Experimental Treatment of Prostate Cancer Models with Rh2, An Isolated Ginsenoside Compound
Abstract
Ginseng is commonly used in herbal preparations for traditional Chinese medicine. Rh2, one of the ginsenosides, has been shown to suppress growth and induce apoptosis in a number of cancer cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate the combined efficacy of Rh2 and two chemotherapeutic agents, paclitaxel and mitoxantrone, mice bearing the LNCaP or PC-3 prostate tumor xenograft were treated with corn oil (po) and saline (iv), Rh2 (5Omg/kg po daily), paclitaxel (6 mg/kg iv on day 1, 4, 15, and 18), mitoxantrone (2.5 mg/kg iv on day 1, 4, 15, and 18), Rh2 + paclitaxel and Rh2 + mitoxantrone. Tumor volumes were measured twice weekly for 4 weeks. Serum PSA were tested using ELISA for LNCaP models. Results showed 1) For the LNCaP models, student t-test was performed on the data acquired and results showed statistically significant differences exist between the tumor growth ratio of control group and Rh2+ paclitaxel treatment group (P<0.05) from day 9. No statistical significant differences existed between the control group and the Rh2, paclitaxel or mitoxantrone monotreatment groups. Paclitaxel monotherapy and paclitaxel + Rh2 combination showed significant (p<O.O5) and very significant (p<O.Ol) inhibitory effect on serum PSA levels. 2) There was no statistically significant differences exist between PC-3 model groups treated with placebo, Rh2, Paclitaxel, mitoxantrone or combination. Overall, our results suggest that oral administration of Rh2 can sensitize low dose of Paclitaxel in the treatment of mice bearing subcutaneous LNCaP prostate tumors and exhibits potential as a chemosensitizer of paclitaxel for treatment of androgen-dependent prostate cancer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA425735
Entities
People
- Xiaowei S. Xie
Organizations
- University of British Columbia