Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Published on: September 18, 2013
A Mini-Review of Flavone Isomers Apigenin and Genistein in Prostate Cancer Treatment
Xiaozhen Ji1, Kai Liu1, Qingyue Li1
1Hainan General Hospital and Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
Abstract:
The initial responses to standard chemotherapies among prostate cancer (PCa) patients are usually significant, while most of them will finally develop drug resistance, rendering them with limited therapies. To discover new regimens for the treatment of PCa including resistant PCa, natural products, the richest source of bioactive compounds, can serve as a library for screening and identifying promising candidates, and flavones such as apigenin and genistein have been used in lab and clinical trials for treating PCa over decades. In this mini-review, we take a look into the progress of apigenin and genistein, which are isomers, in treating PCa in the past decade. While possessing very similar structure, these two isomers can both target the same signaling pathways; they also are found to work differently in PCa cells. Given that more combinations are being developed and tested, genistein appears to be the more promising option to be approved. The anticancer efficacies of these two flavones can be confirmed by in-vitro and in-vivo studies, and their applications remain to be validated in clinical trials. Information gained in this work may provide important information for new drug development and the potential application of apigenin and genistein in treating PCa.
Insights
Apigenin and genistein show promise for treating prostate cancer (PCa), including drug-resistant forms. Genistein appears more promising for clinical approval, with both flavones requiring further clinical validation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) patients often develop resistance to standard chemotherapy, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Natural products, like flavones apigenin and genistein, are valuable sources for identifying new anti-cancer agents.
- Apigenin and genistein, structural isomers, have been investigated for decades in PCa treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress of apigenin and genistein in treating prostate cancer over the past decade.
- To compare the efficacy and mechanisms of action of apigenin and genistein in PCa.
- To assess the potential of these flavones for future drug development in PCa.
Main Methods:
- Mini-review of scientific literature on apigenin and genistein in prostate cancer treatment.
- Analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the anticancer effects of these flavones.
- Evaluation of clinical trial data and potential therapeutic applications.
Main Results:
- Apigenin and genistein, despite structural similarity, exhibit distinct effects on PCa cells.
- Both compounds target similar signaling pathways involved in cancer progression.
- Genistein shows greater promise for clinical approval compared to apigenin, with ongoing combination studies.
Conclusions:
- Apigenin and genistein demonstrate confirmed anticancer efficacy in preclinical studies (in vitro and in vivo).
- Further clinical trials are essential to validate the therapeutic applications of apigenin and genistein in prostate cancer.
- This review provides insights for developing new drugs and utilizing these flavones in PCa treatment.
Related Concept Videos
02:59Cancer Prevention
Some...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...