ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of plumbagin as a novel ferroptosis inducer in bladder cancer inhibition. MethodBladder cancer T24 cells were used in this study. The effect of different concentrations of plumbagin （0.1， 1， 2， 3， 6， 12， 24， 48 μmol·L-1） on the viability of T24 cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8）. The effect of different concentrations of plumbagin （1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L-1） on the apoptosis of T24 cells was detected by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate （Annexin V FITC）/PI apoptosis kit. Different inhibitors （ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1， apoptosis inhibitor VAD， and necroptosis inhibitor Nec-1） were used in combination with plumbagin （6 μmol·L-1）. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） fluorescent probe （DCFH-DA）， malonaldehyde （MDA）， and glutathione （GSH） kits were used to detect the effects of different concentrations of plumbagin （1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L-1） on the level of ROS and the content of MDA and GSH in T24 cells， respectively. The effect of different concentrations of plumbagin （1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L-1） on peroxide levels in T24 cells was detected by C11-BODIPY fluorescent probe. Western blot was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of plumbagin （1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L-1） on the protein expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11）， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 （Nrf-2）， and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （Keap1）. ResultCompared with the blank group， plumbagin could inhibit the activity of T24 cells （P<0.05） with IC50 of 3.52 μmol·L-1. At the concentrations of 1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L-1， plumbagin significantly promoted the apoptosis of T24 cells （P<0.05） as compared with the blank group. Compared with the plumbagin group at 6 μmol·L-1， the ferroptosis inhibitor and apoptosis inhibitor groups could reverse the inhibitory effect of 6 μmol·L-1 plumbagin on the proliferation of T24 cells （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， the plumbagin groups at 1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L-1 showed increased content of ROS， MDA， and lipid peroxides in T24 cells， decreased GSH level， and reduced SLC7A11， GPX4， and Nrf-2/Keap1 （P<0.05）. Conclusionplumbagin can induce ferroptosis， and its mechanism is related to the Nrf-2/Keap1 signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Jinshui Xiangsheng prescription on the five-year clinical survival outcome of patients with advanced prostate cancer. MethodFrom May 1, 2014 to May 1, 2016, patients with advanced prostate cancer from Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Urology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were collected and treated with Jinshui Xiangsheng prescription (155 cases in the observation group). According to age and Gleason score, the patients without Jinshui Xiangsheng prescription were matched in a ratio of 1∶1 (155 cases in the control group). The androgen resistance rate, survival rate, median survival time, and median progress free survival time in 1, 3, 5 years were observed. The prognostic factors of advanced prostate cancer were analyzed and screened out by Chi-square test, t test, Kaplan-Meier and Cox survival analysis. ResultThe androgen resistance rates in the observation group in 1， 3， 5 years were 9.0% （14/155）， 72.3% （112/155）， and 92.9% （144/155）， respectively， and those in the control group were 20.6% （32/155）， 87.7% （136/155）， and 97.4% （151/155）. The 1-year （χ2=8.271，P<0.01）and 3-year （χ2=11.613，P<0.01） androgen resistance rates in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The median survival time and median progress free survival time in the observation group were （26.35±9.01） months and （11.02±4.40） months， respectively， and in the control group were （22.31±9.21） months and （9.87±5.12） months， respectively. The median survival time and median progress free survival time in the observation group were significantly longer than those in the control group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The cumulative survival rates in 1， 3， 5 years in the observation group were 96.1% （149/155）， 80.6% （125/155）， and 39.4% （61/155）， respectively， and those in the control group were 94.2% （146/155）， 60.0% （93/155）， and 22.6% （35/155）， respectively. The 3-year （χ2=15.828，P<0.01） and 5-year （χ2=10.201，P<0.01） cumulative survival rates in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The monofactor analysis showed that the prognostic factors involved in Gleason score， initial prostate specific antigen （PSA）， tumor location， tumor stage， castration regimen， radiotherapy， chemotherapy， complete androgen blockade （CAB）， and Jinshui Xiangsheng prescription （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The multivariate analysis showed that initial PSA， tumor location， and tumor stage were the risk factors affecting the survival time of patients with advanced prostate cancer， whereas Jinshui Xiangsheng prescription， castration regimen， chemotherapy， radiotherapy， and CAB were the independent protective factors affecting the prognosis of advanced prostate cancer. ConclusionJinshui Xiangsheng prescription has a protective effect on the survival of patients with advanced prostate cancer， which reduces the androgen resistance rate and death risk of advanced prostate cancer， thus benefiting the survival of patients. Therefore， it deserves further promotion.