Combination of scFv-AFP with doxorubicin inhibits cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma cell Huh7

This study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of single-chain variable fragment of alpha fetoprotein(scFv-AFP)in combination with doxorubicin on the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines Huh7. Huh7 cells were treated with different concentrations of scFv-AFP or doxorubcin alone or their combination. The inhibitory effects were detected by MTT assay, and cycle arrest and apoptosis of Huh7 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry in different groups using PI and Annexin V/PI-staining, respectively. Results showed that scFv-AFP, doxorubicin alone or in combinations dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of Huh7, and a synergistic effect was observed in their combined action. The combined therapy resulted in significantly higher apoptosis than those in other groups(P< 0. 05). scFv-AFP(40 μg/mL)markedly blocked the Huh7 cell progression by arresting the cells in the G₀/G₁ phase, and the percentage of cells in S phase decreased dramatically(P< 0. 05); and scFv-AFP combined with doxorubicin blocked the Huh7 cell progression by arresting the cells in G₂/M phase(P< 0. 01).