Activation of membrane androgen receptors potentiates the antiproliferative effects of paclitaxel on human prostate cancer cells

Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 May;5(5):1342-51. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-05-0527.

Abstract

Genomic signaling mechanisms require a relatively long time to get into action and represent the main way through which steroid hormones affect target cells. In addition, steroids may rapidly activate cellular functions by non-genomic signaling mechanisms involving membrane sites. Understanding in depth the molecular mechanisms of the non-genomic action represents an important frontier for developing new and more selective pharmacologic tools for endocrine therapies. In the present study, we report that membrane-impermeable testosterone-bovine serum albumin (BSA) acts synergistically with paclitaxel in modifying actin and tubulin cytoskeleton dynamics in LNCaP (androgen sensitive) and DU-145 (androgen insensitive) human prostate cancer cell lines. In addition, coincubation of either cell line with testosterone-BSA and paclitaxel induced inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Finally, in vivo experiments in LNCaP and DU-145 tumor xenografts in nude mice showed that both agents decrease tumor mass, whereas testosterone-BSA enhances the effect of paclitaxel. Our findings suggest that chronic activation of membrane androgen receptors in vitro and in vivo facilitates and sustains for a longer time the antitumoral action of cytoskeletal acting agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane Permeability / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cytoskeleton / drug effects
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / metabolism
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / pharmacology
  • Testosterone / analogs & derivatives
  • Testosterone / metabolism
  • Testosterone / pharmacology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Testosterone
  • Paclitaxel