Synergistic effect of tarceva and kaempferol on apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells SKOV-3

Objective To study inhibitive effect of tarceva and kaempferol on epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase(EGFR-TPK) and the mechanism of synergistic effect on apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells SKOV-3.Methods The inhibitory effect of kaempferol and tarceva on EGFR-TPK was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);the inhibition rate and synergistic effect of kaempferol and tarceva on ovarian cancer cells SKOV-3 was measured using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) method;and the inhibitory effect of kaempferol and tarceva on caspase-3 activity in SKOV-3 cells was determined with microplate spectrophotometer.Results Kaempferol and tarceva could induce apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell SKOV-3 in dose and time dependent manner,with a half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC₅₀) of 0.5 mg/mL(P<0.05);the IC₅₀ of kaempferol and tarceva on EGFR-TPK in SKOV-3 cells was 52.33±0.32 mg/mL and 1.75±0.18 mg/mL);and kaempferol and tarceva could significantly increase caspase-3 activity in SKOV-3 cells(both P<0.05).Conclusion Kaempferol in combination with tarceva has a synergistic effect on the growth of ovarian cancer cells SKOV-3.