Effects of low-dose bufalin combined with hydroxycamptothecin on human castration-resistant prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice

Exp Ther Med. 2021 Sep;22(3):1015. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10447. Epub 2021 Jul 15.ABSTRACTProstate cancer is the most prevalent tumor found in men worldwide. Despite the efficiency of primary endocrine prostate cancer therapies, more efficient drugs are needed to tackle the most advanced and resistant forms of this condition. The present study investigated the antitumor effects of low-dose bufalin combined with hydroxycamptothecin on castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in mice, as well as the possible mechanisms of apoptosis induction. CRPC xenograft tumors were generated in mice and, subsequently, mice received appropriate doses of bufalin, hydroxycamptothecin or a combination of the two drugs. Tumors from each treatment group were removed, and the tumor volume, weight and inhibition rate of each group was determined. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for pathological analysis and TUNEL staining was used to assess the level of apoptosis in the xenografts. Immunohistochemistry was used for the analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression and the expression of Bax, Bcl-XL, p53, programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), phosphorylated (p)-AKT and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β was determined by western blotting. Treatment with bufalin significantly (P<0.05) reduced tumor volumes compared with the negative control group, reducing tumor volumes to lower levels when combined with hydroxycampothecin. The combination of bufalin (0.6 or 0.8 mg/kg) and hyd...
Source: Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine - Category: General Medicine Authors: Source Type: research