[DMF induces apoptosis in human androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells in vitro]. 
To evaluate the antiproliferative activity of 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(2-hydroxy-4, 6-dimethoxy-3-((ethyl(methyl) amino) methyl) phenyl) prop-2-en-1-one (DMF) against human androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells in vitro and its underlying mechanisms.  The cytotoxic effect of DMF on PC3 cells was measured by MTT assay.  Induction of apoptosis was assessed by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometric analysis.  Changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) were detected by JC-1 staining.  The levels of apoptosis related proteins were analyzed by Western blot.  DMF exhibited high efficiency on cell growth inhibition in PC3 cells with an IC50 value of (9.5 +/- 0.2)micromol/L. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that DMF could induce apoptosis in PC3 cells.  A significant decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in PC3 cells treated with DMF, which was in a time- and dose-dependent manner.  The results of Western blot indicated that DMF induced the activation of caspase-3, increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and downregulated the expression of phosphate-p38.  DMF is a potential compound against PC3 cells and the mitochondrial pathway might be involved in DMF-induced apoptosis in PC3 cells.