Abstract:Objective To observe the effect of genistein combined with cisplatin on the biological behavior of ovarian cancer SK-OV-3 cells, and to confirm that genistein and cisplatin have synergistic effects, which can promote the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells and inhibit its proliferation and migration. Methods Ovarian cancer SK-OV-3 cells were cultured and treated with genistein (20, 40, 80, 160, 200 μmol/L) and cisplatin (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 μg/ml) for 24, 48, 72 h, respectively. The cell proliferation was detected by MTT, and the appropriate concentration and duration were screened. Ovarian cancer SK-OV-3 cells were divided into 4 groups: blank group (including the normal growth of SK-OV-3 cells and join the amount of nutrient solution) and the experimental group (genistein group, cisplatin group, genistein combined with cisplatin). After 48 hours of drug treatment, the Cell Scratch Test was conducted to determine the effect of single or combined treatment of genistein and cisplatin on SK-OV-3 cell migration; Hoechst33342 was used to detect the effect of each group of drugs on the morphology of ovarian cancer SK-OV-3 nucleus; Annexin V/PI was used to detect apoptosis; Western blotting analysis was used to detect protein expression levels of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3. Results The results showed that the inhibition rate of cell proliferation increased with the increase of genistein and cisplatin concentration (P < 0.05). The contration was selected as 160 μmol/L for genistein and 4 μg/ml for cisplatin. The results of cell score test, Hoechst33342 and flow cytometry showed that, compared with the control group, genistein alone and combined with cisplatin could significantly reduce SK-OV-3 cell migration ability and promote cell apoptosis (P < 0.05), and the results of combination therapy were significantly superior to those of single therapy (P < 0.05). Western blotting results showed that, compared with the control group, the protein expressions of p-Akt, PI3K and Bcl-2 were downregulated and the protein expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were upregulated in single treatment and combined treatment group, the ratio of p-Akt protein to Akt protein decreased, and the results of combined treatment were more significant than those of single treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions Genistein has inhibition on SK-OV-3 cell proliferation in ovarian cancer within limits, which is dose-time dependent. Genistein and cisplatin can promote apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells.