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Low‑intensity low‑frequency ultrasound enhances the chemosensitivity of gemcitabine‑resistant ASPC‑1 cells via PI3K/AKT/NF‑κB pathway‑mediated ABC transporters

  • Authors:
    • Fuqiang Qiu
    • Jifan Chen
    • Jing Cao
    • Feng Diao
    • Pintong Huang

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  • Published online on: July 7, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7671
  • Pages: 1158-1168

  • Copyright: © Qiu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Tumor drug resistance (TDR) invariably leads to the failure of chemotherapy. In addition, current treatment strategies for TDR are not satisfactory due to limitations in terms of safety and feasibility. The aim of the present study was to determine whether low‑intensity low‑frequency ultrasound (LILFU) could improve the effect of chemotherapy and reverse TDR in gemcitabine‑resistant ASPC‑1 (ASPC‑1/GEM) cells. The investigation focused on the association between LILFU effectiveness and the adenosine triphosphate‑binding cassette (ABC) transporters and the phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/nuclear factor (NF)‑κB signaling pathway. A Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay was used to determine the appropriate acoustic intensity, half‑maximal inhibitory concentration of gemcitabine (GEM) and the viability of ASPC‑1/GEM cells. ASPC‑1/GEM cells were divided into control, GEM, LILFU and GEM+LILFU groups. Cell proliferation was evaluated through colony formation assays, whereas cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to explore the expression levels of ABC transporters and PI3K/AKT/NF‑κB signaling pathway‑associated proteins. Xenograft models in mice were established to identify the enhancing effect of GEM+LILFU in vivo. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression levels of Ki‑67 in tumor tissues. The acoustic parameter of 0.2 W/cm2 and a GEM concentration of 6.63 mg/ml were used in subsequent experiments. Following treatment with GEM+LILFU, the cell viability and proliferation ability were decreased, whereas the apoptotic rate was increased compared with the GEM group. The expression levels of ABC transporters, PI3K‑P110α and NF‑κB were decreased in the GEM+LILFU group. Notably, LILFU increased the effectiveness of GEM in inhibiting tumor growth, and reduced the expression levels of Ki‑67 in the xenograft mouse model. LILFU improved the chemosensitivity of ASPC‑1/GEM cells via inhibition of cell viability and proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis in the GEM+LILFU group. In conclusion, LILFU may downregulate the expression levels of ABC transporters by inhibiting the PI3K‑p110α/AKT/NF‑κB signaling pathway, thereby reversing resistance in pancreatic cancer.
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September-2020
Volume 44 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Qiu F, Chen J, Cao J, Diao F and Huang P: Low‑intensity low‑frequency ultrasound enhances the chemosensitivity of gemcitabine‑resistant ASPC‑1 cells via PI3K/AKT/NF‑κB pathway‑mediated ABC transporters. Oncol Rep 44: 1158-1168, 2020
APA
Qiu, F., Chen, J., Cao, J., Diao, F., & Huang, P. (2020). Low‑intensity low‑frequency ultrasound enhances the chemosensitivity of gemcitabine‑resistant ASPC‑1 cells via PI3K/AKT/NF‑κB pathway‑mediated ABC transporters. Oncology Reports, 44, 1158-1168. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7671
MLA
Qiu, F., Chen, J., Cao, J., Diao, F., Huang, P."Low‑intensity low‑frequency ultrasound enhances the chemosensitivity of gemcitabine‑resistant ASPC‑1 cells via PI3K/AKT/NF‑κB pathway‑mediated ABC transporters". Oncology Reports 44.3 (2020): 1158-1168.
Chicago
Qiu, F., Chen, J., Cao, J., Diao, F., Huang, P."Low‑intensity low‑frequency ultrasound enhances the chemosensitivity of gemcitabine‑resistant ASPC‑1 cells via PI3K/AKT/NF‑κB pathway‑mediated ABC transporters". Oncology Reports 44, no. 3 (2020): 1158-1168. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7671