[Transforming growth factor beta upregulates the expression of invasion and metastasis associated proteins in prostate cancer LNCaP cell lines in vitro].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) on the expression of invasion and metastasis associated proteins in the prostate cancer LNCaP cell line in vitro. METHODS: The prostate cancer cell line LNCaP was treated with TGF-beta in vitro. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the "invasion and metastasis" associated proteins E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin and Vimentin. RESULTS: The expression of N-Cadherin and Vimentin of the LNCaP cells treated with TGF-beta for 12 hours was significantly upregulated, but not that of E-Cadherin. CONCLUSION: TGF-beta may induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of LNCaP cells which might be of importance in promoting prostate cancer cells invading to ambient tissues and metastasizing to distant organs.