Comparison of Amino Acid Metabolisms in Normal Prostate (PNT-1A) and Cancer Cells (PC-3)

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, commonly used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, are increased in both malign and benign conditions, such as prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. Thus, more specific markers are urgently needed to discriminate between prostate cancer and benign diseases of the prostate. The purpose of this study is to examine both the intracellular and extracellular free amino acid profiles of metastatic prostate cancer cells (PC-3), normal prostate cells (PNT-1A), and metabolic changes (e.g., pH). In this study, cancer and normal cells were incubated in the appropriate medium. Then, the cells were collected and lysed in a cold medium. Finally, intracellular and extracellular free amino acid profiles were analyzed using the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Extracellular metabolites were analyzed via blood gas measurements, including pH, CO₂, and O₂. We determined that intracellular prostate cancer cells include high amounts of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, alpha aminobutyric acid, glycine, and proline, while cancer cells mostly use hydroxyproline, serine, alpha aminobutyric acid, ethanolamine, and valine from the extracellular medium. It was also determined that the extracellular pH of cancer cells is more acidic than that of normal cells, and normal cells have higher levels of Ca⁺, Cl^-, and Glu. In this study, we found that group amino acids have significant potential in prostate cancer pathogenesis; therefore, they have potential usefulness as a biomarker in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.