Open Access

Polysaccharide-K augments docetaxel-induced tumor suppression and antitumor immune response in an immunocompetent murine model of human prostate cancer

  • Authors:
    • Cynthia A. Wenner
    • Mark R. Martzen
    • Hailing Lu
    • Michael R. Verneris
    • Hongbo Wang
    • Joel W. Slaton
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 12, 2011     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1292
  • Pages: 905-913
  • Copyright: © Wenner et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY_NC 3.0].

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Abstract

Advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer has high mortality rates and limited treatment options. Novel therapies are needed to better contend with this disease. Polysaccharide-K® (PSK), an extract of the mushroom Trametes versicolor, has immunomodulatory and tumor suppressive activities. PSK is used in Asia as a cancer immunotherapy. However, its benefit in combination with taxanes for prostate cancer is unknown. We examined whether PSK would enhance docetaxel-induced apoptosis and augment anti-tumor immune responses in orthotopic tumors using transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP)-C2-bearing mice. Combining PSK with docetaxel induced significantly higher tumor suppression than either treatment alone (p<0.05), including a reduction in tumor proliferation and enhanced apoptosis. Combined PSK and docetaxel treatment led to a lower decrease in number of white blood cells than docetaxel alone, an effect accompanied by increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. PSK with or without docetaxel significantly enhanced mRNA expression of IFN-γ compared to control, but did not significantly alter T-regulatory FoxP3 mRNA expression in tumors. PSK also augmented docetaxel-induced splenic natural killer cell cytolytic activity against YAC-1 target cells (p=0.045). This study is the first to show that PSK enhances docetaxel-induced prostate cancer tumor suppression, apoptosis and antitumor responses.
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April 2012
Volume 40 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Wenner CA, Martzen MR, Lu H, Verneris MR, Wang H and Slaton JW: Polysaccharide-K augments docetaxel-induced tumor suppression and antitumor immune response in an immunocompetent murine model of human prostate cancer. Int J Oncol 40: 905-913, 2012
APA
Wenner, C.A., Martzen, M.R., Lu, H., Verneris, M.R., Wang, H., & Slaton, J.W. (2012). Polysaccharide-K augments docetaxel-induced tumor suppression and antitumor immune response in an immunocompetent murine model of human prostate cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 40, 905-913. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1292
MLA
Wenner, C. A., Martzen, M. R., Lu, H., Verneris, M. R., Wang, H., Slaton, J. W."Polysaccharide-K augments docetaxel-induced tumor suppression and antitumor immune response in an immunocompetent murine model of human prostate cancer". International Journal of Oncology 40.4 (2012): 905-913.
Chicago
Wenner, C. A., Martzen, M. R., Lu, H., Verneris, M. R., Wang, H., Slaton, J. W."Polysaccharide-K augments docetaxel-induced tumor suppression and antitumor immune response in an immunocompetent murine model of human prostate cancer". International Journal of Oncology 40, no. 4 (2012): 905-913. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1292