Radiosensitizing agents sensitize cells to the lethal effects of ionizing radiation (IR). This permits use of lower doses of radiation to achieve equivalent cancer control thereby minimizing adverse effects to normal tissues. Given their lack of toxicity compounds occurring naturally in the diet make ideal potential radiosensitizing agents.

Capsaicin, a compound found in the Capsicum sp. of plants, is a widely consumed food additive in areas with low PCa incidence. Traditionally capsaicin is used to treat chronic pain syndromes; however, recently evidence using in vitro PCa models describes its anti-carcinogenic potential. The transient receptor potential vanilloid-receptor (TRPV)-1 and TRPV6 cation selective channels are thought to be partly responsible for mediating these effects. TRPV-1 and TRPV-6 expression is up-regulated in PCa tissue correlating directly with increasing tumor grade. This suggests TRPV1 and/or TRPV6 may be potential therapeutic targets for capsaicin mediated interventions in PCa patients.

As IR and capsaicin both promote apoptosis and inhibit cell cycle progression in vitro we hypothesize an at least additive effect of combining these two therapies.

Using clonogenic assays we assessed the effect of ionizing radiation (1-8 Gy) and/or capsaicin (1-10μM) on colony formation rates in 4 human PCa cell lines (LNCaP, PC3, PC3AR2, DU145). Proliferative, apoptotic, TRPV-6 protein markers were assessed using Western blot analyses.

Exposure of cells to capsaicin (1-10μM) or IR (1-8Gy) caused significant dose-dependent inhibition of colony formation (p<0.001). Combining capsaicin with IR resulted in further significant inhibition of colony formation rates (P<0.001). Western blot analyses showed LNCaP cells treated with capsaicin and/or IR to have increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and Bad, tumor-suppressor proteins p21 and p27 and reduced androgen-receptor. Additionally, capsaicin monotherapy caused a dramatic alteration in TRPV1 and TRPV6 expression.

These studies confirm the radiosensitizing capacity of capsaicin in PCa cells in vitro. Ongoing studies using are further delineating the mechanism of interaction of these treatment modalities.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2493. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2493

©2011 American Association for Cancer Research
2011