Antiandrogenic activity of resveratrol analogs in prostate cancer LNCaP cells

J Androl. 2012 Nov-Dec;33(6):1208-15. doi: 10.2164/jandrol.112.016782. Epub 2012 Jun 14.

Abstract

The suppression of androgen signaling is a therapeutic target for the treatment of prostate cancer. Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is known to inhibit the function of the androgen receptor (AR). In the present study, we investigated the antiandrogenic activities of resveratrol analogs in order to identify a potent antiandrogen compound. Resveratrol analogs were isolated from plants or were semisynthesized from resveratrol. AR transcriptional activity was measured in prostate cancer LNCaP cells using a luciferase assay with the MMTV-luc reporter plasmid. Among the resveratrol analogs tested, 4'-O-methylresveratrol (3,5-dihydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene) was the most effective inhibitor of AR transcriptional activity. Introduction of a methoxy group to the C-4' of resveratrol and its analogs increased their antiandrogenic activity compared with the unmodified counterparts. Conversely, modification of the 3- and/or 5-hydroxyl groups reduced the antiandrogenic activity. 4'-O-methylresveratrol was more effective than resveratrol in inhibiting Akt phosphorylation, which is related to AR signaling, in LNCaP cells. The hydroxyl groups in resveratrol play a key role in their antiandrogenic effect by modulating AR transcriptional activity.

MeSH terms

  • Androgen Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Phenols / therapeutic use*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen / drug effects*
  • Resveratrol
  • Stilbenes / therapeutic use*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Phenols
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Stilbenes
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Resveratrol