Bevacizumab and Fingolimod Combination Therapy Induce Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis in Ovcar-3 Cells.

INTRODUCTION Ovarian cancer remains one of the fatal gynecological malignancies. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor. Fingolimod has recently garnered attention as a potential anticancer compound. Emerging evidence highlights the advantages of combinatorial treatment approaches in ovarian cancer. This study aims to investigate the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of the combination therapy involving Bevacizumab and Fingolimod in Ovcar-3 cells. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying their potential synergistic interactions, this research seeks to provide valuable insights into novel therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer treatment.

METHODS Ovcar-3 cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. The concentrations of Bevacizumab and Fingolimod between 100-3.125 μM were added to Ovcar-3 cells. MTT, annexin-V staining, caspase 3/7 activation, mitochondrial potential, and reactive oxygen species analyses were performed.

RESULTS The Bevacizumab-Fingolimod combination triggered apoptosis at 21.79%. The viability was decreased to 78.20%. The percentage of early apoptotic cells was 18.67%, and 3.12% of late apoptotic cells was found to be 3.12%. The Bevacizumab-Fingolimod combination activated caspase 3/7 in Ovcar-3 cells after 24 hours of treatment. The Bevacizumab-Fingolimod combination changed the polarization of mitochondria of Ovcar-3 cells.

DISCUSSION Our study confirmed that Bevacizumab monotherapy significantly reduced the viability of Ovcar-3 cells, demonstrating its antiproliferative effects. These findings support previous results. When Bevacizumab was combined with Fingolimod, its efficacy was further enhanced, as indicated by high apoptotic rates.

CONCLUSION The combination of Bevacizumab and Fingolimod presents a promising treatment strategy for ovarian cancer.