Sodium meta-arsenite (NaAsO
2
) has been suggested to play a role both
in initiation/progression of prostate cancer and as a future antiprostate cancer
drug. We have studied the effects of NaAsO
2
on cell proliferation of
prostate cancer and noncancer cells, breast cancer cells, and adrenocortical
carcinoma cells in vitro. Further, we have investigated the effect of
NaAsO
2
on the androgen receptor. We report that NaAsO
2
alters the cell proliferation of prostate cells, in a hormetic manner, by
increasing cell proliferation at low concentrations and decreasing the cell
proliferation at high concentrations. No activation of the androgen receptor was
detected. We conclude that NaAsO
2
is able to increase cell
proliferation of prostate cells in vitro at low concentrations, while it
decreases cell viability at high concentrations. This novel finding has to be
further addressed if NaAsO
2
should be developed into an antiprostate
cancer drug.
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