Synergetic Impact of Combined 5Fluorouracil and Rutin on Apoptosis in PC3 Cancer Cells through the Modulation of P53 Gene Expression

Purpose: Prostate cancer is as far the most prevalent male cancer. Rutin (a glycoside from quercetin flavonoid) displays antioxidant activity leading to cell apoptosis. Combined effects of rutin with the widely used anticancer drug, 5fluorouracil (5FU), on prostate cancer cell line (PC3) was investigated herein. Methods: Different concentrations of combined 5FU and rutin were applied to PC3 cells compared to separate treatment for 48 hours. Cell viability, as well p53 gene expression respectively were assessed by MTT assay and realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Changes of Bcl2 signal protein and apoptosis were determined using western blot and flow cytometry procedures, respectively. Clonogenic assay was used to colony counts assessment. Results: 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of separate cell treatment with either rutin and 5FU respectively were 900 μM and 3Mm, while combination index (CI) of combined 5FU /rutin application reached a level of synergistic effects (0.33). Combination of 5FU/rutin enhanced apoptosis and p53 gene expression in PC3 cells. PC3 cell colony counts and Bcl2 signaling protein were decreased by 5FU/rutin combination. Conclusion: Synergistic effects of 5FU/rutin combination on PC3 cells line enhanced apoptosis, p53 gene expression, and downregulation of Bcl2 protein, compared to control separate application. 5FU/rutin combination does seem an interesting therapeutic pathway to be further investigated.