Apoptosis by dietary agents for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer

Naghma Khan1, Vaqar Mustafa Adhami, Hasan Mukhtar

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Medical Sciences Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 4385, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.

Endocrine-Related Cancer
|November 21, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Dietary compounds that induce apoptosis, programmed cell death, show promise for cancer chemoprevention. Studies explore these agents for prostate cancer (PCa) prevention, examining their effects in cell cultures, animals, and human trials.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is crucial for cancer chemoprevention by dietary agents.
  • Mammalian cells utilize extrinsic and intrinsic pathways to regulate apoptosis.
  • Prostate cancer (PCa) is an ideal model for chemoprevention research due to its characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review dietary compounds that induce apoptosis for prostate cancer (PCa) prevention.
  • To highlight research across in vitro, preclinical, and clinical trial settings.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on apoptosis-inducing dietary compounds.
  • Analysis of studies investigating chemoprevention of prostate cancer (PCa).
  • Inclusion of in vitro, animal, and human clinical trial data.

Main Results:

  • Apoptosis induction by dietary agents is a key mechanism in cancer chemoprevention.
  • Various dietary compounds demonstrate potential for PCa prevention.
  • Evidence spans from cell culture to human clinical trials.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary compounds that trigger apoptosis are significant for cancer chemoprevention strategies.
  • Further research into these agents may lead to effective prostate cancer (PCa) prevention methods.

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...