The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of superoxide anion (02-*) in the regulation of p53 or c-Ha-ras expression and proliferation in the prostate cancer cell line PC3. Cell proliferation was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in the presence of O2-*, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or their combination. p53 or C-Ha-ras expression in the cells treated with O2-* was assayed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The proliferation was significantly inhibited by O2-* in a concentration-dependent manner ranging from 9 to 36 micromol/l nicotinamide adenine dinucleotid (NADH) combined with 2-8 micromol/l N-methylphenazonium methyl sulfate (PMS). Enhancement of proliferation by 2 ng/ml bFGF was significantly inhibited by O2-*. Although O2-* was not able to alter c-Ha-ras gene expression, O2-* at the concentrations of 18 micromol/l NADH and 4 micromol/l PMS upregulated the expression of p53. O2-* may modulate proliferation and gene expression in PC3 cells.