Impact of carboplatin plus paclitaxel combined with endostar against A375 melanoma cells: An in vitro and in vivo analysis.

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of carboplatin plus paclitaxel (CP) combined with endostar against A375 melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Effects on the cell viability and apoptosis induction were estimated with the Cell counting Kit-8 assay and Annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide staining. Fifty female BALB/c-nude mice with subcutaneous injection of A375 cells were randomized to be treated with normal saline, dacarbazine alone, dacarbazine plus endostar, carboplatin plus paclitaxel, and CP plus endostar. Tumor volume of mice was monitored after injection and survival time was adopted for survival analysis.

RESULTS

CP plus endostar significantly decreased the cell survival rate compared with CP (P<0.01). Combination of CP and endostar showed higher cytotoxicity to A375 cells in vitro than endostar plus dacarbazine (P<0.01). The percentage of apoptotic cells in A375 cells treated with CP plus endostar was appreciably higher when compared to CP group (P<0.05). The mean relative tumor size in CP group was definitely larger (p<0.05) than CP plus endostar group. In addition, the mean survival time in CP plus endostar group was notably elevated compared with the CP group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated that treatment with CP plus endostar significantly reduced cell growth and induced a high rate of apoptotic cells in the A375 melanoma cell line. CP and endostar exhibited synergistic anti-tumor activities in A375 melanoma cells in vitro. CP plus endostar suppressed the growth of xenograft tumors and prolonged the survival time of mice with xenograft tumors. Combination of CP and endostar may be a promising treatment for melanoma.