The effect of propofol on chemosensitivity of paclitaxel in cervical cancer cells

Background: Propofol is a drug with potential anticancer effect. This study aimed to explore the effect of propofol on chemosensitivity of cervical cancer cells to paclitaxel. Methods: HeLa and CaSki cells were selected for drug experiments. Cell viability was evaluated via CCK-8 assay, and the combination index (CI) was calculated by CompuSyn software. A clinically relevant concentration and IC30 of propofol were selected in combination with 5 nM paclitaxel. BrdU incorporation, transwell, and flow cytometry assays were utilized to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. The expression of beta-tubulin, stathmin 1, and GAPDH proteins was evaluated by Western blot. The stathmin 1 cDNA plasmid was used to establish stathmin 1-overexpressing CaSki cells. Results: At clinically relevant concentrations (0-80 mu M), propofol did not affect cancer cell viability, but high concentrations (100-800 mu M) reduced cell viability. The CI values of propofol with IC30 (200 mu M in HeLa; 400 mu M in CaSki) combined with 5 nM paclitaxel were <1. The effect of propofol with IC30 combined with paclitaxel on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were stronger than individual effect, while 30 mu M propofol had no effect. The Western blot results showed 30 mu M propofol did not affect beta-tubulin and stathmin 1 expression in cells, although paclitaxel upregulated beta-tubulin expression while downregulating stathmin 1 expression. Compared with paclitaxel alone, cotreatment with propofol at its IC30 and paclitaxel decreased stathmin 1 expression but had no effect on beta-tubulin expression. High stathmin 1 expression weakened the effect of paclitaxel on cell viability and apoptosis, while propofol partially reversed these effect. Conclusion: Propofol at clinically relevant concentrations had no effect on the malignant biological behaviors of cervical cancer cells, while propofol at high concentrations decreased.Propofol with IC30 and paclitaxel had synergetic effect on cancer cells through a reduction in stathmin 1 expression.

Automated summary

This study aimed to explore the effect of propofol on the chemosensitivity of cervical cancer cells to paclitaxel. The results showed that propofol had no significant effect on the malignant behavior of the cells, but it enhanced the anti-cancer effect when used in combination with paclitaxel by reducing stathmin 1 expression.