Chemosensitivity of prostatic tumour cell lines under conditions of G2 block abrogation

Abstract

Cancer of the prostate gland is now recognised as one of the principal medical problems in males. In the USA, cancer of the prostate is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer after skin cancer and the second most common cause of death from cancer after lung cancer. In South Africa, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer, with an estimated annual incidence of 19.1 per LOO000 men (Sitas, 1994). However, this incidence is probably under-estimated, due to incomplete records. Comparison of the incidence of prostate cancer in the different racial groups shows that it is the second most common malignancy in the White, Black (African) and Mixed (Coloured) race groups, and the fourth most common malignancy in Asian (Indian) men in South Africa. Metastatic prostate cancer is refractory to hormone therapy and remains incurable. Hence, novel therapeutic approaches are needed. These anticancer drugs can be tested in tumour cell lines, and cell culture methods also permit testing of optimum conditions.