OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of decitabine (DAC) alone or in combination with arsenic trioxide (AsO) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) MV4-11 cells, so as to find an effective method for treating AML with MLL rearrangements.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of DAC and AsOalone, as well as in a combination of less than 50% inhibitory concentration (IC) of DAC, and with less than 20% inhibitory concentration (IC) AsOon MV4-11 cell proliferation were detected by CCK-8 methed; and the apoptosis inducing effect was determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe inhibitory effect of DAC or AsOalone on the cell proliferation increased along with the augment of drug concentration in a dose-dependent manner, both were statistically significant (P<0.01) in comparison the control group. The ICof DAC and AsOon MV4-11 cells were 2.409 µmol/L and 2.364 µmol/L, respectively. When compared with DAC alone in the same concentration gradient, the combined chemotherapy of DAC(0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1 µmol/L) and AsO(0.25 µmol/L) showed higher inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and there was statistically differences (P<0.05). The 48 h apoptotic rate of DAC (5.0 µmol/L) on MV4-11 was 13.50%±1.87%; and the 48 h apoptotic rate of AsO(2 µmol/L) was 12.60%±2.33%; while the 48 h apoptotic rate in combination of 2 drugs was 51.13%±4.97%.

CONCLUSIONDAC or AsOcan remarkably inhibit MV4-11 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, and the combination of two drugs displays a synergistic effect.