Research Library
Modified Citrus Pectin Induces Cytotoxicity of Prostate Cancer Cells in Co-cultures with Human Endothelial Monolayers
Authors: Tania Weiss PhD, Michael McCulloch BA, Isaac Eliaz MD
Source: International Conference on Diet and Prevention of Cancer, May 1999, Tampere, Finland
BACKGROUND: Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) was tested for its ability to prevent cancer cell adherence to human endothelial tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: cytotoxicity study was performed measuring the effect of MCP on PC-3 cells (a human prostate cancer cell line) plated onto a human endothelial cell monolayer, with or without 0.1% or 1.0% MCP (PectaSol®, EcoNugenics, Inc., San Rafael, California 94901). RESULTS: The cytotoxicity was found to be 80.7% at 1.0% concentration MCP, and 76.9% at 0.1% concentration MCP, compared with 3.8% in the control. CONCLUSION: Modified Citrus Pectin demonstrated a very high cytotoxic effect on a co-culture of PC-3 and an ECV304 cell monolayer, as compared with the control. This data suggests that MCP may interfere with the adherence of PC-3 cells to an endothelial cell monolayer, although further studies are needed to verify the specific mechanism.