Experimental study of apoptosis in leukemic cell lines induced by combined use of Bevacizumab and chemotherapeutic drug

Abstract

Objective To investigate the potential application of targeting at vascular endothelial growh factor (VEGF) induced apoptosis in leukemic cell lines by combined use of Bevacizumab and chemotherapeutic drug. Methods Leukemic cells were treated with several drugs at different concentrations in culture. The effect of VEGF, Bevacizumab and co-treated with Ara-C on leukemic cells proliferation were evaluated by CCK-8 and apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Results VEGF could enhance the proliferation of leukemic cells and caused a dose-dependent manner on U937 cell. It also increased the percentage of cells in S phase, tested by, and Bevacizumab group was decreased. Apoptotic rate of cells treated with Bevacizumab or co-treated with Bevacizumab and Ara-C for 48 h were significantly higher when compared with control or Ara-C group, respectively (P 0.05). There was no significant difference in apoptotic rate between control and combined use of VEGF, Bevacizumab and Ara-C group(P>0.05). Conclusion VEGF could enhance the proliferation of some leukemic cells, and may contribute to leukemic cells survival and a resultant resistance to chemotherapy-triggered cell death. The study also showed that leukemic cells growth was significantly inhibited by Bevacizumab through directly against VEGF, and the sensitivity of leukemic cells for chemotherapeutic drug was increased. Key words: Vascular endothelial growth factor; Leukemia; Cell lines; Cell proliferation; Bevacizumab