Chemotherapy induces ovarian cancer cell repopulation through the caspase 3-mediated arachidonic acid metabolic pathway

Figures & data

Figure 1 The PGE₂ and AA level and the expression of FAK in the clinical samples before and after chemotherapy.

Notes: (A) The AA and PGE₂ levels of patient plasma samples were measured by ELISA. The PGE₂-to-AA ratios of patient plasma samples before and after chemotherapy were compared. Three independent experiments were carried out. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments, ^*P<0.05 compared with the control group. (B) Immunohistochemical staining of FAK and p-FAK in patient ovarian cancer samples before and after chemotherapy. (C) Levels of FAK and p-FAK were quantified according to immunohistochemical staining score.
Abbreviations: PGE₂, prostaglandin E₂; AA, arachidonic acid; FAK, focal adhesion kinase; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; SD, standard deviation; p-FAK, phosphorylated FAK; IHC, immunohistochemical.

Figure 2 The influence of VP-16-induced apoptosis on the repopulation of SKOV3 cells.

Notes: (A) Crystal violet staining assay of the receptor cells in the control and model groups. (B) The stained cells of the two groups in (A) were solubilized with 1 mL of 33% acetic acid and quantified by the absorbance at 570 nm. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments, ^*P<0.05 compared with the control group.
Abbreviations: VP-16, etoposide phosphate; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 3 The protein expression of caspase 3, cleaved caspase 3, iPLA₂, FAK, and p-FAK in the model of the VP-16-treatment-induced repopulation of SKOV3 cells.

Notes: Western blot analysis of caspase 3, cleaved caspase 3, and iPLA₂ expression in feeder cells and of FAK and p-FAK expression in receptor cells. Each bar represents the mean ± SD of three independent experiments, n=3, ^*P<0.05 compared with the control group.
Abbreviations: iPLA₂, cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A₂; FAK, focal adhesion kinase; p-FAK, phosphorylated FAK; VP-16, etoposide phosphate; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 4 The AA and PGE₂ levels within the Transwell system.

Notes: (A and B) The AA and PGE₂ levels of the supernatants collected each day from the Transwell system during the 10-day incubation were measured by ELISA. (C) The PGE₂-to-AA ratios were calculated. Three independent experiments were carried out. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD, n=3, ^*P<0.05 compared with the control group.
Abbreviations: AA, arachidonic acid; PGE₂, prostaglandin E₂; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 5 The influence of the FAK inhibitor PF562271 (PF) on the VP-16-induced repopulation of SKOV3 cells.

Notes: (A) Crystal violet staining assay of the receptor cells with the FAK inhibitor PF562271 (PF) added to the system. (B) The stained cells of the four groups in A were solubilized with 1 mL of 33% acetic acid and quantified by the absorbance at 570 nm. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments, n=3, ^*P<0.05 compared with the control group, ^#P<0.05 compared with the model group.
Abbreviations: FAK, focal adhesion kinase; VP-16, etoposide phosphate; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 6 The influence of the FAK inhibitor PF562271 on the expression of FAK, p-FAK, caspase 3, and iPLA₂.

Notes: Western blot analysis of caspase 3, cleaved caspase 3, and iPLA₂ in feeder cells and of FAK and p-FAK in receptor cells with the FAK inhibitor PF562271 (PF) added to the system. Each bar represents the mean ± SD of three independent experiments, ^*P<0.05 compared with the control group, ^#P<0.05 compared with the model group.
Abbreviations: FAK, focal adhesion kinase; p-FAK, phosphorylated FAK; iPLA₂, cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A₂; SD, standard deviation; VP-16, etoposide phosphate.