Effects of exercise and Phellodendron amurense extract in prostate cancer

Oxidative stress, induced by chronic prostatic inflammation, impairs normal protective mechanisms in the prostate and increases the risk for cancer progression. The Phellodendron amurense extract (Nexrutine®) had similar effects as exercise in reducing highly aggressive tumors in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. In this study, we examined changes in the transcriptome to understand how these two interventions affect prostate cancer. Twenty-four, 8-10 weeks old male TRAMP mice, were randomized to control, exercise, and Phellodendron amurense extract intervention. Mice were maintained in a climate-controlled environment with a 12-hour light-dark cycle with diet and water provided ad libitum. Phellodendron amurense extract was supplied in the diet and running wheel was used as the exercise intervention. The control group mice were group housed had access to AIN-93 diet ad libitum and did not have access to running wheel. Body weight changes, food consumption and distance run on the running wheel were measured weekly for the 12-week intervention. At the end of the study, prostate tumors were excised, weighed, and processed for transcriptome analysis (3 replicates each condition).