Modulation of cellular proliferation and production of prostate-specific antigen and matrix adhesion molecules in human prostate carcinoma cells by polypeptide growth factors: Comparative analyses of MDA PCa2a with established cell lines

The cellular responses of a newly established and early-passage human prostate adenocarcinoma cell line, MDA PCa2a, to transforming growth factor (TGF) B1, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and TGFα were characterized in terms of proliferation, production of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LM). The responses of the MDA PCa2a cells were compared with those of the well-established human prostate carcinoma cell lines LNCaP, PC3, and DU145. The MDA PCa2a cells were more responsive to the growth-inhibitory effect of TGFβ1 than the established cell lines. The androgen-responsive cell lines (MDA PCa2a and LNCaP) were relatively responsive to the growth-stimulatory effect of EGF and TGFα whereas the androgen-independent lines (PC3 and DU145) were not. Only the androgen-responsive cells produced PSA, which was further upregulated by treatment with growth factors. The androgen-independent cells did not produce PSA, and growth factors had no effect on PSA production. However, all cell lines produced abundant amounts of FN and LM, and the levels of production of these molecules were subject to modulation by growth factors. It is concluded that each growth factor elicits diverse and distinct responses in prostate carcinoma cells, which may reflect the involvement of diverse post-receptor signal pathways.