Troglitazone inhibits the migration and invasion of PC-3 human prostate cancer cells by upregulating E-cadherin and glutathione peroxidase 3.

Troglitazone (TGZ) is a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) ligand that exhibits potential antitumor effects on a number of cancer subtypes, including prostate cancer. However, little is known about the effect of TGZ on metastasis in prostate cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine the inhibitory effect and mechanism underlying TGZ on cell growth, migration and invasion using the prostate cancer PC-3 cell line. Cellular migration and invasion were evaluated by performing a wound healing assay and Matrigel assay, respectively. The expression levels of mRNA and protein were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The results demonstrated that TGZ dose-dependently inhibited cell migration and invasion of PC-3 cells. The present study also revealed that TGZ increased the mRNA and protein levels of E-cadherin and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. In addition, GW9662, a PPARγ antagonist, attenuated the increased mRNA and protein levels of E-cadherin and GPx3, suggesting that the PPARγ-dependent signaling pathway was involved. Taken together, these results suggested that the anti-migration and anti-invasion effect of TGZ on PC-3 prostate cancer cells is, at least in part, mediated via upregulation of E-cadherin and GPx3. The present study also concluded that PPARγ may be used as a potential remedial target for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer cell invasion and metastasis.