Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry (Dec 2022)

Inhibitory effect of roburic acid in combination with docetaxel on human prostate cancer cells

  • Xiao Wang,
  • Xu Xuetao,
  • Mengshuo Wu,
  • Panpan Wu,
  • Zhaojun Sheng,
  • Wenfeng Liu,
  • Yan-Yan Ma,
  • Den-Gao Zhao,
  • Kun Zhang,
  • Dongli Li,
  • Xi Zheng,
  • Susan Goodin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2021.2018684
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 37, no. 1
pp. 542 – 553

Abstract

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Roburic acid (ROB) is a naturally occurred tetracyclic triterpenoid, and the anticancer activity of this compound has not been reported. Docetaxel (DOC) is the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for advanced stage prostate cancer but toxic side effects and drug resistance limit its clinical success. In this study, the potential synergistic anticancer effect and the underlying mechanisms of ROB in combination with DOC on prostate cancer were investigated. The results showed that ROB and DOC in combination synergistically inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells. The combination also strongly induced apoptosis, and suppressed cell migration, invasion and sphere formation. Mechanistic study showed that the combined effects of ROB and DOC on prostate cancer cells were associated with inhibition of NF-κB activation, down regulation of Bcl-2 and up regulation of Bax. Knockdown of NF-κB by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly decreased the combined effect of ROB and DOC. Moreover, we found that esomeprazole (ESOM), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), strongly enhanced the effectiveness of ROB and DOC on prostate cancer cells in acidic culture medium. Since acidic micro environment is known to impair the efficacy of current anticancer therapies, ESOM combined with ROB and DOC may be an effective approach for improving the treatment of prostate cancer patients.

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