OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-tumor effect of the endothelin A receptor antagonist BQ123 on human prostate cancer cell line PC-3M in vitro by observing its impact on the proliferation and apoptosis of human prostate cancer cells.

METHODSThe inhibiting effect of BQ123 on the proliferation of PC-3M cells was observed by MTT assay, erosion trace test and Transwell chamber chemotaxis assay, and its induction of their apoptosis determined by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and cytometry.

RESULTSBQ123 exhibited increased inhibition of PC-3M cells in a time-dependent manner, with inhibition rates of 22.32%, 44.88% and 64.47% at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively (P < 0.05). The migration distances of the PC-3M cells in the BQ123 group were (103.42 +/- 75.63) microm, (243.75 +/- 121.53) microm and (422.07 +/- 36.01) microm at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h, obviously lower than (162.93 +/- 19.87) microm, (317.19 +/- 43.19) microm and (692.74 +/- 40.84) microm in the control group (P < 0.05). The number of the PC-3M cells that invaded the inferior chamber in the BQ123 group was (79.2 +/- 9.58), significantly decreased as compared with (92.6 +/- 5.94) in the control (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of PC-3M exposed to BQ123 was (15.03 +/- 0.93)%, significantly higher than (9.38 +/- 1.37)% in the control (P < 0.05). The ratio of PC-3M cells in different cycles showed no significant differences.

CONCLUSIONBQ123 inhibits the proliferation of PC-3M cells and induces their apoptosis in vitro, which may give a new idea on the studies of prostate cancer therapies.