ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Pharmacology of Anti-Cancer Drugs
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1630181
This article is part of the Research TopicFrom Laboratory to Clinic: Novel Pharmacological Strategies for Cancer TreatmentView all 4 articles
Osthole Suppresses Prostate Cancer Progression by Modulating PRLR and the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Axis
Provisionally accepted
- 1School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nantong College of Science and Technology, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007,PR China, Nantong, China
- 2Center of Laboratory Animal Science, Nanchang University, No.999,Xuefu Road, Nanchang, 330031, PR China, NanChang, China
- 3Key Laboratory of New Drug Evaluation and Transformation of Jiangxi Province, No.999, Xuefu Road, Nanchang, 330031, PR China, NanChang, China
- 4Nanchang Royo Biotech Co,. Ltd, No.382, Shangfang Road, Nanchang, 330029, PR China, NanChang, China
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Abstract: Background: Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in men with limited effective treatment options, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. Osthole, a natural coumarin compound with antitumor properties, has shown potential in targeting various cancers. Methods: We conducted the study using a combination of network pharmacology, in vitro assays, and in vivo experiments. First, network pharmacology was used to predict the potential targets of Osthole, identifying 68 targets shared with prostate cancer, including AKT1, TNF, IL6, STAT3, and CTNNB1. Subsequently, we confirmed these targets and assessed the effects of Osthole on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell invasion assays. Meanwhile, molecular docking and western blot analysis were employed to analyze molecular interactions and protein expression levels. Results: Our findings revealed that Osthole significantly inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner and reduced tumor volume in in vivo assays. Western blot analysis indicated that Osthole downregulated PRLR expression and decreased the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3, suggesting the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Conclusion: These results collectively highlight the therapeutic potential of Osthole in targeting prostate cancer cells through PRLR and modulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, warranting further clinical exploration.
Keywords: Osthole, prostate cancer, JAK2/STAT3 pathway, Network Pharmacology, PrlR
Received: 29 May 2025; Accepted: 12 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Yan, He, Cui, Wang, Lv, Cao and Shao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Linjun Yan, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nantong College of Science and Technology, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007,PR China, Nantong, China
Yuanjian Shao, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nantong College of Science and Technology, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007,PR China, Nantong, China
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