Cancer: Prostate
Action: Inhibits telomerase activity, anti-cancer
Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a phytochemical with anti-carcinogenic properties. Telomerase activity is key in carcinogenesis. The effect of I3C on telomerase was investigated in human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC3. Cells were treated with I3C at 100 and 250 µM with and without 10-50 µM diethylstilbestrol (DES). Telomerase activity was performed using TRAPaze Telomerase Detection Kit, and hTERT gene expression by real time quantitative RT-PCR. I3C (250 µM) inhibited telomerase activity and mRNA expression of hTERT in LNCaP and PC3 cells. I3C at 250 µM combined with any concentration of DES was cytotoxic to LNCaP. Telomerase activity in PC3 cells with 250 µM of I3C and 25 or 50 µM of DES was significantly reduced or inhibited, respectively.
I3C combined with DES reduced PC3 viability and eliminated LNCaP cells. I3C significantly inhibited telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA expression in LNCaP and PC3 cells. Combination of I3C and DES enhanced the inhibitory effect on telomerase activity, gene expression, and cell viability. These results implied that I3C and DES combined might help in prostate cancer treatment (Adler et al., 2011).
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