Inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth by 3',4',5'-trimethoxyflavonol (TMFol)

TMFol (3',4',5'-trimethoxyflavonol) is a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring flavonol fisetin and quercetin, which have been considered of potential usefulness in the management of prostate cancer. We investigated whether TMFol may have preclinical features superior to those of its two flavonol congeners.

The ability of the three flavonols to compromise prostate cancer cell survival was tested in four prostate cancer cell types 22Rv1, TRAMP C2, PC-3 and LNCaP. The effect of TMFol on prostate cancer development in vivo was investigated in nude mice bearing the 22Rv1 or TRAMP C2 tumours.

TMFol inhibited cell growth in vitro in all four prostate cancer cell types more potently than fisetin and quercetin. It also interfered with TRAMP C2 tumour development in vivo, while fisetin and quercetin at equivalent doses were without activity in this model. Likewise, TMFol slowed the growth of the 22Rv1 tumour in vivo. Efficacy in either model was accompanied by induction of apoptosis, although in vitro only TRAMP C2 cells, but not 22Rv1, underwent apoptosis when exposed to TMFol.

The results support the notion that among the three congeneric flavonols, quercetin, fisetin and TMFol, the latter may be the most suitable candidate agent for potential development in prostate cancer management.