Accumulation of ROS inside the cell may result in apoptosis or terminal differ entiation. Our results demonstrate significant gener ation of ROS in BT treated cells as compared to untreated cells in both a concentration and time dependent fashion. In order to ascertain role of ROS in BT induced cytotoxicity, we performed a this explanation cell viability assay in the presence of BT and antioxidant, ascorbic acid. Our results demonstrate a significant restoration of cell viability in the presence of 1 mM ascorbic acid in all cell lines tested. Interestingly, cisplatin resistant variants of IGROV 1 and A2780 demonstrated greater responses to ascorbic acid pre treatment than their cisplatin sensitive counterparts. These observations imply a sig nificant role of ROS in BT mediated cytotoxicity, and more so in cisplatin resistant cell lines.

This unique ef fect of BT on ROS generation in cisplatin resistant cells implies that BT could have a role in the treatment of platinum resistant ovarian cancer, either alone or in combination with other cytotoxic drugs. Reactive oxygen species are known to modify signal ling molecules important in cellular survival such as Akt1, and transcription factors including NF kB, due to the presence of redox sensitive cysteine or methionine groups that are susceptible to oxidation. It is widely reported that cisplatin resistant cell lines maintain high levels of Akt and NF kB as compared to cisplatin sensitive cell lines.

Keeping in mind the greater role of ROS generation observed in cisplatin resistant vari ants upon BT treatment, it may be possible that modifi cation of pro survival molecules such as Akt and NF kB via oxidation may be a possible mechanism of action of BT, especially in cisplatin resistant cell lines. To further define key signalling responses of ovarian cancer cells to treatment with BT, we analyzed the expression and activation phosphorylation of cellular markers involved in pro apoptotic or pro survival signalling. Immunoblotting of PAGE separated cellular lysates revealed sustained activation of pP38 MAPK upon BT treatment. In order to assess the role of pP38 signalling in BT induced cytotoxicity, a cell viability assay was performed in the presence of a p38 inhibitor, SB203580. Pre treatment with the p38 inhibi tor did not restore cell viability when cells were treated with BT.

These results rule out any significant role for p38 MAPK signalling in BT mediated cytotoxicity. Activation of the PI 3 K Akt pathway has been shown to induce resistance selleckchem Wortmannin to apoptosis induced by a number of drugs and has been linked to cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cell lines. In view of this, we stud ied the expression of pAkt upon BT treatment. Signifi cant down regulation of pAkt expression was observed at 24 hrs post BT treatment. It has been reported that Akt inactivation is essential for drug sensitivity.