The Relationship Between Phosphatidylinositide 3-OH Kinase/Akt Pathway Activation And Drug Resistance In Human Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the expression of PI3K protein and phosphorylated-Akt protein in primary epithelial ovarian cancer,and to explore the possible relationship between PI3K/Akt pathway and drug resistance.METHODSImmunohistochemistry was applied to detect these two proteins,and MTT colorimetric assay was used to measure the sensitivity of 4 kinds of anticancer agents commonly used in clinic,which included Paclitaxel(PTX),Epirubicin(EADM), Carboplatin(CBP)and Cisplatin(CDDP).RESULTSAmong the 65 ovarian cancers,25 were failed,so there were only 40 specimens could be evaluated.The expression of PI3K and Akt were detected in 60%(24/40)and 65%(26/40)ovarian cancers respectively.Compared with samples of PI3K protein negative expression,the average inhibition rates of these anticancer agents were lower,the rates of drug resistance were higher for the samples of PI3K protein positive expression.Furthermore,there is statistic significance in CDDP groups(z=-3.567, p＜0.01).Compared with samples of p-Akt protein negative expression,the average inhibition rates of these anticancer agents were lower,the rates of drug resistance were higher for the samples of p-Akt protein positive expression.Furthermore,there is statistic significance in CBP and CDDP groups(z=-2.201和z=-2.298;p＜0.05和p＜0.05). CONCLUSIONIn epithelial ovarian cancer,the primary resistance to platinum may be related to PI3K/Akt pathway activation.