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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Cytotoxic effects of treosulfan on prostate cancer cell lines
Susan Feyerabend1, Gerhard Feil, Jutta Krug
1Department of Urology, University of Tübingen Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany.
Objective:
Despite various therapeutical options in metastatic prostate cancer, the lack of a curative approach motivates further investigations. Treosulfan is an alkylating agent that has proven its indication in the treatment of e.g. ovarian carcinoma. This study focused on the objective of evaluating the effect of in vitro intoxication of human prostate carcinoma cell lines with treosulfan.
Materials And Methods:
Human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 were treated with treosulfan concentrations from 0.5-500 microM for up to six days. Analysis of cell viability was performed using colorimetric WST-1 assay. Control data were obtained from identical cell lines cultivated without treosulfan.
Results:
Incubation with treosulfan inhibited cell viability and led to cell death in all cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After one day, viability of LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 cells was constantly reduced with a dose rate of at least 10 microM (p < 0.001), 10 microM (p < 0.0001) and 100 microM (p < 0.0001) treosulfan, respectively. Minimum dose rates leading to death of nearly all LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 cells were 250 microM, 100 microM and 200 microM treosulfan, respectively.
Conclusion:
The results demonstrate a sensitivity of prostate carcinoma cells to the cytotoxic activity of treosulfan. Therefore, treosulfan might be a promising compound for novel treatment protocols for prostate cancer.
Insights
Treosulfan, an alkylating agent, demonstrated significant cytotoxic effects on human prostate cancer cell lines in vitro. These findings suggest treosulfan
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Metastatic prostate cancer lacks a definitive cure, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Treosulfan, an established alkylating agent, shows efficacy in treating other cancers like ovarian carcinoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of treosulfan on human prostate carcinoma cell lines.
- To evaluate treosulfan's potential as a novel treatment for prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Human prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU145, PC3) were exposed to treosulfan (0.5-500 microM) for up to six days.
- Cell viability was assessed using a colorimetric WST-1 assay.
- Control groups were maintained without treosulfan exposure.
Main Results:
- Treosulfan significantly inhibited cell viability and induced cell death across all tested cell lines.
- Effects were dose- and time-dependent, with significant reductions observed at specific treosulfan concentrations.
- Near-complete cell death was achieved at concentrations of 100-250 microM treosulfan, depending on the cell line.
Conclusions:
- Prostate carcinoma cells exhibit sensitivity to treosulfan's cytotoxic activity.
- Treosulfan presents a promising candidate for developing new prostate cancer treatment protocols.
