Influence of survivin expression on chemotherapy sensitivity of liver cancer cells to doxorubicin

Objective: To investigate the influence of survivin gene silencing on chemotherapy sensitivity of drug resistant cell line of human hepatocellular carcinoma to doxorubicin. Methods: Three siRNA sequences targeting human survivin gene were designed and synthesized,and then were transfected into hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells(3 groups of cells) by liposome-mediated method,respectively.Using the untransfected BEL-7402 cells as control,the expressions of survivin gene and protein as well as sensitivity to doxorubicin in each group of cells were determined by RT-PCR method,immunocytochemical staining and MTT assay,respectively. Results: Compared with control group of cells,both survivin gene and protein expressions in each transfected group of cells were significantly decreased(all P0.05).The value of half inhibitory concentration(IC50) of doxorubicin for control group of cells was(20.60±2.86) μg/mL,while the IC50 values for the three groups of transfected cells were(11.53±1.46) μg/mL,(14.13±1.82) μg/mL and(15.53±0.46) μg/mL respectively,all of which had statistical differences versus control(all P0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition of survivin gene expression can increase the chemotherapy sensitivity of BEL-7402 cells to doxorubicin.