Gene expressions associated with chemosensitivity in human hepatoma cells

Only limited patients with hepatoma benefit from chemotherapy without a clear explanation. We aimed to identify genes associated with chemosensitivity using transcriptional profiles.

In 8 hepatoma cells (HLE, HLF, Huh7, Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5, SK-Hep1, Huh6, and HepG2) transcriptional profiles were obtained using cDNA microarray including 2300 genes. Chemosensitivities to 8 anticancer drugs (nimustine, mitomycin C, cisplatin, carboplatin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, mitoxantrone, and 5-fluorouracil) were measured by obtaining 50% growth inhibitory concentrations (GI50) using MTT assay. Genes having drug-specific association with chemosensitivity were selected.

Up-regulation of topoisomerase II beta was associated with chemo-resistance, the target of doxorubicin. Platinum-specific resistance was associated with superoxide dismutase 2 expression. Antigen peptide transporter 1 expression correlated with nimustine and mitoxantrone-specific susceptibility. These results were verified by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Drug inactivators reported in non-liver cancers such as multidrug transporters and drug metabolizers showed less diversity of chemosensitivity in hepatoma cells.

To evaluate these gene expressions may be useful to select anticancer drugs, and possibly to consider new therapeutic target to modify drug action.