Objective: To evaluate the effect of combined use of rapamycin and cisplatin in the chemotherapy of Hep-2 cells in vitro.
Methods: The inhibitory effects of rapamycin and cisplatin, used alone or in combination, on the proliferation of Hep-2 cells were measured with MTT assay and median-effect plot analysis. The cell cycle changes after the treatment were analyzed using flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 immunofluorescence staining.
Results: The IC50 of rapamycin and cisplatin for inducing growth arrest of Hep-2 cells was 11.03 nmol/L and 8.81 micromol/L, respectively. Rapamycin alone caused cell cycle arrest of the Hep-2 cells in G1 phase. Rapamycin and cisplatin showed synergistic effects in the chemotherapy of Hep-2 cells (q > 1.15, King's Formula), causing significantly increased apoptosis ratio and growth inhibition rate of Hep-2 cells.
Conclusion: Combined use of rapamycin and cisplatin significantly improves the chemotherapeutic effect against Hep-2 cells.