Aminomethylphosphonic acid inhibits growth and metastasis of human prostate cancer in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model

// Keshab Raj Parajuli 1 , Qiuyang Zhang 1 , Sen Liu 1 , Zongbing You 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 1 Departments of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA 2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA 3 Tulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA 4 Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA 5 Tulane Center for Aging, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Correspondence to: Zongbing You, e-mail: zyou@tulane.edu Keywords: aminomethylphosphonic acid, glyphosate, prostate cancer, metastasis, orthotopic xenograft mouse model Received: October 01, 2015     Accepted: January 23, 2016     Published: January 28, 2016 ABSTRACT Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) has been shown to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth in vitro . The purpose of the present study was to determine if AMPA could inhibit growth and metastasis of prostate cancer in vivo . Human prostate cancer PC-3-LacZ-luciferase cells were implanted into the ventral lateral lobes of the prostate in 39 athymic Nu/Nu nude male mice. Seven days later, mice were randomized into the control group ( n = 14, treated intraperitoneally with phosphate buffered saline), low dose group ( n = 10, treated intraperitoneally with AMPA at 400 mg/kg body weight/day), and high dose group ( n = 15, treated intraperitoneally with AMPA at 800 mg/kg body weight/day). Tumor growth and metastasis were examined every 4-7 days by bioluminescence imaging of live mice. We found that AMPA treatment significantly inhibited growth and metastasis of orthotopic xenograft prostate tumors and prolonged the survival time of the mice. AMPA treatment decreased expression of BIRC2 and activated caspase 3, leading to increased apoptosis in the prostate tumors. AMPA treatment decreased expression of cyclin D1. AMPA treatment also reduced angiogenesis in the prostate tumors. Taken together, these results demonstrate that AMPA can inhibit prostate cancer growth and metastasis, suggesting that AMPA may be developed into a therapeutic agent for the treatment of prostate cancer.