Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

Fall 10-5-2026

Abstract

Background: Prostate Cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly men in the United States (US). Despite the availability of approved anticancer strategies, treatment related side effects and the recurrence of aggressive and metastatic cancer cells remain a formidable challenge. Therefore, the possible use of safety-tested nutraceuticals that can suppress PCa metastasis would be of great translational value. We have investigated the anti-metastatic effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), and ethyl pyruvate (EP), three clinically tested natural compounds. Here, we document their ability, both alone and in combinations, to suppress PCa cell migration in vitro.

Objectives: To analyze the effect of low dose of DMSO, MSM and EP, alone and in DMEP combinations, on migration of C4-2B cells, an aggressive PCa cell line, by using the scratch-wound assay.

Method: The C4-2B cells were cultured in a 24-well plate till ~90% confluent. A wound (cell free zone) was generated by scratching the confluent layer using the tip of a 200 ul pipette. Cells were treated with increasing concentration of each agent and combinations, and cell migration was allowed for 24-72 hours. Parallel experiments were also conducted in presence of the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin (DOX). At each point, cells were fixed and stained with crystal violet (CV) dye and stored for later analysis. Using these plates, our group measured the ‘Wound widths’ in both untreated (control) and treated conditions (nutraceuticals or nutraceuticals + DOX). Images of CV-stained cells were captured with an inverted microscope and the SeBaView imaging software. Each well image was annotated with three wound width measurements, which were averaged for data analysis. The units of measurements were originally in pixels and then converted into micrometers (1 pixel = 1.17 micrometers). Data comparing migration in control and drug-exposed groups were statistically analyzed.

Results: Based on ‘wound width’ data generated from three independent experiments (n=3) we observed a consistent trend of decreased migratory ability of the C42B cancer cells following exposure to each of the drugs, either alone or in combination. The most significant data was observed with cells exposed to a 1:20 dilution of our DMEP combination. Cancer cells exposed to a combination of DMSO (1.25%), MSM (1.25%) and EP (0.125%), demonstrated the least metastatic ability. At 72 hours, DMEP (1:20) showed the largest average wound width as compared to untreated control cells. Moreover, in adjunct exposure to the chemotherapy drug, DOX (0.03 mM) + DMEP (1:20) group was associated with the largest average wound width, consistent with a lower metastatic potential.

Conclusions: Low doses of the safety-tested nutraceuticals, DMSO, MSM and EP, may have potential as antimetastatic agents.

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