Paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cell line COC1.

To elucidate the pattern of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cell line COC1 and the role of paclitaxel in chemotherapy of ovarian cancer, apoptosis was investigated in vitro by applying cytohistochemical techniques, DNA gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. COC1 cells manifested typical apoptotic morphologic features after exposure to paclitaxel. The rate of apoptosis was enhanced within the test concentration range in a concentration-dependent pattern. At low paclitaxel concentration, the rate of apoptosis were low and the levels of mitotic arrest were high. Whereas at higher paclitaxel concentration, the rate of apoptosis were higher and the levels of mitotic arrest were relatively lower. It is concluded that the antitumor effect of paclitaxel was correlated with drug-induced apoptosis. Apoptosis induced by paclitaxel was concentration-dependent and was not significantly correlated with the mitotic arrest.