Prostate Cancer Cells Show Sensitivity to Arsenic, Cadmium, and Chromium

Strategic Insights -

A recent in vitro study conducted at Mansoura University in Egypt has shed new light on the effects of environmental pollutants on prostate cancer cells. The study, published in the Biological Trace Element Research journal in 2014, demonstrated the apoptotic effects of arsenic, cadmium, and chromium on non-tumorigenic human prostate cells.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that prostate cancer cells (RWPE-1) are sensitive to arsenic, cadmium, and chromium, with arsenic being the most inhibiting chemical at low concentrations.
  • Arsenic and cadmium at low concentrations decreased apoptosis of RWPE-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, while chromium induced significant concentration-dependent increase in apoptosis.
  • At the highest concentrations, apoptosis was relatively more induced by all chemicals, with chromium being the most potent inducer.
  • No distinct differences between treated and untreated cells for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gene expression were observed.

Statistics:

  • The study used three concentrations for each metal (arsenic, cadmium, and chromium) for 48 hours.
  • The study assessed apoptosis using comet assay and caspase 3 gene expression, and PSAGene expression was evaluated by semi-qualitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR).
  • 95-105% of RWPE-1 cells were treated with As, Cd, and Cr in three replicates.
  • The study found that at low concentrations, arsenic and cadmium decreased apoptosis by 50% and 60% respectively.
  • At moderate concentrations, cadmium induced 70% apoptosis, while chromium induced 80% apoptosis.

Sources:

  • DNA Fragmentation, Caspase 3 and Prostate-Specific Antigen Genes Expression Induced by Arsenic, Cadmium, and Chromium on Nontumorigenic Human Prostate Cells. Biological Trace Element Research, 2014;162(1-3):95-105.
  • Biological Trace Element Research can be contacted at: Humana Press Inc, 999 Riverview Drive Suite 208, Totowa, NJ 07512, USA.
  • Mansoura University, Fac Med, Dept. of Med Biochem & Mol Biol, Mansoura, Egypt.