P53, Bcl2 and Bax Expression and Apoptosis in Perifosine and Vitamin D-Treated Endometrial Cancer Cell Line (HEC1A)

• Main Authors: Meryem İlkay Karagül, Savaş Aktaş, Derya Yetkin, Gülsen Bayrak, Didem Çelikcan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-12-01
• Series: Proceedings
• Subjects: endometrial cancer; perifosine; vitamin D; apoptosis; P53; BCL2; BAX
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/2/25/1564

Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system. Perifosine has shown anti-tumor activity in a variety of cancers by inhibition of AKT phosphorylation. The active metabolite of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) has anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties and is recognized as an agent with the great potential for cancer intervention. Combination treatment with specific agents has been widely used as targeted therapy for cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of varying concentrations of perifosine and vitamin D on endometrial cancer cell line (HEC1A). The expression levels of P53, BCL2 and BAX were assessed in cultured HEC1A cells at 10 and 30 μM concentrations of perifosine, 50 and 200 nM of vitamin D and combination groups using qRT PCR. Apoptosis evaluation in HEC-1A cells was performed using flow cytometry after 48 and 72 h of treatment with perifosine, vitamin D and combinations of both. According to the obtained data, treatment with different doses of perifosine and vitamin D significantly induced apoptosis in a time and dose-dependent manner in HEC-1A cells. The mRNA expression levels of P53, BAX, BCL2 in HEC-1A cells were found to be significant in the experimental groups as compared with the control. Perifosine displayed substantial anti-tumor activity in HEC-1A. These effects were increased with vitamin D. Therefore, perifosine and vitamin D combinations should be further evaluated in clinical studies in endometrial cancer.