The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in PC-3 prostate cancer cells

The present study investigated the effects of the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib on androgen-independent cancer cells viability and intracellular signaling. Human androgen-independent PC-3 prostate cancer cells were treated with sorafenib. At concentration that suppresses extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, sorafenib treatment reduced the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Sorafenib also down-modulated the levels of myeloid cell leukemia 1, survivin and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2. Sorafenib induced caspase-3 cleavage and the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. However, no nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducing factor was detected after treatment and the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK had an obvious protective effect against the drug. In conclusion, sorafenib induces apoptosis through a caspase-dependent mechanism with down-regulated antiapoptotic proteins in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in vitro.