Inhibition of beclin1 affects the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of osteosarcoma.

This study was conducted to explore the role of autophagy in cisplatin-resistant osteosarcoma. Cisplatin-resistant osteosarcoma cell line (MG63/DDP) was obtained from parental MG63 by treating cisplatin with an intermittent stepwise selection protocol. The autophagy in MG63/DDP and MG63 was fully analyzed by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. Meanwhile, the autophagy and the sensitivity to cisplatin for MG63/DDP and MG63 after inhibition of beclin1 were analyzed in vitro and in vivo. Increased autophagy was observed in cisplatin resistant MG63/DDP cells and in the cisplatin-treated MG63 and MG63/DDP cells. Meanwhile, inhibition the beclin1 significantly inhibited the formation of autophagosome and resulted in the increase in the sensitivity to cisplatin for both MG63 and MG63/DDP cells in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, autophagy is implicated in the cisplatin resistant osteosarcoma, and inhibition of beclin1 could be a target for improving osteosarcoma therapy.