Alteration of survivin gene expression in ovarian cancer cell line CAOV3 after chemotherapy in vitro

OBJECTIVE: To study the alteration of survivin gene expression in ovarian cancer cell CAOV3 after chemotherapy in vitro. METHODS: After the secondary culture of ovarian cancer cell line CAOV3, inhibition of ovarian cancer cell growth induced by paclitaxel or carboplatin at different concentration was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). Alteration of survivin mRNA expression was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in ovarian cancer cells which had been cultured with paclitaxel or carboplatin of high concentration (200, 500 mg/L) for 1 d or of low concentration (20, 50 mg/L) for 1, 3 and 5 d, respectively. Meanwhile, CAOV3 cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The inhibition rates on growth of ovarian cancer cell CAOV3 by different concentrations of paclitaxel or carboplatin after 48 h were 94%, 88%, 34%, 22%, 13% and 97%, 46%, 14%, 9%, 7%. The apoptosis rates of CAOV3 in low concentration paclitaxel for 1, 3, and 5 d were 15%, 23% and 29%. And the apoptosis rate in high concentration paclitaxel for 1 d was 43%. The apoptosis rate of CAOV3 in low concentration carboplatin for 1, 3, and 5 d were 14%, 22% and 26%. And in high concentration carboplatin for 1 d the rate was 19%. Expression of survivin mRNA increased distinctly after culturing in paclitaxel or carboplatin of low concentration for 3 d and of high concentration for 1 d compared to the control group (P < 0.01), the increase was especially evident in paclitaxel treated group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Survivin gene may play an inhibitory role in the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer cell CAOV3 in vitro.