Combination effect of PectaSol and Doxorubicin on viability, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in DU-145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines

The effect of PectaSol on Dox (Doxorubicin) cytotoxicity in terms of apoptosis and cell cycle changes in PCa (prostate cancer) cell lines (DU-145 and LNCaP) has been investigated. Combination of PectaSol and Dox resulted in a viability of 29.4 and 32.6% (P<0.001) in DU-145 and LNCaP cells. The IC50 values decreased 1.5-fold and 1.3-fold in the DU-145 and LNCaP cells respectively. In the DU-145 cells, combination of PectaSol and Dox resulted in a reduction in p27 gene and protein expression (P<0.001). In LNCaP cells, this combination increased p53, p27 and Bcl-2 expression. Treatment with both drugs in DU-145 cells led to an increase in sub-G(1) arrest (54.6% compared with 12.2% in Dox). In LNCaP cells, combination of the drugs led to an increased in G(2)/M arrest (61.7% compared with 53.6% in Dox). Based on these findings, progressive cytotoxicity effect of Dox and PectaSol together rapidly induce cell death in DU-145 through apoptosis and in LNCaP cells through cell cycle arrest (G(2)/M arrest).