Mechanism of inhibiting the proliferation of prostate cancer by finasteride: a study using cDNA microarray

Abstract

To screen the genes related to finasteride treatment that reduces the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. The prostate cancer cells of the line LNCaP sensitive to finasteride treatment were cultured. Finasteride was added into the culture fluid. A cDNA microarray consisting of 96 human genes was used to identify the genes showing differential expression. Finasteride significantly inhibited the proliferation of the prostate cancer cells of the line LNCaP. Twenty-nine genes out of the 96 genes showed differential expression under finasteride treatment 11 were upregulated and 18 were down-regulated, including those significant in cell metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell signal transduction, such as AKR1B1, PTEN, NKX3.1, PMEPA1, PSA, and XRCC2. Inhibiting the proliferation of prostate cancer cells by finasteride may involve the cooperative effect of multiple genes and pathways.