ABSTRACT
Cervical cancer (CC) is a leading cause of death in women worldwide. Radiation therapy (RT) for CC is an effective alternative, but its toxicity remains challenging. Blueberry is amongst the most commonly consumed berries in the United States. We previously showed that resveratrol, a compound in red grapes, can be used as a radiosensitizer for prostate cancer. In this study, we found that the percentage of colonies, PCNA expression level and the OD value of cells from the CC cell line SiHa were all decreased in RT/Blueberry Extract (BE) group when compared to those in the RT alone group. Furthermore, TUNEL+ cells and the relative caspase-3 activity in the CC cells were increased in the RT/BE group compared to those in the RT alone group. The anti-proliferative effect of RT/BE on cancer cells correlated with downregulation of pro-proliferative molecules cyclin D and cyclin E. The pro-apoptotic effect of RT/BE correlated with upregulation of the pro-apoptotic molecule TRAIL. Thus, BE sensitizes SiHa cells to RT by inhibition of proliferation and promotion of apoptosis, suggesting that blueberry might be used as a potential radiosensitizer to treat CC.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/drug effects , Apoptosis/radiation effects , Blueberry Plants/chemistry , Gamma Rays , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Radiation-Sensitizing Agents/pharmacology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Cycle , Cell Proliferation , Female , Humans , Tumor Cells, Cultured , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/drug therapy , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/radiotherapyABSTRACT
Nearly 40% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Thus, there is a rapidly growing need for novel therapies to combat this deadly disease. One such method is the consumption of blueberries. Long coveted for their powerful antioxidant properties, more recent studies have demonstrated that blueberries also exhibit inherent abilities to prevent carcinogenesis, inhibit the proliferation of neoplastic cells, and reduce the risks of recurrence in patients in remission. This review will focus on the specific activities of blueberry derivatives in cancer cells across many different forms of cancer. Ultimately, such research could be helpful in the development of new strategies to treat cancer.
Subject(s)
Blueberry Plants , Fruit , Neoplasms , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Blueberry Plants/chemistry , Diet , Female , Fruit/chemistry , Humans , Male , Phytochemicals/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Prostate cancer (PCA) is the most common malignancy in men in USA, and the role of Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vag) in the development of PCA is still controversial. Clonogenic assay, PCNA staining, TUNEL staining and caspase-3 activity assay were used to investigate the in vitro role of T. vag in human prostate cancer. We further investigated the possible molecular mechanisms using RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. Culture supernatant of T. vag inhibits growth of PC-3 prostate cancer cells, and this correlated with upregulation of p21. Culture supernatant of T. vag induced apoptosis of PC-3 cells, and this correlated with downregulation of Bcl-2. The growth inhibition effect of culture supernatant of T. vag is also demonstrated in another prostate cancer cell line DU145, suggesting that its effect is not specific to one prostate cancer cell line. Culture supernatant of T. vag inhibits growth of prostate cancer by inhibition of proliferation and promotion of apoptosis. Such a study might be helpful to address the association between PCA and infection of T. vag.
Subject(s)
Prostatic Neoplasms/microbiology , Trichomonas vaginalis/physiology , Apoptosis/physiology , Cell Growth Processes/physiology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21/biosynthesis , Humans , Male , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/biosynthesisABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate if γ-synuclein (SNCG) could be used as a bladder cancer (BC) marker to predict prognosis of BC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 140 patients with BC (January, 2006 to December, 2009) were retrospectively reviewed. SNCG expression level was examined by immunohistological staining. The patients' survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional regression model was used to identify independent predictors for BC. RESULTS: Overexpression of SNCG was detected in BC tissues and the expression level of SNCG strongly positively correlated with BC recurrence. However, no correlation was found between SNCG level and tumor stage or survival rate. CONCLUSION: SNCG is a good marker to predict recurrence of BC, but not a reliable marker for staging or prediction of survival rate.
Subject(s)
Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/metabolism , Up-Regulation , Urinary Bladder/metabolism , gamma-Synuclein/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Proportional Hazards Models , Survival Rate , Urinary Bladder/pathology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds from fruits, vegetables, or grains and they have been used to treat various diseases for thousands of years. More than one million people in the United States get cancer each year. Although recent advances in medicine have improved the outcomes for cancer patients, there is still a need for novel approaches in the fight against cancer. One such approach that has shown promise in recent years is the use of phytochemicals alone or as synergistic agents. In this review, we will discuss the use of phytochemicals as therapeutic agents against cancer with an emphasis on apple extract.