Objective: To investigate the role of Ras antisense oligoribonucleotide (ASODN) in multidrug resistance (MDR) of pancreatic carcinoma Pc-2 cells.
Methods: Ras and P-gp expression was suppressed by Ras ASODN. Sensitivity of Pc-2 cells to chemotherapy was determined by the MTT assay. MDR-1 mRNA level was detected by fluorogenic probe quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain (RT-PCR) method. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the accumulative concentration of adriamycin (ADR) in the cells.
Results: Ras ASODN significantly inhibited the Ras and P-gp expression (P < 0.05), increased the sensitivity of Pc-2 cells to chemotherapeutic agents (P < 0.05), decreased MDR-1 gene level in Pc-2 cells (P < 0.05), and increased the intracellular intake of ADR in Pc-2 cells (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Ras ASODN may enhance the sensitivity of multidrug-resistant pancreatic cancer Pc-2 cells to chemotherapeutic agents by regulating MDR-1 gene level.