OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on the growth of human androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cell lines.

METHODSThe changes of the growth and shape of PC-3 cells cultured in As2O3 of different concentrations were observed under the optical microscope after using different concentrations of As2O3, and the growth inhibition curve of As2O3 was obtained by means of MTT. An analysis was made of the apoptosis of the PC-3 cells treated with different concentrations of As2O3 by flow cytometry. And the inhibiting mechanism of As2O3was investigated by means of Annexin-V-FIFC/PI double staining.

RESULTSAffected by As2O3, the PC-3 cells turned round and small and less transparent in cytoplasm, and some sheded and suspended in the culture medium. Forty-eight hours after treatment with different concentrations of As2O3 (7.8125 micromol/L, 15.625 micromol/L, 31.25 micromol/L, 62.5 micromol/L, 125 micromol/L, 250 micromol/L, 500 micromol/L), the growth inhibition rates of the PC-3 cells were (0.06+/-0.99)%, (15.01+/-1.12)%, (29.21+/-1.31)%, (34.32+/-1.14)%, (40.51+/-1.81)%, (69.39+/-1.74)%, and (73.19+/- 2.41)% respectively; and 72 hours after treatment, the growth inhibition rates were (0.04+/-1.51)%, (16.19+/-1.04)%, (43.61+/-1.12)%, (56.66+/-1.23)%, (73.13+/-2.61)%, (5.22+/-1.74)% and (91.41+/-2.81)%, respectively. Forty-eight hours after the administration of different concentrations of As2O3 (0.1 micromol/L, 1.0 micromol/L, 3.0 micromol/L, 5.0 micromol/L, 20.0 micromol/L, 50.0 micromol/L), the apoptosis rates were 0.87%, 5.33%, 8.94%, 9.66%, 12.56%, 45.59% and 69.09%, respectively; and 72 hours after the administration, the apoptosis rates were 0.13%, 13.49%, 4.96%, 11.10%, 20.72%, 92.92% and 93.61%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAs2O3 could inhibit the growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cell lines. The inhibiting effect on PC-3 cell lines is correlated with the time of treatment and concentration of As2O3, and accelerates cell apoptosis.