Firstly, we analyzed the mRNA expression of P2X7 in prostate cancer cells 1E8, 2B4 and 22RV1 as well as in non-malignant immortalized prostate epithelial cell BPH1 using real-time PCR, and found that P2X7 was markedly expressed in 1E8 and 2B4 prostate cancer cells, while its expression was very faint in 22RV1 and BPH1 cells (Fig. 1A). The gene discussed is P2RX7; the disease is prostate cancer.