Apoptosis induction in DU-145 human prostate carcinoma cells

Due to the recent importance assumed by the apoptotic process as a tool in the therapeutic protocols, we investigated the onset and rate of drug-induced apoptosis in a cell model of prostatic tumor: the DU-145 cells. The human prostatic cancer cells, DU-145, have been treated with pro-apoptotic substances like puromycin (1 μg/ml for 4 and 6 h) and oxygen peroxide (1 mM for 1 h) or exposed to hyperthermic treatment (43 °C for 1 h followed by 2 h of recovery). The conventional techniques of preparation and observation of biological samples for electron scanning microscopy were used to estimate the sensitivity of these cells to the pro-apoptotic treatments and to establish their ability to undergo apoptosis. The ultrastructural changes occurring in the different phases of the phenomenon were characterized in parallel with the evaluation of the rate of apoptosis and in parallel with the evaluation of the expression levels of hsp-70 proteins.