Silencing survivin results in synergy between methylseleninic acid and paclitaxel against skov3 ovarian cancer cells.

This study evaluates methylseleninic acid (MSeA) improvement of paclitaxel efficacy against human ovarian cancer (skov3) with regard to survivin expression. MSeA and paclitaxel alone and in concurrent or sequential combination treatments were tested. Cell growth/death was evaluated using SRB, trypan blue, colony formation and ELISA assays. Cells were transfected with survivin shRNA and survivin's expression was measured using RT-PCR and Western blots. Drugs interaction was further evaluated using isobologram analyses. Different treatments with MSeA did not enhance paclitaxel's efficacy in the wild type skov3. Silencing survivin had no effect on MSeA or paclitaxel efficacy when used alone or in concurrent combination. After sequential combination treatment, synergy and significant induction of apoptosis were observed in cells transfected with survivin shRNA. However, antagonism and minimal induction of apoptosis were observed in empty or scramble survivin shRNA transfected cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that synergy between MSeA and paclitaxel in skov3 is associated with silencing survivin expression.