Potential mechanism of phytochemical-induced apoptosis in human prostate adenocarcinoma cells: Therapeutic synergy in genistein and beta-lapachone combination treatment.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of male death in the United States. The incidence increases most rapidly with age, and multiple genetic and epigenetic factors have been implicated in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of the cancer. Nevertheless, scientific knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease is still limited; and hence treatment has only been partially successful.