We investigated the effects of
inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6) on growth inhibition and differentiation of human
prostate cancer cells PC-3 in vitro. A significant dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition was observed as tested by the MTT-incorporation assay (P < 0.05 at 1 mM InsP6 after 24 h treatment, P < 0.01 at 0.1 mM after 3 days).
DNA synthesis as determined by [3H]
thymidine incorporation assay was also suppressed by InsP6 in a dose-dependent manner, occurring as early as 3 h
after treatment and continuing up to 48 h (P < 0.01 at 1 mM InsP6). A 9- to 10-fold increase (P < 0.01) in expression of HLA class I molecule associated with
tumor immunosurveillance and cell differentiation was induced by InsP6. The marker for prostatic cell differentiation, prostate
acid phosphatase, was significantly (P < 0.05) increased after 48 h treatment at 0.5-5 mM InsP6. Since InsP6 strongly inhibits growth and induces differentiation in human
prostate cancer cells in vitro, in vivo studies using a
tumor xenograft model and a prostate
carcinogenesis model are warranted to validate the efficacy of InsP6 in the treatment and prevention of
prostate cancer.