OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes in expression underlying the marked reduction of tumour growth in vivo, by analysing the effect of Belamcanda chinensis extract (BCE) on LNCaP cells in vitro, as phytoestrogens are chemopreventive in prostate cancer, and in previous studies we examined the effects of the isoflavone tectorigenin isolated from B. chinensis on LNCaP prostate cancer cells, and a BCE consisting of 13 phytoestrogenic compounds on tumour‐bearing nude mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
LNCaP cells were treated with 100, 400 or 1400 µg/mL BCE; proliferation was assessed with an Alamar Blue assay. We used real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction to quantify mRNA expression of the androgen receptor (AR), the AR coactivator prostate derived Ets transcription factor (PDEF), NKX3.1, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and oestrogen receptor‐β (ER‐β) compared with the expression of the housekeeping gene porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD). PSA secretion from LNCaP cells was measured and protein expression of the AR investigated by Western blot analysis.
RESULTS
Concomitant with a marked decrease of tumour cell proliferation BCE down‐regulated the expression of the AR, PDEF, NKX3.1 and PSA. In the same experiments, the expression of PBGD was unaltered, whereas ER‐β expression increased. Furthermore, AR protein and PSA secretion were markedly diminished after treatments with the BCE.
CONCLUSION
BCE, comprising 13 different phytoestrogens, decreases the expression of the AR and its co‐activator PDEF concomitant with diminished cell proliferation and PSA secretion. NKX3.1 expression was also reduced by BCE. We hypothesise that the positive effects of BCE are initiated by up‐regulation of the ER‐β, a putative tumour‐suppressor gene.
Summary
Sweet syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) is characterized by a dramatic onset of high fever, neutrophilia and typical skin lesions. About 20 % of patients have an associated malignancy, most commonly hematologic diseases. Chronic and paucisymptomatic manifestations of Sweet syndrome may be misdiagnosed or misinterpreted as harmless, resulting in delayed diagnosis. “Atypical” manifestations are especially suspicious for associated malignancies. This is demonstrated by a 39‐year old patient with chronic and afebrile disease who was referred to our clinic only after symptoms had persisted for several months. By that point, an underlying nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma had already reached an advanced stage. Skin biopsies revealed dermal infiltrates of histiocytoid cells of myelogenous origin, supporting a diagnosis of histiocytoid Sweet syndrome. Specific cutaneous infiltrates associated with myelogenous leukemia were ruled out.
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