Anticancer Activity of Soy Lecithin-Based Curcumin in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, has driven research into drug delivery systems to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapy. Curcumin, a phenolic phytochemical from Curcuma longa, shows antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, its low solubility and bioavailability limit its use, leading to the development of encapsulated formulations to enhance its efficacy. Carrier-based curcumin formulations have emerged as a promising perspective for cancer treatment. Here, we aimed to assess the in vitro anticancer activity of soy lecithin-encapsulated curcumin (SLCCUR) and the safety and efficacy of its intracellular uptake against prostate cancer. To this end, the intracellular uptake and cytotoxic activity of SLCCUR versus free curcumin (FCUR) were analyzed in androgen-sensitive 22Rv1 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells along with normal prostate epithelial cells PNT1A. Cellular uptake of SLCCUR was 15-fold higher than FCUR, showing a greater dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on 22Rv1 and LNCaP cells, while only a cytostatic effect was observed for PNT1A cells. In a nude mice 22Rv1 xenograft model, administration of SLCCUR resulted in a tenfold greater reduction in tumor size compared to FCUR, suggesting that the anticancer activity of curcumin is significantly improved when encapsulated in soy lecithin-based carriers.