Lycorine is a novel inhibitor of the growth and metastasis of hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Abstract

Lycorine, a natural alkaloid extracted from the Amaryllidaceae plant family, has been reported to exhibit a wide range of physiological effects, including the potential effect against cancer. However, the anti-prostate cancer (PCa) efficacy of Lycorine remains unrevealed. In this context, we figured out Lycorine's anti-proliferative and anti-migratory properties for PCa treatment. Lycorine inhibited proliferation of various PCa cell lines, induced cell apoptosis and cell death. Here we showed that Lycorine decreased proliferation, migration, invasion, survival and EMT of prostate cancer cell lines. Subcutaneous and orthotopic xenotransplantations by ectopic implantation of the human hormone-refractory PC-3M-luc cells were used to confirm in vivo anticancer effects of Lycorine. Lycorine inhibited both growth and metastasis in multiple organs (liver, lung, kidney, spleen and bone) in vivo and improved mice survival. Lycorine prevented EGF-induced JAK/STAT signaling. Importantly, anti-cancer effects of Lycorine were dependent on STAT expression. We suggest that Lycorine is a potential therapeutic in prostate cancer.

• Authors: Meichun Hu, Shihong Peng, Yundong He, Min Qin, Xiaonan Cong, Yajing Xing, Mingyao Liu, Zhengfang Yi
• Journal: Oncotarget (Oncotarget) Vol. 6 Issue 17 Pg. 15348-61 (Jun 20 2015) ISSN: 1949-2553 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25915156 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Phenanthridines
• STAT3 Transcription Factor
• STAT3 protein, human
• Epidermal Growth Factor
• lycorine

Topics

• Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
• Epidermal Growth Factor (metabolism)
• Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Invasiveness (pathology)
• Neoplasm Metastasis (drug therapy)
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Phenanthridines (pharmacology)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• STAT3 Transcription Factor (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Transplantation, Heterologous