Conclusions
Pentamidine can efficiently suppress prostate cancer progression and may serve as a novel mitochondria-targeted therapeutic agent for prostate cancer.
Methods
Prostate cancer cell lines and epithelial RWPE-1 cells were used in the study. Cell viability, wound-healing, transwell and apoptosis assays were examined to evaluate the influences of pentamidine in vitro. RNA-seq and qPCR were performed to analyse changes in gene transcription levels upon pentamidine treatment. Mitochondrial changes were assessed by measuring mitochondrial DNA content, morphology, membrane potential, cellular glucose uptake, ATP production and ROS generation. Nude mouse xenograft models were used to test anti-tumour effects of pentamidine in vivo.
Results
Pentamidine exerted profound inhibitory effects on proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells. In addition, the drug suppressed growth of xenograft tumours without exhibiting any obvious toxicity in nude mice. Mechanistically, pentamidine caused mitochondrial DNA content reduction and induced mitochondrial morphological changes, mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, ATP level reduction, ROS production elevation and apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Conclusions: Pentamidine can efficiently suppress prostate cancer progression and may serve as a novel mitochondria-targeted therapeutic agent for prostate cancer.