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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples
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Mechanochemical Disruption Suppresses Metastatic Phenotype and Pushes Prostate Cancer Cells toward Apoptosis

Hakm Y Murad1,2, Heng Yu1,2, Daishen Luo1,2

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Molecular Cancer Research : MCR
|January 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with ethanol offers a novel mechanochemical disruption therapy. This approach effectively eliminates prostate cancer cells and achieves complete tumor regression in vivo.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Conventional cancer therapies face challenges like tumor heterogeneity and chemoresistance, leading to recurrence.
  • Targeting specific oncogenes or proteins often proves insufficient against aggressive cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of mechanochemical disruption using focused ultrasound (FUS) and ethanol for treating prostate cancer.
  • To evaluate the therapy's impact on cancer cell viability, proliferation, metastasis, and in vivo tumor regression.

Main Methods:

  • Mechanochemical disruption of prostate cancer cells using focused ultrasound (FUS) and ethanol in vitro.
  • Assessment of cell viability, proliferation, adhesion, migration, and apoptosis.
  • Evaluation of tumor regression in a prostate cancer xenograft model in vivo.

Main Results:

  • FUS and ethanol treatment significantly decreased prostate cancer cell viability, proliferation, tumorigenicity, and migration in vitro.
  • The therapy sensitized cells to apoptosis and reduced metastatic markers (CD44, CD29).
  • Complete tumor regression was observed in vivo, attributed to ROS and Hsp70 overproduction, and NFκB signaling impairment.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanochemical disruption therapy combining FUS and ethanol shows potential as a curative treatment for aggressive and castration-resistant prostate cancer.
  • This approach offers a non-traditional method to overcome chemoresistance and prevent cancer recurrence.

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