Systemic alkalinisation delays prostate cancer cell progression in TRAMP mice

• Main Authors: Simonetta Astigiano, Andrea Puglisi, Luca Mastracci, Stefano Fais, Ottavia Barbieri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-01-01
• Series: Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry
• Subjects: Alkalinisation; chemoprevention; prostate tumour; TRAMP mice; tumour microenvironment
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2016.1252760

The microenvironment of solid tumours is extremely acidic and this condition arises since the precancerous stage. This acidic milieu could therefore provide a useful target for both prophylactic and therapeutic approaches. In TRAMP transgenic mice, an in vivo model of prostate adenocarcinoma (AC), oral administration of alkaline water was devoid of unwanted side effects, and when started from an early age was as effective as NaHCO3 in significantly delaying tumour progression, while when started when prostate tumours were already present, a nonstatistically significant trend in the same direction was detected. These findings indicate that the use of alkalinizing drugs should be considered for chemoprevention and, in association with standard chemotherapy, for treatment of human prostate AC.