Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Reduces Viability and Invasiveness of Prostate Cancer Cells

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. The apoptosis-inducing properties of MSM, together with its ability to diminish cell invasiveness and migration, suggest that MSM may be an effective, natural means of controlling the proliferation of cancer cells in prostate cancer. 

At a global level, prostate cancer (PC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths ¹. The disease is considered a hormone-dependent cancer, given that the proliferation of PC is regulated by steroid hormones ². Preventative therapies largely focus on lifestyle interventions involving changes in diet and physical activity ³, and increasingly, the incorporation of natural compounds which mimic cytotoxic drugs (drugs that inhibit cell division and growth) ⁴. One such compound, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), is naturally occurring in plants and food and is “generally recognized as safe”, according to the American Food and Drug Administration ⁵. Studies have evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties of MSM in relation to muscle and joint function as well as hair and nail growth ⁶, but newer work suggests MSM also has the capacity to modulate cell growth and induce apoptosis of cancer cells in the stomach ⁷ and colon ⁸. MSM has also previously been combined with other inhibitors of cancer cell proliferation (e.g., hormone therapy) to successfully suppress tumor growth and reduce cancer spread ⁹. In a 2018 study ¹⁰ by Kowalska and colleagues, the effects of MSM on cell viability, apoptosis, and invasiveness were evaluated in three distinct PC cell lines.

The in vitro study was carried out using three different metastatic human prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines, LNCaP, PC3, and DU-145, all of which differed in hormone sensitivity and invasiveness potential. Each cell line was treated with 200-500 mM MSM or 0.1 µM staurosporine (positive control) for 24h, and a set of non-treated cells were included as a control group. Cell viability (defined as the number of healthy cells in a sample) was measured with the use of AlamarBlue® reagent, and apoptosis was determined by counting the number of apoptotic cells. The cell cycle of cells was also evaluated and changes in the invasiveness and migration of PC cells analyzed using a series of biochemical assays.

Compared to control cells, MSM (at concentrations ranging from 400 to 800 mM) was seen to decrease viability in LNCaP, PC3, and DU-145 cells in a dose-dependent fashion (p < 0.001 for all). In all three cell lines, MSM also significantly increased the total number of apoptotic cells (p < 0.05 for all). MSM-induced apoptosis was verified by cell cycle analysis, which indicated a significant increase in the number of cells in the sub G0/G1 cell cycle phase (corresponding to apoptotic cells) in LNCaP (following treatment with 300-500 mM MSM), PC3 (following treatment with 400-500 mM MSM), and DU-145 (following treatment with 300-500 mM MSM) cell lines (p < 0.001 for all). Finally, a significant decrease in cell migration was observed in LNCaP and PC3 cell lines (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) following MSM treatment at a concentration of 200 mM. Compared to controls, LNCaP and DU-145 cells treated with 200 mM MSM also demonstrated significantly decreased cell invasion (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Experimental findings highlight the clinical potential of MSM as a natural cytotoxic agent for the treatment of PC. In all three cell lines, MSM was proven to significantly decrease viability and induce apoptosis of PC cells, based on cell cycle analysis and total count of apoptotic cells. At lower concentrations, MSM also appeared to variably reduce the invasiveness and migration of PC cell lines. Thus, the apoptosis-inducing properties of MSM, together with its ability to diminish cell invasiveness and migration, suggest that MSM may be an effective, natural means of controlling the proliferation of cancer cells in PC. Its efficacy in PC cells with different hormonal sensitivity and migration potential is particularly promising. Prospective in vivo studies on MSM and PC are warranted, along with further research on optimal dose-response associations.

Source: Kowalska K, Habrowska-Gorczynska DE, Dominska K, et al. Methylsulfonylmethane (organic sulfur) induces apoptosis and decreases invasiveness of prostate cancer cells. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2018; 64: 101-111. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2018.10.001.

© 2018 Elsevier B.V

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Posted May 17, 2021.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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