Objective: To investigate whether Aurora A is involved in prostate cancer carcinogenesis.
Methods: The expressions of Aurora A mRNA and protein in prostate cancer tissue and cell line were measured using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses. Meanwhile, A DNAzyme targeting at Aurora A mRNA was performed to detect the inhibition effect of Aurora A in regulating the growth of prostate cancer cell line PC3.
Results: Aurora A expression was up-regulated in 91% prostate cancer tissue as well as in prostate cancer cell lines such as PC3, LNCaP and Du145. Furthermore, Aurora A expression suppressed by cell transduction of a DNAzyme targeting at Aurora A mRNA made the PC3 cells both arrest the cell cycle in G2/M phase and increase the cell apoptosis.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that Aurora A up-regulation may be involved in carcinogenesis of prostate cancer, and that aurora A gene may be a valuable target for treatment of prostate cancer.