In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Tamoxifen on Prostate Cancer Cells

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Considering the high prevalence of prostate cancer and the effect of androgens on its progression, this study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of tamoxifen as an anti-androgen on prostate cancer. METHODS: In this experimental study, the human cell line (PC3) was purchased from the Pasteur Institute. The effect of tamoxifen at concentrations of 0, 3.25, 7.5, 15, 30 and 60 μM on cells was evaluated, and the tests of viability, migration, colonization and cell morphological changes were respectively performed using MTT, wound healing, colonization, and giemsa staining methods. FINDINGS: IC50 dosage of tamoxifen of 15 μM with a regression coefficient of 0.90 was obtained within 24 hours. The results showed that tamoxifen significantly inhibited proliferation with 7.3±0.6 colonies compared with 100 colonies of control (p<0.03) and migration with 278.4±1.5 μm groove diameter compared with 89.68 ± 0.9 μm of control (p<0.01) at the dose of 15 μM. Treatment of cells with a dose of 15 μM also causes changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm and causes apoptosis in comparison with the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that tamoxifen has significant inhibitory effects on PC3 prostate cell and can be considered as an appropriate way for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Keywords

• Prostate Cancer
• Tamoxifen
• Cell Migration
• Cell Proliferation.