Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of adenovirus-mediated transfer of p53(Ad-p53) or Ad-p53 combined with radiotherapy for human cervical cancer cell line HeLa cells.
Methods: HeLa cells were either transfected with Ad-p53 alone or with Ad-p53 combining with radiotherapy. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), the cell growth, morphological changes, cell cycle, apoptosis and molecular changes were measured using cell counting, microscopy, flow cytometry, DNA ladder, and in vivo therapy experiments to evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of the regimens.
Results: Ad-p53 could be transfected into HeLa cells and p53 mRNA could be expressed more in the targeted HeLa cells. Ad-p53 transfer had strong therapeutic effects to HeLa cells in vitro and in vivo (the inhibition rates were 61.8% and 54.8%, respectively), moreover, the combined administration of Ad-p53 and radiotherapy had stronger therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo (the inhibition rate was 85.5% in vitro, and the inhibition rate was 77.4% in vivo). The inhibition rate by radiotherapy alone was 44.6% in vitro and 58.4% in vivo. Massive apoptosis of HeLa cells was induced by these regimens. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that all these regimens could arrested HeLa cells in G(2)-M.
Conclusions: After introduced into HeLa cells, Ad-p53 shows therapeutic efficiency for HeLa cells both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, Ad-p53 could enhance therapeutic efficiency for HeLa cells when combined with radiotherapy.