ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor CCI-779 on the chemosensitivity of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Prostate cancer cells PC-3 were cultured and treated with CCI-779, Paclitaxel and combination of the two. Then the inhibitory effects of the three medications on the growth of the PC-3 cells were determined by MTT, and the their cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the three medications all significantly inhibited the proliferation of the PC-3 cells, and the combined method even enhanced the effect. Flow cytometry showed that CCI-779 and Paclitaxel blocked the cell cycle mainly in the G1/G2 stage, while the combined medication mainly in the G0/G1 stage. Significantly increased apoptosis of the PC-3 cells was observed in the three medication groups as compared with the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CCI-779 can inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 cells and enhance the chemosensitivity of prostate cancer.</p>