Necroptosis Induced by Delta-Tocotrienol Overcomes Docetaxel Chemoresistance in Prostate Cancer Cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the fifth cause of cancer death in men. Currently, chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancers, including PCa, mainly inhibit tumor growth by apoptosis induction. However, defects in apoptotic cellular responses frequently lead to drug resistance, which is the main cause of chemotherapy failure. For this reason, trigger non-apoptotic cell death might represent an alternative approach to prevent drug resistance in cancer. Several agents, including natural compounds, have been shown to induce necroptosis in human cancer cells. In this study we evaluated the involvement of necroptosis in anticancer activity of delta-tocotrienol (delta-TT) in PCa cells (DU145 and PC3). Combination therapy is one tool used to overcome therapeutic resistance and drug toxicity. Evaluating the combined effect of delta-TT and docetaxel (DTX), we found that delta-TT potentiates DTX cytotoxicity in DU145 cells. Moreover, delta-TT induces cell death in DU145 cells that have developed DTX resistance (DU-DXR) activating necroptosis. Taken together, obtained data indicate the ability of delta-TT to induce necroptosis in both DU145, PC3 and DU-DXR cell lines. Furthermore, the ability of delta-TT to induce necroptotic cell death may represent a promising therapeutical approach to overcome DTX chemoresistance in PCa.

Automated summary

Prostate cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men. Chemotherapeutic agents primarily induce apoptosis in tumor cells, but drug resistance often occurs due to defects in apoptotic cellular responses. As an alternative approach, inducing non-apoptotic cell death, such as necroptosis, may prevent drug resistance. In this study, the involvement of necroptosis in the anticancer activity of delta-tocotrienol in prostate cancer cells (DU145 and PC3) was evaluated.