Potential mechanism of phytochemical-induced apoptosis in human prostate adenocarcinoma cells: Therapeutic synergy in genistein and β-lapachone combination treatment

Background Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of male death in the United States. The incidence increases most rapidly with age, and multiple genetic and epigenetic factors have been implicated in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of the cancer. Nevertheless, scientific knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease is still limited; and hence treatment has only been partially successful. The objective of the current studies was to examine the role of caspase 3 (CPP32) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) in the signaling of genistein-and β-lapachone (bLap)-induced apoptosis in human prostate carcinoma cells PC3.