The Effect of Bowman-Birk Inhibitor from Soybeans on the Sensitivity of Prostate Cancer Stem-like Cells to Anti-androgen Agent

Abstract

Prostate stem-like cells exhibit resistance to anti-androgen agents and contribute to the recurrence of this cancer. A novel approach to overcome the resistance of prostate cancer stem-like cells is thus essential. The present study investigated whether soybean derived Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) could abrogate the resistance of prostate cancer stem-like cells from an androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP cells) to an anti-androgen agent. The LNCaP stem-like cells exhibited stronger resistance to an androgen antagonist, flutamide, than LNCaP parental cells. Exposure of LNCaP stem-like cells to BBI treatment reduced their stemness and resistance to flutamide. In parallel, LNCaP stem-like cells showed a positive response based on changes in the typical androgen-governed gene, prostate-specific antigen. These results suggest the potential of BBI as a candidate to reduce the resistance of prostate cancer stem-like cells to antiandrogen agents.

NK Cells Can Preferentially Target Prostate Cancer Stem-like Cells via the TRAIL/DR5 Signaling Pathway

“…To stimulate the growth of KHYG-1 cells, recombinant human IL-2 (50 ng/mL) was added to the culture medium. To isolate LNCaP stem-like (LN-stem) cells from LNCaP parental (LN) cells, we utilized the tumorsphereforming capacity of the cells in a three-dimensional (3D) culture system using a low attachment culture plate (Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) [14]. In the study, we checked the mRNA and protein levels of some cancer stem cell markers (CD24, CD44, CD133, SOX2, Oct3/4) and the tumorsphere-forming capacity of the 3D culture to confirm stemness of the cells from tumorsphere [14].…”

“…To isolate LNCaP stem-like (LN-stem) cells from LNCaP parental (LN) cells, we utilized the tumorsphereforming capacity of the cells in a three-dimensional (3D) culture system using a low attachment culture plate (Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) [14]. In the study, we checked the mRNA and protein levels of some cancer stem cell markers (CD24, CD44, CD133, SOX2, Oct3/4) and the tumorsphere-forming capacity of the 3D culture to confirm stemness of the cells from tumorsphere [14]. Moreover, every time we prepared the cells from tumorspheres in this study, we checked the mRNA levels of some cancer stem cell markers to validate the stemness of the cells.…”