Influence of imatinib combined with ABT-737 on apoptosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor cells

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of imatinib (IM) combined with ABT-737 on apoptosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor cells.Methods We treated the GIST-882 with ABT-737 alone or ABT737 combined with imatinib.The effect of different concentrations of ABT-737 at different time points on the cell viability was determined by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT).The expression of bcl-2 in GIST882 after IM treatment alone was analyzed by Western blotting.The activation form of Caspase-3 after IM or ABT-737 treatment alone and combination of IM with ABT-737 was analyzed by Western blotting.The effect of combination of IM with ABT-737 on the cell viability was determined by MTT.Results After treatment of GIST-882 cells with ABT-737 alone at a concentration of 10 μmol/L,the 24-,48- and 72-h survival rate of tumor cells was respectively 70％,55％ and 38％.At the concentration of 20 μmol/LABT-737,the 24-,48- and 72-h survival rate was less than 20％.After treatment with IM at a concentration of 0.1 μmol/L combined with ABT-737 at a concentration of 0.1 μmol/L,the survival rate of GIST-882 cells was less than 20％.The combined use of IM with ABT-737 both at the concentration of 10 μmol/L could reduce the survival rate of GIST-882 cells to ＜ 10％.IM treatment alone did not have any effect on the expression of bcl-2.The activation form of Caspase-3 was upregulated by the treatment of combination of IM with ABT-737.Different concentrations of IM combined with ABT-737 could decline the cells viability.Conclusion Combination of ABT-737 with IM could enhance the cell apoptosis. Key words: Imatinib; ABT-737 ; Gastrointestinal stromal tumor; Apoptosis