Resveratrol used as nanotherapeutic: a promising additional therapeutic tool against hormone-sensitive, hormone-insensitive and resistant prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Despite the development of diverse therapeutic agents for different types and stages, the progression or spread of the disease is inevitable. Another problem is the development of resistance of cancer cells to available therapeutics. Therefore, additional medicaments are urgently needed. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in numerous plants and fruits like red grapes or blueberries. Resveratrol possesses antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic and anticancer activities well proven in different types of cancer including prostate cancer. To date, it is not used clinically due to poor solubility, low bioavailability, and other limiting factors. In order to overcome these limitations, novel nanoparticle-based formulations were developed over the past years. In this review article, studies about the effect of resveratrol on prostate cancer cells are discussed focusing especially on those studies using nanotechnology. An electronic literature research was performed utilizing PubMed in August 2022. Scientific publications, which examine resveratrol using nanotechnology, are discussed. The studies clearly indicate that resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles exhibited a remarkable anti-cancer activity in various hormone-sensitive and hormone-insensitive prostate cancer cell lines including docetaxel-resistant prostate-cancer cells. The types of nanoparticles that were used varied and influenced the outcome. Additionally, the meaning of the surface functionality of the nanoparticles is emphasized. No reduction of the anti-proliferative activity of resveratrol was shown when used encapsulated. Additionally, synergistic effects of resveratrol and docetaxel were proven. Resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles, especially when combined, may represent the next generation of anticancer substances. However, further in vivo/clinical studies are necessary to confirm their clinical effectiveness.