# Cytotoxic Action of Palladium-Based Compound on Prostate Stem Cells, Primary Prostate Epithelial Cells, Prostate Epithelial Cells, and Prostate Cell Lines

Authors: Long Cheng; Yan Wang; Jiawei Wang; Haibo Qin; Guangbiao Zhu; Lingsong Tao
Journal: Journal of Healthcare Engineering
 (2022)

---

## Abstract

Objective. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer found to occur in males and is ranked as the second-highest cause of cancer-associated deaths among male patients. In this study, we have shown the influence of a new palladium-based anticancer agent in contrast to the six distinct prostate cancer lines and the primary cultures. Methods. In this study, we have used six distinct prostate cell lines, that is, PNT2-C2, LNCaP, BPH-1, PC-3, PNT1A, and P4E6. The MTP and ATP assay were performed to evaluate the growth of the cell and the flow cytometry to investigate the status of the cell cycle. The antigrowth effect of the palladium complex was evaluated against different cell lines at three time zones 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. [PdCl(terpy)] (capsule)-2H2O is synthesized by direct encapsulation of equimolar amounts of capsule ions into [Pd (terpy) Cl] Cl-2H2O. Results. A comparative analysis was done on 25 mM etoposide and 12 mM cisplatin, cytotoxic agents. The lowest IC50 value at 72 hours was 0.128 mM for BPH-1 cell lines with 0.139 mM, whereas PNT2-C2 cells were found to be most resistant with IC50 values of 0.829 mM. The antigrowth effect of palladium complex on cell lines was measured using the MTS assay at 24, 48, and 72 hours. BPH-1, PNT2-C2, and PNT1A either possess normal tissues or have benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues whereas P4E6, PC-3, and LNCaP cell lines possess malignant origin. The Pd complex exhibited significant cytotoxic action in stem cells when compared against etoposide. An antigrowth effect was reported for Pd complex at lower concentration, but it was more cytotoxic than etoposide with significant cytotoxicity P=0.001. Conclusion. The palladium complex experienced a substantial antigrowth influence over most of the prostate tumor cell lines and the primary cultures, eventually, leading to the implementation of this Pd complex in the treating procedure of metastatic prostate cancer, which is tremendously resistant to the traditional treatment.


---

## Body

## 1. Introduction

Cancer is a crucial public health issue worldwide, and additional patients are in distress because of prostate cancer. There are around 12.7 million fresh cases of cancer, which predicted 7.6 million deaths to have taken place [1]. There is a considerable number of cancer deaths that could be stopped using advanced identification and detection followed by treatments. Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly identified cancers occurring in males and is the second excessively occurring source of cancer in males leading to death [2].However, novel drugs have lately been initiated in the clinical practice, and the outcome of the therapy for metastatic prostate cancer is still substandard. Thus, there is a dire need for a much systematic or divergent variety of drugs particularly focusing on the radio-recurrent as well as hormone-resistant prostate cancer and the prostate cancer stem cells (CSCs) [3].There is a considerable amount of cancer morbidity that can be averted with preliminary identification and medication, which furnishes the quest for more efficient antineoplastic agents. The biological action of cisplatin cytotoxicity comprises the binding of the drug to the DNA and the non-DNA targets which discourage the transcription and the DNA duplication, which ultimately leads to necrosis or apoptosis or both [4].Cisplatin is considered the most successful anticancer element, which has been widely used in clinical practices for over a period of more than 40 years [5]. It is usually utilized in the treatment of different tumor occurrences in humans like ovarian cancer, cervical, testicular, oesophagal, head and neck, and non-small lung cancers. The fresh metal-based agents like the palladium (Pd) combinations guarantee the development of enhanced chemotherapeutic drugs [6].There is a notable likeliness between the coordination chemistry of the palladium and the platinum compounds behaving as the antitumor drug [7]. The anticancer medicines emerge from a range of sources like plants, warfare agents, or microbes. For over the past 30 years, Pt-related medicines, specifically carboplatin along with cisplatin, have governed the medication procedure of different cancers. In these recent years, many palladia (II) (Pd(II)) combinations were synthesized and published.The Pd combinations have remarkable antitumor behaviour towards the cancerous cells along with the lower side-effects in contrast to the cisplatin [8]. The aqueous solubility of the Pd combinations is superior compared with the platinum combinations, which turns Pd more appealing [9]. However, it is estimated that Pd combinations will have less toxicity in the kidney compared with cisplatin. The resistant behaviour of cisplatin is a mechanism that comprises of the reduced drug collection in the cancer cells, inactivity performed by the thiol which includes the biomolecules (glutathione), and the increased repair of DNA impairment [10]. Therapeutic utilization of cisplatin is restricted because of its side effects, like nausea, gastrointestinal, ototoxicity, and nephrotoxicity along with bone marrow toxicity and resistance towards this drug. Lately, the second generation of cisplatin analogues like satraplatin (JM216), LA-12, and oxaliplatin is reported to have less hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity than cisplatin [11]. Many anticancer compounds are unsuccessful in curing or treating any malignant tumors. Consequently, more focus is towards the platinum-class elements, such as rhodium, palladium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium along with a new design plan of the metal combinations that consist of N and the S donor ligands, like the sodium di-ethyl-dithio-carbamate [12]. In this research, we have analyzed the cytotoxic action of the Pd complex against the prostate cancer cells, where the palladium complex was observed as the inhibitor with higher antigrowth action against the cell lines and the primary cultures.


## 2. Material and Methods

### 2.1. Cell Line Culture

In this study, we have used six distinct prostate cell lines, that is, PNT2-C2 (ATCC, PCS-440-010), LNCaP (ATCC, CRL-1740), BPH-1 (ATCC, PTA-5574), PC-3 (ATCC, CRL-1435), PNT1A (ATCC, CRL-2221), and P4E6 (ATCC, CRL-3314). Here, the PNT2-C2 and PNT1A are extracted from the standard prostate, while PC-3, P4E6, and LNCaP are identified as the cancer lines, and BPH-1 is extracted from the nonmalignant benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The cell lines PNT1A, PNT2-C2, and LNCaP were formed in the RPMI medium with approx. 10% foetal calf serum. Then, PC-3 was generated in Ham’s F-12 medium with a 7% proportion of foetal calf serum, P4E6 was produced in the Keratinocyte serum-free medium with 2% foetal calf serum, and BPH-1 was cultivated in RPMI medium with 5% foetal calf serum. None of the antibiotics was utilized in any of the mediums, and the cells were kept in incubation at 37°C in a humid environment consisting of 5% of CO2.


### 2.2. Key Prostate Epithelial Cells Culture

The chief prostate epithelial cells were divided from the human tissue specimens. These samples were obtained from the electronic medical database records. The culture of prostate and epithelial cells was performed as mentioned in the stem cell media (SCM), which comprises the keratinocyte serum-free medium that has bovine pituitary extract along with the epidermal growth factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), cholera toxin, and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF). These cells were developed with STO feeder cells, which were irradiated at 60 Gy on the collagen-1 layered plates.


### 2.3. Isolating the Cancer Stem Cells, Movement of Amplifying Cells, and the Committed Basal Cells

The cultured basal cells were digested with trypsin and then placed in suspension again, that is, in the stem cell culture medium column adhered to the collagen 1-lamina blocked by BSA. In a duration of three minutes, these cells were separated from the substratum and were gathered, comprising of the committed basal cells (CBs), that is,α2β1integrin. The MACs MS-columns were utilized to choose CD133+ and CD 133− cells. Consequently, we acquired three cell populations: the transit-amplifying cells (TAs)α2β integrinhi/CD133−, stem cells (SCs) α2β integrin CD133+, and the committed basal cells (CBs)α2β integrinIo.


### 2.4. Use of Chemicals

[PdCl(terpy)](sac)·2 H2O was synthesized by the direct inclusion of an equimolar quantity of sac ions to the [Pd(terpy)Cl]Cl·2 H2O in the solution high return. The obtained orange color crystals formed from the compound and the molecular framework were corroborated with the X-ray diffraction mechanism.The palladium was used in the concentrations ranging from 0.39 to 100μM, and then Etoposide (Selleck Chemicals GmbH, Berlin, Germany) and the Cisplatin (NSC119875, Selleck Chemicals GmbH, Berlin, Germany) were utilized as favorable regulators for performing the cytotoxic activities at portions of 25 μM and 12 μM or 6 μM.


### 2.5. MTS Analysis

This analysis was performed for the primary screening of the effect of the Pd combination over the cell lines as well as the entire cell population of the initial cultures. The Cell Tier 96 cell proliferation assay kit was used (FyoniBio, Glytocope GmbH, Berlin, Germany) to briefly treat the seeded cells over a density of 5000 cells for each in a 96-well plate in triplicate for a specific needed duration, that is, 24 hrs, 48 hrs, and 72 hrs, wherein 20μL of the reactive agents was poured in each of the wells. After 2.5 hrs of incubation period at a temperature of 37°C, the soaking rate was reported at 485 mm with the use of a plate recorder (Tristar 3, Berthold Technologies, Germany). The success (viability) rate was calculated using the following formula: percentage viability = [(obtained sample absorbance/regulated absorbance)] × 100.


### 2.6. ATP Analysis

This analysis was performed for the bioluminescent calculation of the adenosine 59-triphosphate, that is, ATP obtained from the components of the living cells like the transit-amplifying cells, cancer stem cells, and committed basal cells. The ATP degenerates swiftly within the dead cells, and the higher intracellular levels yield a specific analysis for the alive cells. We used the ATP-bioluminescent somatic cell assay kit (Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany) with updated guidelines. We briefly seeded a range of 50 to 500 cells per well inside a collaged layered 96 well plate in triplicate. After the treatment of cells for a duration of 72 hrs, we removed 150 mL of medium from each well. Later, we added a portion of 50 mL of cell extract reagent in each of the original wells. After incubating ATP assay mixed solution for a duration of 20 minutes, we transferred 50 mL of the cell extract into a white color 96-well plate. Ultimately, we added 50 mL of the ATP assay solution mix in the wells and recorded the luminescence with the use of the plate reader (Tristar 3, Berthold Technologies, Germany). We calculated the rate of viability by using the following formula: percentage viability = [(sample RLU/regulatory RLU)] × 100. Here, the RLU is the relative light unit.


### 2.7. Western Blotting

After the drug treatment process, the cell lysates were obtained with the use of the CytoBuster Protein Extraction Reagent (CPER) (71009-3 and 71009-4, Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany) along with the cOmplete™, EDTA-free Protease Inhibitor Cocktail (Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany). We loaded a portion of 20μg of the protein extract on the 12% SDS Page gels for the analysis technique to divide proteins based on their molecular weights, and they were wet-transported to a PVDF-membrane. We used the following antibodies here: anti-LC3B in a ratio 1 : 3000 (Anti-MAP1A/MAP1B LC3 B, Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany), Cleaved-Caspase 3 antibody (Bio-Techne Ltd., Abingdon, UK) in a ratio 1 : 1000, monoclonal anti-β-actin in a ratio of 1 : 5000 (AC-15, Bio-Techne Ltd., Abingdon, UK) along with the 1 : 1000 secondary antibody is rabbit antimouse-HRP (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States), and the 1 : 5000 ratio of the anti-rabbit IgG (whole molecule) peroxidase antibody (A0545, Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany), after which Protein MW Marker was passed on each gel (Odyssey One-Color protein molecular weight marker, LI-COR Biotechnology, Cambridge, UK).


### 2.8. Measurements and Statistics

We carried out MTS and ATP analysis in triplicate, where we demonstrated the data as the mean ± standard deviation. We calculated the values of IC50 from the obtained graphs of the modified data after the implementation of a nonlinear regression curve fit, which signifies the log(inhibitor) “v” normalized reaction using the GraphPad-prism tool. For further calculations, we presented a Wilcoxon rank sum examination using the Sigma plot. The flow cytometry test was performed in triplicate, and the outcomes were demonstrated as a mean along with error bars signifying the standard error.


## 2.1. Cell Line Culture

In this study, we have used six distinct prostate cell lines, that is, PNT2-C2 (ATCC, PCS-440-010), LNCaP (ATCC, CRL-1740), BPH-1 (ATCC, PTA-5574), PC-3 (ATCC, CRL-1435), PNT1A (ATCC, CRL-2221), and P4E6 (ATCC, CRL-3314). Here, the PNT2-C2 and PNT1A are extracted from the standard prostate, while PC-3, P4E6, and LNCaP are identified as the cancer lines, and BPH-1 is extracted from the nonmalignant benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The cell lines PNT1A, PNT2-C2, and LNCaP were formed in the RPMI medium with approx. 10% foetal calf serum. Then, PC-3 was generated in Ham’s F-12 medium with a 7% proportion of foetal calf serum, P4E6 was produced in the Keratinocyte serum-free medium with 2% foetal calf serum, and BPH-1 was cultivated in RPMI medium with 5% foetal calf serum. None of the antibiotics was utilized in any of the mediums, and the cells were kept in incubation at 37°C in a humid environment consisting of 5% of CO2.


## 2.2. Key Prostate Epithelial Cells Culture

The chief prostate epithelial cells were divided from the human tissue specimens. These samples were obtained from the electronic medical database records. The culture of prostate and epithelial cells was performed as mentioned in the stem cell media (SCM), which comprises the keratinocyte serum-free medium that has bovine pituitary extract along with the epidermal growth factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), cholera toxin, and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF). These cells were developed with STO feeder cells, which were irradiated at 60 Gy on the collagen-1 layered plates.


## 2.3. Isolating the Cancer Stem Cells, Movement of Amplifying Cells, and the Committed Basal Cells

The cultured basal cells were digested with trypsin and then placed in suspension again, that is, in the stem cell culture medium column adhered to the collagen 1-lamina blocked by BSA. In a duration of three minutes, these cells were separated from the substratum and were gathered, comprising of the committed basal cells (CBs), that is,α2β1integrin. The MACs MS-columns were utilized to choose CD133+ and CD 133− cells. Consequently, we acquired three cell populations: the transit-amplifying cells (TAs)α2β integrinhi/CD133−, stem cells (SCs) α2β integrin CD133+, and the committed basal cells (CBs)α2β integrinIo.


## 2.4. Use of Chemicals

[PdCl(terpy)](sac)·2 H2O was synthesized by the direct inclusion of an equimolar quantity of sac ions to the [Pd(terpy)Cl]Cl·2 H2O in the solution high return. The obtained orange color crystals formed from the compound and the molecular framework were corroborated with the X-ray diffraction mechanism.The palladium was used in the concentrations ranging from 0.39 to 100μM, and then Etoposide (Selleck Chemicals GmbH, Berlin, Germany) and the Cisplatin (NSC119875, Selleck Chemicals GmbH, Berlin, Germany) were utilized as favorable regulators for performing the cytotoxic activities at portions of 25 μM and 12 μM or 6 μM.


## 2.5. MTS Analysis

This analysis was performed for the primary screening of the effect of the Pd combination over the cell lines as well as the entire cell population of the initial cultures. The Cell Tier 96 cell proliferation assay kit was used (FyoniBio, Glytocope GmbH, Berlin, Germany) to briefly treat the seeded cells over a density of 5000 cells for each in a 96-well plate in triplicate for a specific needed duration, that is, 24 hrs, 48 hrs, and 72 hrs, wherein 20μL of the reactive agents was poured in each of the wells. After 2.5 hrs of incubation period at a temperature of 37°C, the soaking rate was reported at 485 mm with the use of a plate recorder (Tristar 3, Berthold Technologies, Germany). The success (viability) rate was calculated using the following formula: percentage viability = [(obtained sample absorbance/regulated absorbance)] × 100.


## 2.6. ATP Analysis

This analysis was performed for the bioluminescent calculation of the adenosine 59-triphosphate, that is, ATP obtained from the components of the living cells like the transit-amplifying cells, cancer stem cells, and committed basal cells. The ATP degenerates swiftly within the dead cells, and the higher intracellular levels yield a specific analysis for the alive cells. We used the ATP-bioluminescent somatic cell assay kit (Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany) with updated guidelines. We briefly seeded a range of 50 to 500 cells per well inside a collaged layered 96 well plate in triplicate. After the treatment of cells for a duration of 72 hrs, we removed 150 mL of medium from each well. Later, we added a portion of 50 mL of cell extract reagent in each of the original wells. After incubating ATP assay mixed solution for a duration of 20 minutes, we transferred 50 mL of the cell extract into a white color 96-well plate. Ultimately, we added 50 mL of the ATP assay solution mix in the wells and recorded the luminescence with the use of the plate reader (Tristar 3, Berthold Technologies, Germany). We calculated the rate of viability by using the following formula: percentage viability = [(sample RLU/regulatory RLU)] × 100. Here, the RLU is the relative light unit.


## 2.7. Western Blotting

After the drug treatment process, the cell lysates were obtained with the use of the CytoBuster Protein Extraction Reagent (CPER) (71009-3 and 71009-4, Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany) along with the cOmplete™, EDTA-free Protease Inhibitor Cocktail (Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany). We loaded a portion of 20μg of the protein extract on the 12% SDS Page gels for the analysis technique to divide proteins based on their molecular weights, and they were wet-transported to a PVDF-membrane. We used the following antibodies here: anti-LC3B in a ratio 1 : 3000 (Anti-MAP1A/MAP1B LC3 B, Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany), Cleaved-Caspase 3 antibody (Bio-Techne Ltd., Abingdon, UK) in a ratio 1 : 1000, monoclonal anti-β-actin in a ratio of 1 : 5000 (AC-15, Bio-Techne Ltd., Abingdon, UK) along with the 1 : 1000 secondary antibody is rabbit antimouse-HRP (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States), and the 1 : 5000 ratio of the anti-rabbit IgG (whole molecule) peroxidase antibody (A0545, Merck, Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Taufkirchen, Germany), after which Protein MW Marker was passed on each gel (Odyssey One-Color protein molecular weight marker, LI-COR Biotechnology, Cambridge, UK).


## 2.8. Measurements and Statistics

We carried out MTS and ATP analysis in triplicate, where we demonstrated the data as the mean ± standard deviation. We calculated the values of IC50 from the obtained graphs of the modified data after the implementation of a nonlinear regression curve fit, which signifies the log(inhibitor) “v” normalized reaction using the GraphPad-prism tool. For further calculations, we presented a Wilcoxon rank sum examination using the Sigma plot. The flow cytometry test was performed in triplicate, and the outcomes were demonstrated as a mean along with error bars signifying the standard error.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. Pd Complex Effect on the Cell Lines

The antigrowth effect of the palladium complex was evaluated against different cell lines at three time zones 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h (Figure1). Cell lines growth was inhibited by the Pd complex at 72 hours at a concentration of 100 mM. A comparative analysis was done on 25 mM etoposide and 12 mM cisplatin, cytotoxic agents. The lowest IC50 value at 72 hours was 0.128 mM for BPH-1 cell lines with 0.139 mM, whereas PNT2-C2 cells were found to be most resistant with IC50 values of 0.829 mM (Figure 1 ABC). Early-stage prostate cancer cell line LNCaP and P4E6 is obtained from the metastasis of lymph node with the most androgen-positive phenotype with IC50 values of 4.129 mM and 3.03 mM, respectively. The antigrowth effect of palladium complex on cell lines was measured using the MTS assay at 24, 48, and 72 hours. BPH-1, PNT2-C2, and PNT1A either possess normal tissues or have benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues, whereas P4E6, PC-3, and LNCaP cell lines possess malignant origin.Figure 1
(a–f) Anti-growth effect of the palladium complex on the cell lines as noted in the MTS assay in benign cell lines.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)Less dramatic effects of PNT2-C2 cells were found when compared with other types of normal and benign cells. The cell line from cancer obtained from bone metastasis is the one which is least susceptible to the drug, where there was high IC50 significantly. But, the overall Pd complex reduced the viability of cell lines as tested with little variations in response (Figure1).


### 3.2. Pd Complex Effect on Cancer Stem Cells in Primary Epithelial Cultures

As prostate tumors are termed heterogeneous, the antigrowth effects of the Pd complex in the case of benign and malignant cells have been explored. Stem cells were isolated via the primary cultures, which derived benign and prostate carcinoma samples of patients. Stem cells are found rarely and have antigrowth action, which was measured via the assay which measures the lowered cell number. According to the experiment, when the palladium complex was tested at two different doses, it showed a strong antigrowth effect leading to a significant reduction in cell viability at the lowest concentration. It was noted that the Pd complex showed significant cytotoxic action in stem cells when compared against etoposide. An antigrowth effect was reported for Pd complex at lower concentration, but it was more cytotoxic than etoposide with significant cytotoxicityP=0.001. In all cell populations, cisplatin was significantly cytotoxic and stem cells had more viability compared with other cells after the etoposide treatment (Figure 2).Figure 2
Relative viability in epithelial culture.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


### 3.3. Autophagy and Apoptosis Induction by the Palladium Complex

Reduced cell growth as indicated from cell proliferation assays leads to an increase in the G1 content in the case of treated cell population, which leads to induction of apoptosis, which was investigated by cleaved caspase-3 activity (Figure3). Clear induction in PNT2-C2, BPH-1, and P4E6 cells was noted with cleaved caspase-3, when the cells were palladium complex treated along with cisplatin and etoposide. Though the induction in the case of LNCaP cells via cleaved caspase-3 was noted after treatment with 25 mM Pd complex and no evidence in PC3 cells was noted of cleaved caspase-3. Thus, it represents a resistant cell line. The low percentage of PC3 cells also correlates with sub-G1 DNA content. No evidence in two primary samples about cleaved caspase-3 was seen and only one positive result with a low dose was noted for the BPH sample. As sub-G1 content was a significantly high case of primary cells as a response to the palladium complex, but no caspase activity was noted, which shows that the kinetics of apoptosis is variable between primary cells and cell lines or in primary cells the sub-G1 content might lead to necrosis. To investigate the mechanisms of cell lineage death and apoptosis in the case of primary cells, the levels of LC3-I and LC3-II were noted to assess autophagy (Figure 3).Figure 3
Western blotting for four primary cultures normal (PNT2-C2) and benign (BPH-1) cell lines.


### 3.4. Immunofluorescent Studies and Histochemistry

When immunofluorescence studies and eosin hematoxylin studies were performed, it was observed that autophagosomes were seen in primary cells after the Pd complex treatment. But, no significant change was reported in levels of LC3-I or LC3-II after etoposide or cisplatin treatment. This was further clear evidence which showed that mechanism of action in the case of Pd complex is variable compared with etoposide or cisplatin, which is significantly different in between all cell types (Figures4 and 5).Figure 4
Fluorescent images of LC3-B antibody with Pd complex.Figure 5
Eosin-hematoxylin staining of tissues.Ratio of LC3-II to LC3-1 was a standard measure in the case of autophagy though it was now accepted that LC-II levels must be assessed relatively as a significant control as actin. A significant increase in the expression levels of LC3-II in PNT2-C2, BPH-1, and P4E6 cells after increased doses in case of palladium complex. The treatment with cisplatin or etoposide did not show any significant increase or decrease in levels of LC3-I and LC3-II. In LNCaP and PC3 cells, there were no dramatic changes in LC3 - I and LC3 - II levels, nor were any type of treatment dose-dependent changes reported. In the case of primary cells, a significant increase in LC3-II was noted with increased Pd complex, which is an indication of autophagy (Figures4 and 5).


## 3.1. Pd Complex Effect on the Cell Lines

The antigrowth effect of the palladium complex was evaluated against different cell lines at three time zones 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h (Figure1). Cell lines growth was inhibited by the Pd complex at 72 hours at a concentration of 100 mM. A comparative analysis was done on 25 mM etoposide and 12 mM cisplatin, cytotoxic agents. The lowest IC50 value at 72 hours was 0.128 mM for BPH-1 cell lines with 0.139 mM, whereas PNT2-C2 cells were found to be most resistant with IC50 values of 0.829 mM (Figure 1 ABC). Early-stage prostate cancer cell line LNCaP and P4E6 is obtained from the metastasis of lymph node with the most androgen-positive phenotype with IC50 values of 4.129 mM and 3.03 mM, respectively. The antigrowth effect of palladium complex on cell lines was measured using the MTS assay at 24, 48, and 72 hours. BPH-1, PNT2-C2, and PNT1A either possess normal tissues or have benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues, whereas P4E6, PC-3, and LNCaP cell lines possess malignant origin.Figure 1
(a–f) Anti-growth effect of the palladium complex on the cell lines as noted in the MTS assay in benign cell lines.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)Less dramatic effects of PNT2-C2 cells were found when compared with other types of normal and benign cells. The cell line from cancer obtained from bone metastasis is the one which is least susceptible to the drug, where there was high IC50 significantly. But, the overall Pd complex reduced the viability of cell lines as tested with little variations in response (Figure1).


## 3.2. Pd Complex Effect on Cancer Stem Cells in Primary Epithelial Cultures

As prostate tumors are termed heterogeneous, the antigrowth effects of the Pd complex in the case of benign and malignant cells have been explored. Stem cells were isolated via the primary cultures, which derived benign and prostate carcinoma samples of patients. Stem cells are found rarely and have antigrowth action, which was measured via the assay which measures the lowered cell number. According to the experiment, when the palladium complex was tested at two different doses, it showed a strong antigrowth effect leading to a significant reduction in cell viability at the lowest concentration. It was noted that the Pd complex showed significant cytotoxic action in stem cells when compared against etoposide. An antigrowth effect was reported for Pd complex at lower concentration, but it was more cytotoxic than etoposide with significant cytotoxicityP=0.001. In all cell populations, cisplatin was significantly cytotoxic and stem cells had more viability compared with other cells after the etoposide treatment (Figure 2).Figure 2
Relative viability in epithelial culture.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


## 3.3. Autophagy and Apoptosis Induction by the Palladium Complex

Reduced cell growth as indicated from cell proliferation assays leads to an increase in the G1 content in the case of treated cell population, which leads to induction of apoptosis, which was investigated by cleaved caspase-3 activity (Figure3). Clear induction in PNT2-C2, BPH-1, and P4E6 cells was noted with cleaved caspase-3, when the cells were palladium complex treated along with cisplatin and etoposide. Though the induction in the case of LNCaP cells via cleaved caspase-3 was noted after treatment with 25 mM Pd complex and no evidence in PC3 cells was noted of cleaved caspase-3. Thus, it represents a resistant cell line. The low percentage of PC3 cells also correlates with sub-G1 DNA content. No evidence in two primary samples about cleaved caspase-3 was seen and only one positive result with a low dose was noted for the BPH sample. As sub-G1 content was a significantly high case of primary cells as a response to the palladium complex, but no caspase activity was noted, which shows that the kinetics of apoptosis is variable between primary cells and cell lines or in primary cells the sub-G1 content might lead to necrosis. To investigate the mechanisms of cell lineage death and apoptosis in the case of primary cells, the levels of LC3-I and LC3-II were noted to assess autophagy (Figure 3).Figure 3
Western blotting for four primary cultures normal (PNT2-C2) and benign (BPH-1) cell lines.


## 3.4. Immunofluorescent Studies and Histochemistry

When immunofluorescence studies and eosin hematoxylin studies were performed, it was observed that autophagosomes were seen in primary cells after the Pd complex treatment. But, no significant change was reported in levels of LC3-I or LC3-II after etoposide or cisplatin treatment. This was further clear evidence which showed that mechanism of action in the case of Pd complex is variable compared with etoposide or cisplatin, which is significantly different in between all cell types (Figures4 and 5).Figure 4
Fluorescent images of LC3-B antibody with Pd complex.Figure 5
Eosin-hematoxylin staining of tissues.Ratio of LC3-II to LC3-1 was a standard measure in the case of autophagy though it was now accepted that LC-II levels must be assessed relatively as a significant control as actin. A significant increase in the expression levels of LC3-II in PNT2-C2, BPH-1, and P4E6 cells after increased doses in case of palladium complex. The treatment with cisplatin or etoposide did not show any significant increase or decrease in levels of LC3-I and LC3-II. In LNCaP and PC3 cells, there were no dramatic changes in LC3 - I and LC3 - II levels, nor were any type of treatment dose-dependent changes reported. In the case of primary cells, a significant increase in LC3-II was noted with increased Pd complex, which is an indication of autophagy (Figures4 and 5).


## 4. Discussion

The repeated occurrence of prostate cancer consequently leads to the death of suffering patients because of the unsuccessful chemotherapy, necessarily in the duration of two years from the incompetent hormonal treatment procedure. Consequently, more systematic methods are needed, so in this research, we assessed the inhibited growth influence of new palladium complex that is propagating region in the anticancer-based drug evolution [3]. The in vitro analysis over multiple varieties of palladium complexes lately synthesized by both our group and others has generated favouring outcomes. Based on the in vitro studies, we conducted in vivo studies of breast tumor cell lines and also led to a substantial death of a cell by promoting apoptosis through the cell death receptors and the obstruction of the angiogenesis [13]. In this research, we have observed that the palladium complex had an outstanding development obstructing the actions against both the prostate tumor cell lines and cell lines that are derived from the usual and agreeable prostate. Significantly, this research demonstrates the significance of utilizing a panel of cell lines and not being constrained to just single “normal” and single “tumor” cell line [14]. There is a lack of consistency between the standard (normal) and the tumor, as there is any inconsistency between the varied normal cell lines and the different cancer cell lines. The cell lines are often utilized for the starting higher throughput evaluation of the cytotoxic anticancer elements [15]. Thus, in addition to many cell lines, which are implemented in this research, we even analyzed the antigrowth influence of the palladium complex over the primary cultures from the patient related tumor samples. We even established the influential growth-obstructing result of the palladium complex on these primary tumor cells. The antigrowth effect of palladium against cell lines was measured at different time intervals of 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. The 25 mM etoposide and 12 mM cisplatin were compared and analyzed. The lowest IC50 record value of BPH-1 cell line at 72 h was 0.128 mM, while that of 0.139 mM was 0.The PNT2-cells were observed to the maximum in resistance with the IC50 values of 0.892 mM. The initial stage of the prostate cancer line, that is, LNCaP and the P4E6, was acquired from the process of metastasis of the lymph node with the maximum androgen-positive phenotype along with the IC50 values of 4 [16]: 129 mM as well as 3.03 mM, respectively. This study examines the new compound on the primary epithelial cell cultures of the prostate and evidently focuses on the implementation of both cell lines and the primary cells while investigating a novel drug [17]. We, therefore, observed the more potent cytotoxic action of the palladium complex compared with the etoposide in the same concentration but had a corresponding toxicity level to that of cisplatin. However, we examined the remarkable antigrowth influence of the cancer cells; this palladium complex also systematically destroyed the normal and the nonmalignant cells. The entire level of toxicity of the drug will remain crucial in future contemplation [18]. Thus, to further examine the death mechanism of the cell and the influence of the palladium complex over the cell cycle, we initially analyzed the DNA destroying influence of the palladium complex. The platinum compounds are well known to persuade the DNA adducts, which hinders the reproduction and the transcription leading towards the destruction of DNA along with the death of cells. We even observed that both palladia and the etoposide led to the same extent of damage to the DNA evaluated as the cH2AX foci. However, the palladium complex results in an influential cytotoxic influence compared with that of etoposide. Therefore, some damage to DNA in etoposide treatment may be repairable, but the damage to DNA by Pd complexes may not be repaired, so it is more lethal. In upcoming research, this area can progress and further analysis can assess the types of DNA destructions transpiring and the active repair process of DNA [19]. Therefore, it will be of interest to examine if the cells can also obtain the resistance towards the Pd complexes and if this is because of similar methods [20].With respect to prostate cancer, there have been many kinds of research focusing on the protection of autophagy against the hormone removal treatment and integrating the androgen deprived with the autophagy obstruction leading to the synergistic death of cell proposing a novel probable policy to conquer the hormone therapy opposition [21]. From the obtained results, the existence or lack of the PTEN might assist to the result of these mechanisms [22]. In the PC3 and the LNCaP cell, the Pd compound counts did not prompt the autophagy, and they only instigated the process of apoptosis at the higher concentrations of LNCaP or none [23]. Both cell lines consist of inert PTEN, and because mTOR is the primary negative supervisor of autophagy, the lack of PTEN can lead to the absence of induction of the autophagy [24]. The PNT2-C2, BPH-1, and P4E6 cell lines were examined and found to be positive for PTEN and therefore vulnerable to the drug The PNT2-C2, BPH-1, and P4E6 cell lines were examined and found to be positive for PTEN and therefore vulnerable to the drug [25]. Therefore, this integration strategy may have significant efficiency among patients who depend on tumor genetic history [26].


## 5. Conclusion

To conclude the research outline, the palladium complex experienced a substantial antigrowth influence over most of the prostate tumor cell lines as well as the primary cultures. Moreover, it also accomplishes the obstruction of the effect of the cancer stem cells, thus leading to the implementation of this Pd complex in the treating procedure of metastatic prostate cancer, which is tremendously resistant to the traditional treatment. In the previous research, palladium complexes were observed to cause cell death by necrosis or apoptosis, but in this work, we have demonstrated that the palladium complex induced autophagy in certain cases and thus depicts a novel area of assessment.In this research, we propose a detailed overview of the influence of the new palladium complex over the applicability of the cell in an extended panel of the cell lines and the primary cells, involving the cancer stem cells, thus issuing the primary signs of complex cell death. However, we have demonstrated the high toxicity level of this drug and the possibility of exploiting its integration mechanism with autophagy regulators at a lower rate, which requires further evaluation.



---

*Source: 4993405-2022-03-19.xml*