Knockdown of eIF4E suppresses cell growth and migration,enhances chemosensitivity and correlates with increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Elevated activity of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) plays crucial roles in tumorigenesis and disease progression by disproportionately increasing translation of mRNAs coding proteins that play significant roles in all aspects of malignancy, providing that eIF4E as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we showed that inhibition of eIF4E by small interfering RNAs (siRNA) resulted in cell cycle arrest and suppression of colony formation in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative (TN) breast cancer cells. Migration transwell assay revealed that repression of eIF4E effectively inhibited motility of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. Importantly, we showed that silencing of eIF4E sensitized MDA-MB-231 cells to chemotherapeutic drugs of cisplatin, adriamycin, paclitaxel and docetaxel as assessed by MTT assay. Moreover, Western blot assay showed that eIF4E siRNA increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in MDA-MB-231 cells. Taken together, we showed that knockdown of eIF4E suppressed cell growth and migration, enhanced chemosensitivity, suggesting a potential therapeutic target in TN breast carcinoma.     

5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine重新激活MDA-MB-231乳腺癌细胞雌激素受体基因的表达

目的　探讨 5 AZA CdR重新激活MDA MB 2 3 1乳腺癌细胞雌激素受体基因的表达。方法　采用免疫组织化学的方法 ,对用浓度为 2mg/L的 5 AZA CdR处理MDA MB 2 3 1乳腺癌细胞前后和阳性对照MCF 7乳腺癌细胞雌激素受体基因的表达情况进行检测分析。结果　 5 AZA CdR处理过的MDA MB 2 3 1乳腺癌细胞ER的阳性表达率明显增高 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　 5 AZA CdR可以重新激活MDA MB 2 3 1乳腺癌细胞雌激素受体基因的表达     

Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor protects cancer cells against drug-induced apoptosis

Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor (RhoGDI) plays an essential role in control of a variety of cellular functions through interactions with Rho family GTPases, including Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA. RhoGDI is frequently overexpressed in human tumors and chemo-resistant cancer cell lines, raising the possibility that RhoGDI might play a role in the development of drug resistance in cancer cells. We found that overexpression of RhoGDI increased resistance of cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and JLP-119 lymphoma cells) to the induction of apoptosis by two chemotherapeutic agents: etoposide and doxorubicin. Conversely, silencing of RhoGDI expression by DNA vector-mediated RNA interference (small interfering RNA) sensitized MDA-MB-231 cells to drug-induced apoptosis. Resistance to apoptosis was restored by reintroduction of RhoGDI protein expression. The mechanism for the anti-apoptotic activity of RhoGDI may derive from its ability to inhibit caspase-mediated cleavage of Rac1 GTPase, which is required for maximal apoptosis to occur in response to cytotoxic drugs. Taken together, the data show that RhoGDI is an anti-apoptotic molecule that mediates cellular resistance to these chemotherapy agents.     

Knockdown of osteopontin chemosensitizes MDA-MB-231 cells to cyclophosphamide by enhancing apoptosis through activating p38 MAPK pathway

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer. However, chemoresistance remains a common clinical problem. Osteopontin (OPN) has been shown to induce chemoresistance by inhibiting apoptosis; p38 MAPK pathway has been reported to be involved in chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Thus, this study investigated whether OPN knockdown would chemosensitize MDA-MB-231 cells to CTX by enhancing apoptosis through activating p38 MAPK pathway. MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with OPN stable siRNA plasmid, and it was found that OPN knockdown chemosensitized MDA-MB-231 cells to CTX, which is dependent on p38 MAPK pathway activation. Moreover, results showed that each of OPN knockdown and CTX could induce apoptosis through activating p38 MAPK pathway and that OPN knockdown and CTX could induce enhanced apoptosis through activating p38 MAPK pathway synergistically. Therefore, this study concludes that OPN knockdown chemosensitizes MDA-MB-231 cells to CTX by enhancing apoptosis through activating p38 MAPK pathway.     

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and all-trans-retinoic acid sensitize breast cancer cells to chemotherapy-induced cell death

We investigated the capacity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) to sensitize three breast cancer cell lines to the cell killing effects of paclitaxel (Taxol) and Adriamycin, two chemotherapeutic agents commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer. In tissue culture colony assays, 1,25(OH)2D3 and ATRA were synergistic in inhibiting the clonogenicity of MCF-7 and T-47D cells that expressed estrogen receptor; vitamin D receptor; retinoic acid receptors (RARs) alpha, beta, and gamma; and retinoid X receptors alpha, beta, and gamma but were not additive in MDA-MB-231 cells that lacked expression of estrogen receptor, RARalpha, and RARbeta. The hormones used individually or in combination induced up to 40-50% cell death by a trypan blue exclusion assay in a dose-dependent manner up to concentrations of 10(-7) M in MCF-7 and T-47D cells, more modestly in MDA-MB-231 cells, and not at all in MCF-10 and MCF-12 nontransformed mammary epithelial cells. Pretreating the cancer cell lines with 1,25(OH)2D3 and ATRA individually or in combination for 3 days prior to a 1-h incubation with paclitaxel or Adriamycin decreased the ED50 for inhibition of colony formation or for cell death by trypan blue by up to 2 logs for paclitaxel and up to 1 log for Adriamycin in all three cell lines but had no effect on chemotherapy-induced MCF-12 cell death. The effects of the hormones were synergistic with those of the chemotherapy agents in all of the breast cancer cell lines, generally at the higher concentrations. Cell death took place by apoptosis. To determine one potential reason for the greater potentiation of the effects of paclitaxel than those of Adriamycin, we determined the effects of preincubation of MCF-7 cells on paclitaxel-induced phosphorylation of Bcl-2. Pretreatment of MCF-7 cells with either 1,25(OH)2D3 or ATRA increased the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 by variable concentrations of paclitaxel. These data suggest that pretreatment of breast cancer with 1,25(OH)2D3 or ATRA lowers the threshold for cell killing by chemotherapy agents and may provide a novel treatment option for this disease.     

Mus81基因沉默对MDA-MB-231乳腺癌细胞增殖、凋亡及裸鼠成瘤能力的影响北大核心

目的:分析甲磺酸盐及紫外线敏感性81号基因(Mus81)在乳腺癌组织中的表达水平,观察Mus81基因敲减对三阴性乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231增殖、凋亡和裸鼠移植瘤形成能力的影响。方法:从TCGA数据库下载乳腺癌样本基因表达数据,应用perl及R软件整理数据筛选出每个样本Mus81基因表达量。通过慢病毒介导的小干扰RNA(short interfering RNA,siRNA)技术构建Mus81基因敲减的MDA-MB-231乳腺癌细胞系(即Mus81敲减组)和阴性对照组MDA-MB-231乳腺癌细胞系,以实时定量PCR法检测Mus81基因的敲减效率,再以MTT检测实验、克隆形成实验、细胞流式检测及实时定量PCR法检测两组MDA-MB-231细胞的生长、增殖、细胞周期分布、凋亡水平及Mus81下游基因表达水平。最后,向BALB/c裸鼠右侧腋下注射Mus81基因敲减组和阴性对照组MDA-MB-231乳腺癌细胞,观察Mus81基因沉默对MDA-MB-231细胞在裸鼠中成瘤能力的影响。结果:Mus81基因在乳腺癌组织中的平均表达量明显高于癌旁组织(P<0.05)。Mus81基因敲减组MDA-MB-231细胞中Mus81基因的表达水平明显低于阴性对照组(P<0.05),Mus81基因的敲减效率达70.7%。较之阴性对照组,Mus81基因敲减组MDA-MB-231细胞的生长速度明显减缓(P<0.05);形成的细胞克隆数也明显下降(P<0.05);细胞凋亡水平、G2/M期细胞比例则明显升高(P<0.05)。STC2等Mus81下游基因的表达水平在两组MDA-MB-231细胞间也有明显差异(P<0.05)。裸鼠成瘤实验显示,Mus81基因敲减组形成的裸鼠瘤体体积和重量均明显低于阴性对照组(P<0.05)。结论:Mus81基因在乳腺癌组织中的表达明显升高,且可能通过调控STC2等下游基因的表达促进三阴性乳腺癌细胞的生长增殖及裸鼠体内成瘤能力并抑制其凋亡,提示其可能是一个潜在的乳腺癌治疗靶点。     

沉默UHRF1对乳腺癌细胞增殖和转移的影响

目的 探讨UHRF1对乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞增殖以及侵袭的影响及其相关机制。方法 采用四甲基偶氮唑盐微量酶反应比色法(MTT)检测沉默UHRF1基因后对乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞活力的影响;应用克隆形成实验检测沉默UHRF1后对乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞存活的影响;吖啶橙-溴乙锭(AO/EB)检测沉默UHRF1后对乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞凋亡的影响;Caspase-3活性试剂盒检测沉默UHRF1后乳腺癌细胞Casapse-3活性的变化;Western blot法检测细胞中凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax、Bad、p-Bad、XIAP、p53、p21^Cip1/Waf1和p16^INK4a的表达;应用Transwell实验研究沉默UHRF1对MDA-MB-231细胞侵袭能力的影响;Wound Healing实验研究沉默UHRF1后对其迁移能力的影响。结果 沉默UHRF1使乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞活力降低;克隆形成实验结果显示沉默UHRF1后MDA-MB-231细胞存活能力降低,AO/EB染色显示沉默UHRF1促进MDA-MB-231细胞凋亡。同时Caspase-3活性实验结果显示沉默UHRF1后乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞Caspase-3的活性增加;Western blot结果显示,沉默UHRF1后,能够使凋亡蛋白Bad、XIAP和Bax的表达上调,同时抗凋亡蛋白p-Bad,Bcl-2的表达下调,也使p53,p21Cip1/Waf1,p16^INK4a蛋白表达升高;Transwell以及Wound Healing实验证明沉默UHRF1能够抑制乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞侵袭和迁移。结论 沉默UHRF1能够抑制乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞活力和存活,并抑制乳腺癌MDA-MB-231的侵袭和迁移。沉默UHRF1通过调控p53,p21Cip1/Waf1,p16^INK4a信号发挥作用。     

Small inhibitor of Bcl-2, HA14-1, selectively enhanced the apoptotic effect of cisplatin by modulating Bcl-2 family members in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Inhibition or downregulation of Bcl-2 represents a new therapeutic approach to by-pass chemoresistance in cancer cells. Therefore, we explored the potential of this approach in breast cancer cells. Cisplatin and paclitaxel induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in MCF-7 (drug-sensitive) and MDA-MB-231 (drug-insensitive) cells. Furthermore, when we transiently silenced Bcl-2, both cisplatin and paclitaxel induced apoptosis more than parental cells. Dose dependent induction of apoptosis by drugs was enhanced by the pre-treatment of these cells with HA14-1, a Bcl-2 inhibitor. Although the effect of cisplatin was significant on both cell lines, the effect of paclitaxel was much less potent only in MDA-MB-231 cells. To further understand the distinct role of drugs in MDA-MB-231 cells pretreated with HA14-1, caspases and Bcl-2 family proteins were studied. The apoptotic effect of cisplatin with or without HA14-1 pre-treatment is shown to be caspase-dependent. Among pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, Bax and Puma were found to be up-regulated whereas Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L were down-regulated when cells were pretreated with HA14-1 followed by paclitaxel or cisplatin. Enforced Bcl-2 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells abrogated the sensitizing effect of HA14-1 in cisplatin induced apoptosis. These results suggest that the potentiating effect of HA14-1 is drug and cell type specific and may not only depend on the inhibition of Bcl-2. Importantly, alteration of other pro-apoptotic or anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members may dictate the apoptotic response when HA14-1 is combined with chemotherapeutic drugs.     

In vitro effects on proliferation, apoptosis and colony inhibition in ER-dependent and ER-independent human breast cancer cells by selected mushroom species

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Western countries. Currently, there is no effective therapy for malignant estrogen-independent breast cancer. We have screened 38 species of edible mushroom on human estrogen-receptor positive (MCF-7) and estrogen-receptor negative (MDA-MB-231, BT-20) breast cancer cells to select potential agents with broad-spectrum antitumor activity against breast cancer cells. Water-based extracts of three mushroom species, Coprinellus sp., Coprinus comatus, Flammulina velutipes (CME, CCE and FVE, respectively), were identified as novel anti-breast cancer agents. The anti-tumor activities include: 1) marked growth inhibition of both ER+ and ER- breast cancer cells; 2) induction of rapid apoptosis on both ER+ and ER- cells; 3) significant inhibition of MCF-7 tumor colony formation in vitro. The antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities of the three mushroom extracts were dose-dependent, regardless of the hormone receptor status of the cancer cells. The degree of produced cytotoxicity on ER- breast cancer cells was very high, while the IC50 of mushroom extract CME was found to be as low as 40 microg/ml on MDA-MB-231 cells and the IC50 of mushroom extract FVE was only 30 microg/ml on BT-20 cells. More interestingly, mushroom extracts CME and FVE induced an exceptionally rapid apoptosis on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 detected by Annexin V-FITC within 2 h of treatment and DNA fragment end-labeling assay (TUNEL) in 5 h of treatment. Anchorage-independent growth assays indicated that the MCF-7 tumor colony formation rate was reduced by 60% in CCE- and CME-treated cells and nearly completely inhibited (99%) by FVE treatment. These results suggest that mushroom species Coprinus comatus, Coprinellus sp. and Flammulina velutipes contain potent antitumor compounds for breast cancer. Our finding is important due to the lack of chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agents for ER- human breast cancer.     

Targeted therapy against Bcl-2-related proteins in breast cancer cells

Introduction

Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL confer resistance to apoptosis, thereby reducing the effectiveness of chemotherapy. We examined the relationship between the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells, with the aim of developing specific targeted therapy.

Methods

Four human breast cancer cell lines were examined, and the effects of antisense (AS) Bcl-2 and AS Bcl-xL phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on chemosensitivity were tested in vitro and in vivo. Chemosensitivity was evaluated by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay, and the antitumor effect was assessed in vivo by the success of xenograft transplantation into athymic mice.

Results

Treatment with AS Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL ODNs resulted in a sequence-specific decrease in protein expression, compared with controls. Treatment of BT-474, ZR-75-1, and MDA-MB-231 cells with AS Bcl-2 increased chemosensitivity to doxorubicin (DOX), mitomycin C (MMC), paclitaxel (TXL), and docetaxel (TXT). Transfection of the Bcl-2 gene into MDA-MB-453 cells decreased sensitivity to DOX and MMC. Treatment of MDA-MB-231, BT-474, and ZR-75-1 cells with AS Bcl-xL increased chemosensitivity to DOX, MMC and taxanes to a smaller extent than AS Bcl-2. This occurred in the setting of increased Bax and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, as well as decreased Bcl-2 and pAkt. AS Bcl-2 ODNs induced splenomegaly in association with increased serum IL-12, which was attenuated by methylation of the CpG motifs of AS Bcl-2; however, methylated CpG failed to negate the increased antitumor effect of AS Bcl-2. Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, to a smaller extent, are major determinants of chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells.

Conclusion

Targeted therapy against Bcl-2 protein with the use of AS ODNs might enhance the effects of chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.     

Integrin signaling inhibits paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells

Inherent or acquired drug resistance is one of the major problems in chemotherapy. The mechanisms by which cancer cells survive and escape the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents are essentially unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that in the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells, ligation of beta1 integrins by their extracellular matrix ligands inhibits significantly apoptosis induced by paclitaxel and vincristine, two microtubule-directed chemotherapeutic agents that are widely used in the therapy of breast cancer. We show that beta1 integrin signaling inhibits drug-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria in response to drug treatment. Further, integrin-mediated protection from drug-induced apoptosis and inhibition of cytochrome c release are dependent on the activation of the PI 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Our results identify beta1 integrin signaling as an important survival pathway in drug-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells and suggest that activation of this pathway may contribute to the generation of drug resistance.     

Evidence that tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand induction by 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine sensitizes human breast cancer cells to adriamycin

The DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) inhibits DNA methyltransferase activity and sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapy, but the mechanisms of its sensitization are not fully understood. Here, we show that 5-aza-CdR induces tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in the human breast cancer MDA-231 cells. Induction of TRAIL by 5-aza-CdR correlated with inactivation of Akt. Furthermore, we show that overexpression of the active form of Akt by adenovirus infection or inhibition of the Akt downstream target glycogen synthase kinase 3 by its pharmacologic inhibitors abolishes TRAIL induction by 5-aza-CdR. Importantly, we show that the combined treatment of breast cancer cells with 5-aza-CdR and Adriamycin significantly increases apoptotic cell death compared with the treatment with either agent alone. Moreover, the combined treatment activated both death receptor and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, whereas Adriamycin alone activated only the mitochondrial pathway while 5-aza-CdR failed to activate either. More importantly, down-regulation of TRAIL by small interference RNA silencing decreased 5-aza-CdR-mediated Adriamycin-induced caspase activation and apoptosis, thus conferring Adriamycin resistance. Taken together, our results suggest that induction of TRAIL by 5-aza-CdR is critical for enhancing chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells to Adriamycin.     

Synergistic antineoplastic action of DNA methylation inhibitor 5-AZA-2'-deoxycytidine and histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide on human breast carcinoma cells

During tumorigenesis, cancer-related genes can be silenced by aberrant DNA methylation and by changes in chromatin structure. It has been reported that 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, a potent inhibitor of DNA methylation, in combination with histone deacetylase inhibitors, can produce a synergistic reactivation of these genes. The aim of our study was to investigate the in vitro antineoplastic activity of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in combination with depsipeptide, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, against MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cell lines. We observed that the combination of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and depsipeptide produced a synergistic antineoplastic effect against these tumor cells as compared to either agent administered alone. We also investigated the effect of this drug combination on the activation of maspin and gelsolin expression. These 2 genes whose function is to suppress tumor metastasis have been reported to be silenced by epigenetic events in breast cancer. Using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, we observed that 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in combination with depsipeptide produced a greater reactivation of both maspin and gelsolin as compared to each agent alone. The synergistic interaction between 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and depsipeptide on breast carcinoma cell lines provides a rationale to investigate this interesting drug combination in future clinical trials on patients with advanced breast cancer.     

抑制CC类趋化因子配体5基因表达对乳腺癌细胞增殖能力的影响

目的 探讨抑制CC类趋化因子配体5(CCL5)基因表达对人乳腺癌细胞增殖能力的影响.方法 用特异性CCL5 RNA干扰(RNAi)序列慢病毒载体感染人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7和MDA-MB-231,分别为KD1组和KD2组;另在MCF-7和MDA-MB-231细胞中分设阴性病毒载体感染的阴性对照组(NC1组和NC2组)和未感染组(CON1组和CON2组).采用实时定量逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测转染病毒后乳腺癌细胞中CCL5的表达,四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)比色法和流式细胞术(FACS)分析细胞的增殖情况,平板克隆形成实验观察细胞的克隆形成能力.结果 CCL5 RNAi慢病毒可显著降低MCF-7和MDA-MB-231细胞中CCL5基因的表达.MTF法检测结果显示,在不同的培养时间,MCF-7和MDA-MB-231细胞的KD组、NC组与CON组细胞培养上清A值差异均无统计学意义(均P＞0.05).FACS分析结果显示,KD1组、NC1组和CON1组的增殖指数(PI)值分别为0.48±0.03、0.43±0.01和0.45±0.02;KD2组、NC2组和CON2组的PI值分别为0.48±0.02、0.44±0.05和0.47±0.02(两两比较,均P＞0.05).荧光显微镜下观察显示,KD组的克隆体积及每克隆的细胞数明显小于NC组和CON组.KD1组和KD2组克降数目(0.34±0.08和0.33±0.10)明显少于NC1组(0.81±0.12)、NC2组(0.97±0.09)、CON1组(0.92±0.12)和CON2组(1.04±0.07),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 CCL5基因的表达下调对乳腺癌MCF-7和MDA-MB-231细胞群体倍增时间无明显影响,但可显著降低细胞的克隆形成能力,从而使肿瘤细胞的恶性增殖受到抑制.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the effect of suppression of CCI5 ligand gene on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells. Methods A lentiviral vector carrying a short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting CCL5 was transfected into human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.The expression of CCL5 mRNA in the cells was detected by real-time PCR. The proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was assessed by MTT assay and FACS assay, and the colony formation ability of both cell lines were measured, respectively. Results Real time PCR showed a good knockdown effect of CCL5 in both cell-lines. Colony-forming assay showed that the ability of colony formation of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA and MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA was decreased markedly. The colony number of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA group was (0. 34 ± 0. 08), significantly lower than 0. 81 ± 0. 12 in the MCF-7/CCL5-N group and 0.92 ± 0.12 in the MCF-7 group (P ＜ 0. 05). The colony number of MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA group was 0. 33 ± 0. 10,significantly lower than 0.97 ±0.09 in the MDA-MB-231/CCL5-N group and 1.04 ±0.07 in the MDA-MB-231 group (P ＜0.05). However, MTT assay revealed that the proliferation of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA cells was not significantly different from that of MCF-7/CCL5-N or MCF-7 cells, respectively (P ＞0.05), and the same result was found in MDA-MB-231 cells. FACS assay showed that the proliferation index (PI) of groups MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA, MCF-7/CCL5-N and MCF-7 were 0.48 ± 0. 03, 0. 43 ± 0. 01 and 0.45 ±0. 02. The PI of groups MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA, MDA-MB-231/CCL5-N and MDA-MB-231 cells were 0. 48 ± 0.02, 0.44 ± 0.05 and 0. 47 ± 0. 02. There was no statistical difference among them ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion The down-regulation of CCL5 gene in human breast cancer cells may significantly suppress their colony formation ability, rather than affecting their population doubling time to some extent.     

Enhanced sensitivity of prostate cancer DU145 cells to cisplatinum by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine

During the oncopathogenic process aberrant DNA methylation frequently occurs, leading to silencing of sets of genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis control pathways and other important biological functions. Targeting such a change has been suggested as a novel strategy for cancer prevention and therapy. In the present study, we examined whether suppression of DNA methylation was capable of enhancing sensitivity of prostate cancer DU145 cells to cisplatinum. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza), a specific DNA methylation inhibitor, when added into DU145 cell culture alone, did not induce significant apoptosis. However, a combination of 5-aza with the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatinum showed great synergy in triggering apoptotic death of DU145 cells. The present finding provides a rationale to evaluate therapeutic effects of the DNA methylation inhibition and chemotherapy in patients with prostate cancer.