Auriculasin sensitizes primary prostate cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis through up-regulation of the DR5-dependent pathway.

Primary prostate cancer cells frequently develop resistance toward chemotherapy as well as most chemotherapeutics have been reported to induce undesirable cytotoxicity in normal cells. In this study, we performed sensitizing activity analysis of auriculasin (AC) to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary prostate cancer cells without significant cytotoxicity in RWPE-1 prostate epithelial cells. Combined treatment with AC and TRAIL at optimal concentrations resulted in tumor-specific apoptotic cell death in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells, characterized by DNA fragmentation, accumulation of apoptotic cell population, and nuclear condensation.