Growth inhibiting effects of terazosin on androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of an alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, terazosin on the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145.


METHODS
Two androgen independent cell lines, PC-3 and DU145, were used to determine cell viability, colony-forming ability, as well as cell cycle distribution, after exposure to terazosin. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression of p21WAF1 and p27KIP1.


RESULTS
This study shows that terazosin inhibits not only prostate cancer cell growth but also its colony forming ability, both of which are main targets of clinical treatment. In addition, terazosin is shown to inhibit cell growth through G1 phase cell cycle arrest and the up-regulation of p27(KIP1).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence that the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of advanced hormone refractory prostate cancer.
Xu
Kexin
K
Department of Urology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China. cavinx@hotmail.com
Wang
Xianghong
X
Ling
Mingtat
M
Wong
Yongchuan
Y
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011224:Prazosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C041226:Terazosin; D011224:Prazosin