International Journal of Biotechnology and Bioengineering Research

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Induction of Apoptosis through Cox-2 and Bcl-2 Activation by Gefitinib, Cisplatin and 5-FU in HeLa Cells


Affiliations
1 School of Biotechnology (MGNIRSA), University of Mysore, Mysore, India
2 Dept of Genetics, Bhagwan Mahavir Medical Research Centre (BMMRC) Hyderabad, India. & Honorary Director, School of Biotechnology, MGNIRSA, Hyderabad, India
     

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Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of women worldwide and one of the leading cause of death in relatively young women. In order to improve the treatment results of advanced, persistent or recurrent cervix cancer, we evaluated the effect of the most commonly used therapeutic neoplastic agents like gefitinib, cisplatin and 5-FU on HeLa cells. MTT assay was used for determining cell viability of various concentrations of solubilised drugs on HeLa cells as compared to controls. Apoptosis assay determined the programmed cell death pattern with the above drugs in vitro. RT-PCR studies determined the expression of Bcl-2 and COX-2 using Gefitinib, Cisplatin and 5-FU on HeLa cells. Additionally we also studied the effect of a combination of these drugs which showed increased growth inhibition in a synergistic manner in HeLa cells compared to the effect of drugs used individually/singly. The expression analysis of genes involved in apoptosis and inflammation revealed significant down regulation of Bcl-2 and COX-2 upon treatment with combination of drugs. Our results suggest that these drugs exert its anti cancer activities via apoptosis induction and anti inflammatory properties and provide evidence demonstrating synergism between combination of drugs in vitro, which may enhance the therapeutic index for cervical cancer.

Keywords

HeLa Cells, MTT-Assay, Caspase, Gefitinib, Cisplatin, 5-FU, RT-PCR
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  • Induction of Apoptosis through Cox-2 and Bcl-2 Activation by Gefitinib, Cisplatin and 5-FU in HeLa Cells

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Authors

Musthaq Ahmed
School of Biotechnology (MGNIRSA), University of Mysore, Mysore, India
Kaiser Jamil
Dept of Genetics, Bhagwan Mahavir Medical Research Centre (BMMRC) Hyderabad, India. & Honorary Director, School of Biotechnology, MGNIRSA, Hyderabad, India

Abstract


Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of women worldwide and one of the leading cause of death in relatively young women. In order to improve the treatment results of advanced, persistent or recurrent cervix cancer, we evaluated the effect of the most commonly used therapeutic neoplastic agents like gefitinib, cisplatin and 5-FU on HeLa cells. MTT assay was used for determining cell viability of various concentrations of solubilised drugs on HeLa cells as compared to controls. Apoptosis assay determined the programmed cell death pattern with the above drugs in vitro. RT-PCR studies determined the expression of Bcl-2 and COX-2 using Gefitinib, Cisplatin and 5-FU on HeLa cells. Additionally we also studied the effect of a combination of these drugs which showed increased growth inhibition in a synergistic manner in HeLa cells compared to the effect of drugs used individually/singly. The expression analysis of genes involved in apoptosis and inflammation revealed significant down regulation of Bcl-2 and COX-2 upon treatment with combination of drugs. Our results suggest that these drugs exert its anti cancer activities via apoptosis induction and anti inflammatory properties and provide evidence demonstrating synergism between combination of drugs in vitro, which may enhance the therapeutic index for cervical cancer.

Keywords


HeLa Cells, MTT-Assay, Caspase, Gefitinib, Cisplatin, 5-FU, RT-PCR

References