Cucurbitacin E induces apoptosis of human prostate cancer cells via cofilin-1 and mTORC1

He,Xiaolong; Gao,Qi; Qiang,Yayong; Guo,Wei; Ma,Yadong

doi:10.3892/ol.2017.6086

Cucurbitacin E induces apoptosis of human prostate cancer cells via cofilin-1 and mTORC1

Authors:
- Xiaolong He
- Qi Gao
- Yayong Qiang
- Wei Guo
- Yadong Ma
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Affiliations: Department of Urology, Yan'an University Affiliated Hospital, Yan'an, Shaanxi 716000, P.R. China
Published online on: April 24, 2017 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.6086
Pages: 4905-4910

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Abstract

Cucurbitacin E is an important member of the cucurbitacin family and exhibits inhibitory effects in various types of cancer. Cucurbitacin is a potential antineoplastic drug; however, its anticancer effect in human prostate cancer (PC) remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the effect of cucurbitacin E on the cell viability and apoptosis of the human PC cell line, LNCaP, was mediated by cofilin‑1‑ and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The results of the present study demonstrated that cucurbitacin E significantly exhibited cytotoxicity, suppressed cell viability (P<0.0001) and induced apoptosis (P=0.0082) in LNCaP cells. In addition, it was demonstrated that treatment with cucurbitacin E significantly induced cofilin‑1 (P=0.0031), p‑mTOR (P=0.0022), AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK; P=0.0048), cellular tumor antigen p53 (p53; P=0.0018) and caspase‑9 (P=0.0026) protein expression in LNCaP cells, suggesting that cucurbitacin E exerts its effects on LNCaP cells through cofilin‑1, mTOR, AMPK, p53 and caspase‑9 signaling. These results suggested that cucurbitacin E maybe used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of human PC.

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