Open Access

Propofol induces apoptosis and ameliorates 5‑fluorouracil resistance in OSCC cells by reducing the expression and secretion of amphiregulin

  • Authors:
    • Kung-Ssu Yang
    • Pi-Cheng Che
    • Ming-Ju Hsieh
    • I-Neng Lee
    • Yu-Ping Wu
    • Ming-Shan Chen
    • Jui-Chieh Chen
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 1, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12552
  • Article Number: 36
  • Copyright: © Yang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Among the different types of oral cancer, >90% of cases are oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). 5‑fluorouracil (5‑FU) is a commonly used treatment for OSCC, but cells typically display resistance to the drug. Propofol, an intravenous anesthetic agent, exhibits certain anticancer effects, including the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Secreted proteins, such as growth factors and cytokines are involved in cancer development and progression, but the effect of propofol on secreted proteins in OSCC is not completely understood. An MTT assay, flow cytometry and western blotting were performed to determine the anticancer effects of propofol. The secretion profile of OSCC was determined using an antibody array, and clinical importance was assessed using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database. The results were verified by performing reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR (RT‑qPCR) and western blotting. 5‑FU‑resistant cells were established to determine the role of the gene of interest in drug resistance. The results demonstrated that propofol decreased cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis. The antibody array results showed that propofol attenuated the secretion of multiple growth factors. The bioinformatics results indicated that amphiregulin (AREG) was expressed at significantly higher levels in cancer tissues, which was also related to poor prognosis. The results of RT‑qPCR and western blotting revealed that propofol decreased AREG expression. Pretreatment with exogenous recombinant AREG increased EGFR activation and conferred propofol resistance. Moreover, the results indicated that the expression and activation of AREG was also related to 5‑FU resistance, but propofol ameliorated 5‑FU drug resistance. Therefore, the present study suggested that propofol combination therapy may serve as an effective treatment strategy for OSCC.
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January-2022
Volume 25 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Yang K, Che P, Hsieh M, Lee I, Wu Y, Chen M and Chen J: Propofol induces apoptosis and ameliorates 5‑fluorouracil resistance in OSCC cells by reducing the expression and secretion of amphiregulin. Mol Med Rep 25: 36, 2022.
APA
Yang, K., Che, P., Hsieh, M., Lee, I., Wu, Y., Chen, M., & Chen, J. (2022). Propofol induces apoptosis and ameliorates 5‑fluorouracil resistance in OSCC cells by reducing the expression and secretion of amphiregulin. Molecular Medicine Reports, 25, 36. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12552
MLA
Yang, K., Che, P., Hsieh, M., Lee, I., Wu, Y., Chen, M., Chen, J."Propofol induces apoptosis and ameliorates 5‑fluorouracil resistance in OSCC cells by reducing the expression and secretion of amphiregulin". Molecular Medicine Reports 25.1 (2022): 36.
Chicago
Yang, K., Che, P., Hsieh, M., Lee, I., Wu, Y., Chen, M., Chen, J."Propofol induces apoptosis and ameliorates 5‑fluorouracil resistance in OSCC cells by reducing the expression and secretion of amphiregulin". Molecular Medicine Reports 25, no. 1 (2022): 36. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12552