Changes in survivin messenger RNA level during chemotherapy treatment in ovarian cancer cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of antiapoptosis gene, survivin involved in regulating cell sensitivity to taxanes and platinum compounds.


METHODS
Cultured human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line A2780 and its platinum(DDP)-resistance cell line A2780/DDP were divided into three groups as control, treatment with DDP, and treatment with Taxol Expression of mdr1 and survivin genes in each group was detected by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Apoptosis in the ovarian cancer cell lines was measured by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
After treatment with DDP for 48 h, relative survivin expression was significantly lower than that of no drug given (p<0.05). In A2780/DDP cells, expression of Survivn was obviously higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) after treatment of DDP for 48 h. Interestingly, survivin mRNA level was significantly decreased after treatment with Taxol for 48 h in the A2780/DDP-Taxol group compared with that in the control group. Apoptosis rate of A2780 cells was significantly increased to 46.21% and 44.46%, respectively, with treatment of DDP and Taxol. However, apoptosis rate in A2780/DDP was only 20.04% after DDP treatment for 48 h, demonstrating the presence of resistance to DDP in A2780/DDP cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that changes in survivin mRNA level were related to the chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Survivin may be considered as a biological indicator of the chemo-resistance of ovarian cancer.
Wang
Zehua
Z
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefong Dadoo, Wuhan, China. zehuawang@163.net
Xie
Yanhua
Y
Wang
Hongbo
H
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077022:Survivin; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin