Inhibition of arsenic trioxide combined with atra to human ovarian cancer cell

Objective:To investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and relative mechanism.Methods:Morphological changesof cells were observed and photoed by inverted microscope. Growth inhibition and cell cycles change of SKOV3 line induced by means of MTT/flow cytometry. Immunocytochemical staining was used to examine the expression of P27.Results:The inhibitive effect of arsenic trioxide (5.0 μmol/L) combined with ATRA(1.0 μmol/L) was obvious and the inhibitive degree was stronger than only arsenic trioxide. Higher concentrations of arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid up-regulated P27 .Conclusion:The inhibitive effect of arsenic trioxide combined with ATRA is more obvious than either one used separately; G2/M retardation is found by flow cytometry and the effect is enhanced in dose-dependent pattern.The apoptosis mechanism of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 is related with up-regulating of P27.