Growth inhibition of prostate cancer cell lines by melatonin

• Main Authors: Pei-Chen Wu, 巫佩蓁
• Other Authors: Peng Y. Woon
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/37105292676548807643

碩士 === 慈濟大學 === 分子生物暨人類遺傳學研究所 === 98 === Melatonin (MT) is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland of the brain. It plays important roles in regulating circadian rhythms and many biological functions. It has also been indicated to display oncostatic effects on various cancer cells. In this study, we examined the effects of melatonin in two prostate cancer cells, an androgen-dependent and metastatic cell, LNCaP and an androgen-independent non metastatic cell, PC3. Time-course and dose-dependent studies were performed and cell number, cell viability, cell morphology, and cell cycle progression were studied. Melatonin treatments induced dose- and time-dependent reduction in cell number and cell viability in both LNCaP and PC3 cells. It caused more than 50% and 80% reduction in cell viability as indicated by MTT tests at 1 mM and 3 mM MT respectively. MT also affect cellular differentiation in LNCaP but not PC3 cells as indicated by obvious morphological changes. In addition, MT treatment at 1 mM for 72 hours inhibited cell progression from Go/G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. Treatment with MT receptors antagonist luzindole or MT2 receptor antagonist, 4P-PDOT showed that the MT effects does not seem to depend on melatonin membrane receptors activation. Western blots analysis with p21 and p27 specific antibodies revealed that p21 but not p27 protein level was up-regulated in response to 1 mM melatonin treatment, suggesting that melatonin exhibited an growth inhibitory effect on LNCaP cells via p21 pathway. Our results suggested that melatonin could be a useful agent for the intervention of hormone-refractory human prostate cancer.