Chronic nitric oxide exposure induces prostate cell carcinogenesis, involving genetic instability and a pro-tumorigenic secretory phenotype

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men. Inflammation and overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) have been implicated in prostate carcinogenesis. We aimed to explore the hypothesis that nitric oxide NO exerts pro-tumorigenic effects on prostate cells at physiologically relevant levels contributing to carcinogenesis. We investigated the impact of acute exposure of normal immortalised prostate cells (RWPE-1) to NO on cell proliferation and activation of DNA damage repair pathways. Furthermore we investigated the long term effects of chronic NO exposure on RWPE-1 cell migration and invasion potential and hallmarks of transformation. Our results demonstrate that NO induces DNA damage as indicated by γH2AX foci and p53 activation resulting in a G1/S phase block and activation of 53BP1 DNA damage repair protein. Long term adaption to NO results in increased migration and invasion potential, acquisition of anchorage independent growth and increased resistance to chemotherapy. This was recapitulated in PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells which upon chronic exposure to NO displayed increased cell migration, colony formation and increased resistance to chemotherapeutics. These findings indicate that NO may play a key role in the development of prostate cancer and the acquisition of an aggressive metastatic phenotype. •Chronic selection of prostate cells with nitric oxide selects for tumour-like characteristics.•Chronically nitric oxide selected prostate cells show increased invasive potential and alterations in EMT markers.•Chronically nitric oxide selected prostate cells show increased resistance to doxorubicin and etoposide.•Chronic Selection of prostate cells with nitric oxide increases IL-6 and IL-8 secretion.