EFFECT OF CADMIUM CHLORIDE ON PROSTATE CANCER CELLS AGGRESSIVENESS

Cadmium is considered as one of the most toxic metals and is also classified as a carcinogen. It has similar properties to zinc, iron and copper, which allows it to cause changes in cellular functions. Metallothionein is a metal binding protein, which helps to reduce the toxicity of cadmium in biological systems. When there is excessive cadmium compared to available Metallothionein, unbound, labile cadmium induces indirectly oncogenicity and directly renal damage. The effect of micromolar and supra-micromolar concentrations of cadmium toxicity in causing cancer has been studied widely. Our hypothesis instead aims at the effects of submicromolar concentrations of cadmium chloride on aggressiveness of existing prostate cancer. Hence in this study prostate cancer cells such as PC-3 and LnCaP are exposed to various concentration of cadmium chloride. One of the characteristics of aggressive prostate cancers is Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition(EMT). Our results show that nanomolar concentrations of cadmium chloride induces EMT in PC-3 cells, but not in LNCaP cells.M.S. in Biology, May 201