Acute hypoxia induces apoptosis in serum-deprived prostate cancer LNCaP cells

Abstract

Background: Human prostate cancer LNCaP cells can develop an androgen-sensitive prostate cancer animal model that closely mimic clinical disease. However, implantation of LNCaP cells yields a low take rate when subcutaneously xenografted in immunodeficient mice. Given that LNCaP cells are sensitive to hypoxia, we hypothesized that LNCaP cells might undergo substantial apoptosis in response to acute hypoxia under conditions of serum deprivation.