ObjectiveTo explore the inhibitory effect of genistein (GEN) on the proliferation of VCaP castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells.

METHODSVCaP CRPC cells were treated with GEN at the concentrations of 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by CCK-8 assay and their cycle by flow cytometry. The expression of Ki-67 in the cells was detected by immunocytochemistry and the levels of PSA, Cyclin D1, PCNA, and P53 determined by Western blot.

RESULTSAfter 72 hours of treatment with GEN at 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μmol/L, the inhibition rates of the VCaP cells were (25.38±0.02)%, (31.14±0.29)%, (45.27±0.03)%, (52.19±0.05)%, and (68.21±0.19)%, respectively, all significantly higher than in the 0 μmol/L group (［10.08±0.02］%)(P<0.05). GEN caused the arrest of the VCaP cells in the G2/M phase (P<0.05) and inhibited the expression of Ki-67. The expressions of PSA, Cyclin D1, and PCNA were gradually down-regulated while that of P53 up-regulated with the increased concentration of GEN (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGEN inhibits the proliferation of VCaP CRPC cells by arresting the cell cycle with related protein expression changes.