Objective: To evaluate the effects of the selected phages with the specific peptide ligands upon the biological behaviors of the ovarian cancer cells.
Methods: Two ovarian cancer cell lines, A2780 and SKOV3, were used in the study. They were divided into three groups respectively: study group, blank control group and negative control group. The effects of the phages were evaluated by trypan blue staining, flow cytometry, colony formation test, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and Boyden chamber invasion assay.
Results: The average viability of ovarian cancer cells of study groups was (72.1 +/- 6.2)%, higher than that of negative control group (84.8 +/- 4.6, P < 0.05); the apoptosis ratio of the A2780 and SKOV3 cells of study groups increased (20.39% and 43.99% vs 0); the average colony formation rate of the ovarian cancer cells was of study groups 4%, lower than the control group (15%, P < 0.05); the inhibition rates of cell proliferation of A2780 and SKOV3 cells of study groups were 11.07% and 9.58%, significantly higher than that of their respective negative control (2.05% and 1.09%); the invasion index of the ovarian cancer cells decreased compared with the control.
Conclusion: The selected phages down-regulate the growth, proliferation and invasion ability of the ovarian cancer cells to certain extent, the identified peptide ligands may play a role in tumorigenesis and metastatic transformation of ovarian cancers.