OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulative effect of genistein on the apoptosis of the xenografted tumors of human ovarian carcinoma HO-8910PM cell on the nude mice.

METHODHuman ovarian carcinoma HO-8910PM were cultured in vitro. The models of xenografted tumor were established by the transplantation of human ovarian carcinoma HO-8910PM on nude mice. The nude mice were randomly divided into four groups of three treatment groups (in which genistein were administered ip at 5, 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), respectively, for 4 weeks) and one control group, the cell cycle and apoptosis of the xenografted tumors were measured by flow cytometry, the expression of bcl-2, Fas and FasL gene of xenografted tumors were determined by the immunohistochemistry and the morphology of tumor cells was observed by electron microscope.

RESULTThe tumor weights of 50 mg x xkg(-1) genistein group were more lighter (P < 0.05) compared to those of control group. The tumor cells in Go-G1 phase were increased, at saml time the cells in S-phase were decreased (P < 0.01) after the treatment of 50 mg x kg(-1) genistein. In addition the apoptosis rate of the cell treated with 50 mg x kg(-1) genistein group was (15.14 +/- 2.27)%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (3.12 +/- 1.12)% (P < 0.01). The expression of bcl-2 of the xenografted tumors was decreased and the expression of Fas was increased in 50 mg x kg(-1) genistein group, both showing a significant difference from those in control group (P < 0.05). The apoptosis of the tumor cells were found more under electron microscopy in 50 mg x kg(-1) genistein group than those in control group.

CONCLUSIONGenistein could significantly inhibite the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of the HO-8910PM cell of xenografted tumors by regulating the cell cycle and apoptoic gene in the nude mice.