title: Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor RAD001 sensitizes endometrial cancer cells to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis via the induction of autophagy.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, RAD001, on the growth of human endometrial cancer cells. The effects of RAD001 on human endometrial cancer Ishikawa and HEC-1A cell proliferation were determined by MTT assay. Green fluorescent protein microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3α (GFP-LC3) protein aggregates were observed under a confocal microscope, and Ishikawa and HEC-1A cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. The expression levels of LC3-I, LC3-II and mTOR proteins were detected by western blot analysis. The results showed that RAD001 effectively inhibited human endometrial cancer Ishikawa and HEC-1A cell proliferation via downregulation of AKT/mTOR phosphorylation. Moreover, RAD001 induced autophagic cell death and a higher sensitivity to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that RAD001 could have therapeutic potential in human endometrial cancer with hyperactivated AKT/mTOR signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaomao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510089, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xueling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Suiling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510089, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xie
keywords: HEC-1A cells; Ishikawa cells; RAD001; autophagy; paclitaxel