Establishment of androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell strain,LNCaP C-81

Objective To establish and validate andro ge n-independent human prostate cancer LNCaP cell model. Methods Androgen-dependent LNCaP parental C-33 cells were maintained in a regul ar cell-culture medium,that is,phenol red-positive RPMI 1640 medium supplement ed with 10% fetal bovine serum,1% glutamine and 0.5% gentamicin.Upon continuousl y passaging,androgen-dependence of these LNCaP cells decreased gradually,thus,t he androgen-independent LNCaP cell model which derived from androgen-dependent cells was established. Results Upon continuous passage, the biological behavior of androgen-dependent parental LNCaP C-33 cells (pass age number less than 33) was altered.LNCaP C-81 cells (passage number higher th an 80) clearly exhibited more aggressive growth and lower androgen-dependence t han C-33 and C-51 cells (passage number between 34 and 81) in vitro and in viv o. Conclusions The LNCaP cell model closely recapitulate s the transition of human prostate cancer from androgen-dependent to hormone-r efractory state under the androgen nondeprived condition. This cell model may pr ovide the opportunity to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the and rogen-independent growth of cancer cells during prostate cancer progression.