Compound K is a potential clinical anticancer agent in prostate cancer by arresting cell cycle

Ginsenosides, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides are the bioactive constituents of Panax ginseng Meyer. Compound K (CK) is a secondary ginsenoside with better bioavailability. It is also a promising anticancer agent.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of CK on prostate cancer (PCa) and its potential mechanisms.

The proliferation, migration and cell cycle of PCa cells after CK treatment were assessed in various PCa cell lines. Docetaxel was used as a positive control drug. Unlike other published studies, the potential mechanisms of CK (50 μM) were investigated by an unbiased global transcriptome sequencing in the current study.

Key CK related genes (CRGs) with prognostic significance were identified and verified by bioinformatic methods using data from the TCGA dataset and GSE21034 dataset. The role of CDK1 in the effect of CK treatment on PCa cells was investigated by overexpression of CDK1.

CK inhibited the proliferation and migration of PCa cells at concentrations (less than 25 μM) without obvious cytotoxicity. Five key CRGs with prognostic significance were identified, including CCNA2, CCNB2, CCNE2, CDK1, and PKMYT1, which are involved in cell cycle pathways. CK inhibited the expression of these 5 genes and the cell cycle of PCa cells. According to the results of bioinformatic analysis, the expression of the five key CRGs was strongly associated with poor prognosis and advanced pathological stage and grade of PCa. In addition, CK could restore androgen sensitivity in castration-resistant PCa cells, probably by inhibiting the expression of CDK1. After CDK1 overexpression, the inhibition of proliferation and migration of PCa cells by CK was decreased. The inhibition on the phosphorylation of AKT by CK was also reduced.

CK can inhibit PCa cells, and the mechanisms may be associated with the inhibition of cell cycle pathways through CDK1. CK is also a potential clinical anticancer agent for treating PCa.