Paclitaxel increases the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to lobaplatin via PI3K/Akt pathway
Authors: Li Li
Dongjie Ma
Yushang Cui
Shanqing Li
Yeye Chen
Hongsheng Liu
Xiaoyun Zhou
Journal: Oncology Letters (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: PI3K/Akt; lobaplatin; lung cancer; paclitaxel.
Affiliations: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, P.R. China.

Abstract:  The effect of paclitaxel combined with lobaplatin on the sensitivity of lung cancer cell line NCI-H446 through influencing the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway was investigated. The sensitivity of lobaplatin to NCI-H446 and the effect of paclitaxel and PI3K inhibitor LY294002 combined with lobaplatin on the sensitivity to NCI-H446 were detected via methyl thiazolyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. The effect of paclitaxel combined with lobaplatin on cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry, the effect of paclitaxel combined with lobaplatin on the cell migration was detected via cell wound scratch assay, and the effect of paclitaxel combined with lobaplatin on the cell invasion was detected via Transwell assay. Finally, the effect of paclitaxel on PI3K/Akt pathway was detected via western blotting. MTT assay showed that 30 µg/ml lobaplatin could significantly inhibit the growth of NCI-H446 (p&lt;0.01). Lobaplatin group (group L), 2 µg/ml paclitaxel combined with lobaplatin group (group LP) and lobaplatin combined with 10 µmol/ml LY294002 group (group LL) were set up. The cell survival rates in group LP and group LL were significantly lower than that in group L (p&lt;0.01), and the cell survival rate in group LP was similar to that in group LL (p&gt;0.05). Flow cytometry revealed that the cell apoptotic levels in group LP and group LL were obviously higher than that in group L (p&lt;0.01), and there was no statistically significant difference in the cell apoptotic level between group LP and group LL (p&gt;0.05). Cell wound scratch assay showed that the cell migration capacity in group LP was significantly lower than those in group L and group LL (p&lt;0.01, p&lt;0.05), and the cell migration capacity in group LL was lower than that in group L (p&lt;0.05). Besides, Transwell assay revealed that the cell invasion capacity in group LP was obviously lower than those in group L and group LL (p&lt;0.01, p&lt;0.05), and the cell invasion capacity in group LL was lower than that in group L (p&lt;0.01). Finally, western blotting showed that the levels of PI3K, phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) and phosphorylated-glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β) in group LP and group LL were significantly lower than those in group L, and the differences were statistically significant (p&lt;0.01). Paclitaxel can significantly increase the sensitivity of lobaplatin to lung cancer cell line NCI-H446. Moreover, paclitaxel can enhance the effect of lobaplatin on lung cancer cells and reduce the drug resistance through inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 5. There is a discrepancy between figure caption and the scale bar label on the 3 images in A ![file] , 
 Still in Figure 5A (original see above in #1), after adjusting the brightness and contrast, three images from 3 different groups share multiple similar patterns. By no means the following illustration includes all such similarities. ![file] , 
 #1 Fig 5A rewards closer attention. ![file] Here is the Group LL panel, rotated through 90 deg to create a castle-wall effect. ![file] Now Group L, but I have left most of the crenellations as an exercise for the reader. ![file] , 
 Dear editor of pubpeer, we have noticed three comments in the previous article published on oncologyletters. The problem of figure 5A pointed out in the review does exist. We re sorry we had an error uploading the image. Since this article was published online, we have found this problem. We have contacted the editor of the magazine for correction. It is currently being processed. Thank you very much for your supervision. We ll let you know about further updates. Thanks again. Sincerely Dongjie Ma , 
 The u201cbar 100umu201d scale error of the figure annotation is also a mistake. We didn t find it when we proofread the manuscript. We have contacted the journal and hope to deal with it properly. Thank you very much for your kind reminder. , 
 #4 It isnu2019t at all clear how an u201cerror uploading the imageu201d could result in the image remaining legible but with patterns that appear cut and pasted from elsewhere in the same image. Any uploading error would surely appear random in nature, if not garbled beyond recognition. , 
 We also think that the conclusion of part of Fig. 5A needs to be further studied, and there is something wrong with its image. We have requested that the Journal uff08Oncology lettersuff09 to withdraw its article. Thank you very much for your reminder. , 
 Retraction: [21 January 2021] . ------------------------------------------- Following the publication of the above paper, it was drawn to the authorsu2019 attention by an interested reader that the scratchu2011wound assay images featured in Fig. 5A were, broadly speaking, rather similar, even though they were intending to show the results from three separate experiments, and there also appeared to be repeating, identical cellular patterns within the images themselves in this Figure part. The authors replied to the Editorial Office to explain that errors were made during the process of uploading the images, and also to request a retraction of the paper. The Editor of Oncology Letters has concurred that this article should be retracted, and all the authors agreed with the retraction. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,