Far-infrared rays control prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

We introduce a new effective method to control hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells using an activated rubber/resin form (RB), far-infrared ray (FIR) emitter, with or without sodium butyrate treatment (NaB). The growth of three human prostate cancer cell lines (Du145, PC-3 and LNCaP) was suppressed in vitro and vivo by FIR, and the cells were eradicated with FIR + 3 mM NaB. G1 arrest and apoptotic pathway proteins were induced by FIR with elevated expressions of apoptosis-related transcripts in cDNA microarray. RB reflects and radiates in the wavelengths of about 4 to 25 µm in the FIR that work to suppress the growth of human prostate cancer cells. Accordingly, this technique may be used as a new therapeutic treatment in hormone-refractory prostate cancer.