Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of prostate and bladder cancer cells.

The effect of recombinant and purified tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) on the proliferation and apoptosis of PC-3 prostate cancer cells and the 5637 bladder cancer cells were investigated. We used a cell proliferation assay and flow cytometry to measure the proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells after 24-h incubation of PC-3 and 5637 cells with different concentrations of TRAIL. PC-3 cell proliferation rate significantly decreased when TRAIL was used at concentrations of 20, 40, 80 and 160 ng/ml compared with the untreated group. In the 5637 cells, the proliferation rate significantly decreased when TRAIL was used at concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml compared with the untreated group. The flow cytometry results also confirmed that the apoptosis rate of both cancer cell lines increased with TRAIL protein concentration. In conclusion, recombinant and purified TRAIL has anticancer activity by inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of prostate and bladder cancer cells.