniposide, vinblastine, vincristine, and taxol) to date are natural products or compounds . In our previous study, we found that UA exerted a notable anticancer effect on MCF7 and LNCaP cells without damaging control cells . However, to the best of our knowledge, the combined effects of UA and Tam or Enz have remained to be elucidated in BC and PC.…”

“…Stock solution of 0.1 g (+)‐UA in 20 mL DMSO was prepared and stored in the dark with appropriate temperature until used in cell culture at concentrations of 12.5 and 25 μM by diluting with each cell's own medium as previously described . Tam was prepared as 10 mM stock solution in 95% ethanol and stored at +4°C.…”

“…Since we have previously investigated cytotoxic effect of UA on these cell lines, the two lowest doses (12.5 and 25 μM) of UA, based on our previous results, were chosen for combined treatments. Then, the combined cytotoxic effect of UA with the above‐mentioned four doses of the hormone therapy drugs was evaluated using the WST‐1 proliferation assay at 24, 48, and 72 hours.…”

“…Since we have previously investigated cytotoxic effect of UA on these cell lines, the two lowest doses (12.5 and 25 μM) of UA, based on our previous results [31] , were chosen for combined treatments. Then, the Then, the cells were analyzed using a Muse Cell Analyzer (Millipore).…”

“…[44,45] In our previous study, we found that UA exerted a notable anticancer effect on MCF7 and LNCaP cells without damaging control cells. [31] [46,47] apoptosis and cell cycle regulators [26,29] and the proteins involved in invasive processes [48] on many cancer cells.…”