Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2019 Sep;62(5):322-328. 10.5468/ogs.2019.62.5.322.

Effects of genistein on anti-tumor activity of cisplatin in human cervical cancer cell lines

• Liu H
• Lee G
• Lee JI
• Ahn TG
• Kim SA

• KMID: 2456827
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2019.62.5.322

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of genistein on the anticancer effects of chemotherapeutic agents, we examined the effect of a genistein and cisplatin combination on CaSki human cervical cancer cells.
METHODS
After the cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells, CaSki cells) had been cultured, cisplatin and genistein were added to the culture medium, and the cell activity was measured using MTT assay. The CaSki cells were cultured in a medium containing cisplatin and genistein, and then, the cells were collected in order to measure p53, Bcl2, ERK, and caspase 3 levels by western blotting.
RESULTS
Both the HeLa and CaSki cells had decreased cell viabilities when the cisplatin concentration was 10 μM or higher. When combined with genistein, the cell viabilities of the HeLa and CaSki cells decreased at cisplatin concentrations of 8 μM and 6 μM, respectively. The administration of genistein increased the toxicity of cisplatin in the HeLa and CaSki cells. In the CaSki cells, the p-ERK1/2 level decreased by 37%, the p53 expression level increased by 304%, and the cleaved caspase 3 level increased by 115% in the cisplatin+genistein group compared to that in the cisplatin group. Bcl2 expression was reduced by 69% in the cisplatin+genistein group compared to that in the cisplatin group.
CONCLUSION
Genistein enhances the anticancer effect of cisplatin in CaSki cells, and can be used as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant to increase the activity of a chemotherapeutic agent.

Keyword

Genistein; Cisplatin; CaSki cell; HeLa cell

MeSH Terms

Blotting, Western
Caspase 3
Cell Line*
Cell Survival
Cisplatin*
Genistein*
HeLa Cells
Humans*
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*
Caspase 3
Cisplatin
Genistein

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Effects of genistein on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity of CaSki cells. CaSki cells viability examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Representative results are shown as the mean±standard deviation (SD) of triplicates. Values with same superscripts are not significantly different (P<0.05). (B) Effects of genistein on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity of HeLa cells. Representative results are shown as the mean±SD of triplicates. Values with same superscripts are not significantly different (P<0.05).

• 

  Fig. 2 (A) Effects of cisplatin and genistein on levels of ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2 and P53 in CaSki cells. Representative results are shown as the mean±standard deviation (SD) of triplicates. (B) Effects of cisplatin and genistein on levels of caspase 3 and Bcl2 in CaSki cells. Representative results are shown as the mean±SD of triplicates. a)P<0.05, b)P<0.01 indicate significant differences compared to the corresponding counterparts. C, control; CP, cisplatin; CP+G, cisplatin+genistein.

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