PC-3 prostate cancer cell line (PC-3)

PC-3 is a human prostate cancer cell line established in 1979 from a bone metastasis of a grade IV prostatic adenocarcinoma (Kaighn et al., 1979, PMID: 474057). It is characterized by its high metastatic potential and androgen-independent growth, making it a widely used model for studying advanced, castration-resistant prostate cancer (Sobel and Sadar, 2005, PMID: 15890641). Unlike many other prostate cancer models, PC-3 cells do not express the androgen receptor (AR) or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (ATCC, CRL-1435). These cells are frequently employed in drug discovery and mechanistic studies to evaluate the efficacy of novel chemotherapeutic agents and to understand the pathways involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Because PC-3 is a complex biological cell line rather than a specific protein or receptor, it is not considered a therapeutic target itself but rather a tool for target validation and drug screening.

Other names

PC3PC-3 cell lineProstate cancer-3

Not applicable; PC-3 is a cell line used for testing drugs and studying disease mechanisms, not a specific molecular target.