Effects of the flavonoid drug quercetin on the response of human prostate tumours to hyperthermia in vitro and in vivo

Int J Hyperthermia. 2001 Jul-Aug;17(4):347-56. doi: 10.1080/02656730110053146.

Abstract

Tumour hyperthermia, although potentially a powerful therapeutic agent and radiation sensitizer, is hindered by a number of considerations including inhomogeneous heating of deep seated tumours due to energy deposition and perfusion issues. One solution is to design hyperthermia sensitizers to amplify the effects of hyperthermia, particularly at cold spots within the tumour undergoing treatment. This study examined the use of Quercetin, a flavonoid drug shown previously to antagonize the expression of HSP72 and induce apoptosis as a sensitizer of prostate cancer growth in vivo. Quercetin dose-dependently suppressed PC-3 tumour growth in vitro and in vivo. When combined in a treatment protocol with hyperthermia, quercetin drastically inhibited tumour growth and potently amplified the effects of hyperthermia on two prostate tumour types, PC-3 and DU-145 in vivo. These experiments, thus, suggest the use of Quercetin as a hyperthermia sensitizer in the treatment of prostate carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy*
  • Animals
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia, Induced*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Quercetin / pharmacology
  • Quercetin / therapeutic use*
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • Quercetin