Proteome analysis of differential protein expression in cervical cancer cells after paclitaxel treatment

It is well known that infection with HPV (human papillomavirus) is the main cause of cervical cancer and certain types of HPV are recognized as carcinogens. At present, there is little information regarding the antineoplastic mechanism of paclitaxel against cervical carcinoma cells. We thus tried to analyze differential protein expression and antineoplastic mechanism-related proteins after paclitaxel treatment on cervical cancer cells by using a proteomic analysis and to investigate the mechanism of action.

Using proteomics analysis including 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS, we detected the antineoplastic mechanism-related proteins. Then, we performed western blot analysis for apoptosis- and transformation-related proteins to confirm expression patterns derived from proteome analysis after paclitaxel treatment.

We identified several cellular proteins that are responsive to paclitaxel treatment in HeLa cells using proteomics methods. Paclitaxel treatment elevated mainly apoptosis, immune response and cell cycle check point-related proteins. On the other hand, paclitaxel treatment diminished growth factor/oncogene-related proteins and transcription regulation-related proteins. Also, in the HPV-associated cervical carcinoma cells, paclitaxel demonstrated anti-proliferative activity through the membrane death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway and the mitochondrial-mediated pathway.

Identification and characterization of functionally modulated proteins involved in anti-cancer regulatory events should lead to a better understanding of the long-term actions of paclitaxel at the molecular level and will contribute to the future development of novel therapeutic drug treatments based upon current therapies.