Research Article

Cytotoxic effect of N-acetyl cysteine in DU145 human prostate cancer cells

Volume: 23 Number: 6 June 27, 2025

Cytotoxic effect of N-acetyl cysteine in DU145 human prostate cancer cells

Abstract

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men all over the world. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are conventional cancer treatment modalities. However, these modalities have many complications and side effects. Therefore, it is very important to support the treatment with compounds that will reduce the side effects and increase the effectiveness of the treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the cytotoxic effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, on human prostate cancer cells. This study was performed on DU145 human prostate cancer cells. The cells were divided into 7 groups (control and 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mM NAC groups). Cell index was determined using real time monitoring of electrical impedance in all groups. Apoptotic activity was determined using flow cytometry. Apoptotic activity was measured only 5 and 10 mM NAC groups. The cell index increased significantly at lower doses of NAC (0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 mM) but decreased at higher doses (5 and 10 mM). NAC significantly increased percentage of early and late apoptotic cells at 10 mM concentration. Percentage of necrotic cell significantly increased at 5 and 10 mM concentrations. Our data showed that NAC could significantly inhibit the proliferation of DU145 human prostate cancer cells in high doses. In addition, in this study for the first time, we report that NAC enhances apoptotic activity of human prostate DU145 cancer cells. These findings denote the antitumor properties of NAC.

Keywords

References

  1. [1] Türkiye Kanser İstatistikleri (TUİK). https://hsgm.saglik.gov.tr/depo/birimler/kanserdb/istatistik/Turkiye_Kanser_Istatistikleri_ (accessed 20 April 2019)
  2. [2] Uluslararası Kanser Ajansı (IARC). (2012). http://kanser.gov.tr/Dosya/2015haberler1/Kanser_İnsidansları_kisa_rapor (accessed 31 March 2019)
  3. [3] Aydın S. Türkiye’de üriner sistem kanserlerin görülme sıklığı. Türk Üroloji Dergisi 2007; 33(4): 392-397.
  4. [4] Stangelberger A, Waldert M, Djavan B. Prostate cancer in elderly men. Rev Urol. 2008; 10(2): 111-119.
  5. [5] Sorrenti V, Vanella L, Acquaviva R, Cardile V, Giofrè S, Di Giacomo C. Cyanidin induces apoptosis and differentiation in prostate cancer cells. Int J Oncol. 2015; 47(4): 1303-1310. [CrossRef]
  6. [6] Akınsal E, Sofikerim M. Prostat kanseri ve kemoterapi. Turk Urol Sem. 2010; 1: 207-210.
  7. [7] Tozawa K, Okamoto T, Hayashi Y, Sasaki S, Kawai N, Kohri K. N-acetyl-L-cysteine enhances chemotherapeutic effect on prostate cancer cells. Urol Res. 2002; 30: 53–58.
  8. [8] Shiota M, Song Y, Takeuchi A, Yokomizo A, Kashiwagi E, Kuroiwa K, Tatsugami K, Uchiumi T, Oda Y, Naito S. Antioxidant therapy alleviates oxidative stress by androgen deprivation and prevents conversion from androgen dependent to castration resistant prostate cancer. J Urol. 2011; 187(2): 707. [CrossRef]

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Emine Ecem Çakir * This is me
Türkiye

Hasan Alhasan This is me
Türkiye

Elçin Çakir This is me
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 27, 2025

Submission Date

July 19, 2019

Acceptance Date

September 14, 2019

Published in Issue

Year 2019 Volume: 23 Number: 6

APA
Çakir, E. E., Alhasan, H., Çakir, E., & Çömelekoglu, Ü. (2025). Cytotoxic effect of N-acetyl cysteine in DU145 human prostate cancer cells. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 23(6), 1123-1130. https://izlik.org/JA92YK83FT
AMA
1.Çakir EE, Alhasan H, Çakir E, Çömelekoglu Ü. Cytotoxic effect of N-acetyl cysteine in DU145 human prostate cancer cells. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;23(6):1123-1130. https://izlik.org/JA92YK83FT
Chicago
Çakir, Emine Ecem, Hasan Alhasan, Elçin Çakir, and Ülkü Çömelekoglu. 2025. “Cytotoxic Effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine in DU145 Human Prostate Cancer Cells”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 23 (6): 1123-30. https://izlik.org/JA92YK83FT.
EndNote
Çakir EE, Alhasan H, Çakir E, Çömelekoglu Ü (July 1, 2025) Cytotoxic effect of N-acetyl cysteine in DU145 human prostate cancer cells. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 23 6 1123–1130.
IEEE
[1]E. E. Çakir, H. Alhasan, E. Çakir, and Ü. Çömelekoglu, “Cytotoxic effect of N-acetyl cysteine in DU145 human prostate cancer cells”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 1123–1130, July 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA92YK83FT
ISNAD
Çakir, Emine Ecem - Alhasan, Hasan - Çakir, Elçin - Çömelekoglu, Ülkü. “Cytotoxic Effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine in DU145 Human Prostate Cancer Cells”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 23/6 (July 1, 2025): 1123-1130. https://izlik.org/JA92YK83FT.
JAMA
1.Çakir EE, Alhasan H, Çakir E, Çömelekoglu Ü. Cytotoxic effect of N-acetyl cysteine in DU145 human prostate cancer cells. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;23:1123–1130.
MLA
Çakir, Emine Ecem, et al. “Cytotoxic Effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine in DU145 Human Prostate Cancer Cells”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 23, no. 6, July 2025, pp. 1123-30, https://izlik.org/JA92YK83FT.
Vancouver
1.Emine Ecem Çakir, Hasan Alhasan, Elçin Çakir, Ülkü Çömelekoglu. Cytotoxic effect of N-acetyl cysteine in DU145 human prostate cancer cells. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 1;23(6):1123-30. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA92YK83FT