Impact of Vitamin C on Genistein induced apoptosis in treatment of prostate cancer cells

Background: Prostate Cancer, in the absence of skin cancer, is the most prevalent type of cancer found
in the male population. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) can promote cancer cell proliferation when
they are at elevated levels. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant capable of inhibiting the formation
of ROS. Genistein, an isoflavone found in plants, also possesses the ability to inhibit ROS formation.
Objective To determine the potential therapeutic synergy between genistein and vitamin C and
investigate mechanism of action of genistein and/or vitamin C. Methods: Trypan blue assay was carried
out to know the % of viable cells. Varying concentrations of genistein with a constant concentration of
Vitamin C was used to treat LNCaP cells. After treatment of the cells with genistein and Vitamin C, MTT
assay of the cancer cells was performed and absorbance read through an ELISA reader. This gives the
values needed for interpreting cell viability after treatment. A statistical analysis performed to determine
whether the obtained results are statistically significant. Results: The results obtained from our
experiments are inconclusive with regards to the impact of Vitamin C on apoptotic cancer cell death
following genistein treatment. However the combination of genistein and vitamin C was more efficient in
tumor suppression than when the drugs were given separately. Conclusion: This study suggests that
treatment of prostate cancer using genistein can be enhanced by adjuvant treatment with vitamin C.
This study is of potential clinical success in reducing the cell death by necrosis.