There is a need for new options for reducing the side effects of
cancer treatment, without compromising efficacy, enabling patients to complete treatment regimens. The botanical compound
LCS101 exhibits inhibitory effects on
cancer cell growth, and reduces
chemotherapy-induced hematological toxicities. The aim of the present study is to examine the selectivity of the effects of the compound, alone and in conjunction with conventional
chemotherapy agents, on
cancer cell proliferation. The effects of
LCS101 were tested on a number of
cancer cell lines (breast, MCF7, MDA-MB‑231; colorectal, HCT116; prostate, PC-3, DU-145) and on non-tumorigenic normal human epithelial cells (breast, MCF10A; prostate, EP#2). Cell viability was analyzed using an XTT assay and observed by light microscopy.
Necrosis and apoptosis were examined using FACS analysis and immunoblotting.
LCS101 selectively induced cell death in breast, colon and
prostate cancer cell lines, as measured by XTT assay. Light microscopy and FACS analysis showed changes indicative of a necrotic process.
LCS101 was also found to induce PARP-1 reduction in
breast cancer cells, with no effect on non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cells. While
LCS101 increased cell death in
cancer cells exposed to
doxorubicin and
5-FU, it showed a protective effect on non-tumorigenic human epithelial cells from
chemotherapy-induced cell death. A similar selective effect was observed with apoptosis-associated PARP-1 cleavage. The findings demonstrate that the anti-proliferative effects exhibited by the botanical compound
LCS101 are selective to
cancer cells, and offer protection to non-tumorigenic normal epithelial cells from
chemotherapy agents.