Abstract:Objective: To investigate the influence of survivin gene silencing on chemotherapy sensitivity of drug resistant cell line of human hepatocellular carcinoma to doxorubicin. Methods: Three siRNA sequences targeting human survivin gene were designed and synthesized, and then were transfected into hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells (3 groups of cells) by liposome-mediated method, respectively. Using the untransfected BEL-7402 cells as control, the expressions of survivin gene and protein as well as sensitivity to doxorubicin in each group of cells were determined by RT-PCR method, immunocytochemical staining and MTT assay, respectively. Results: Compared with control group of cells, both survivin gene and protein expressions in each transfected group of cells were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). The value of half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of doxorubicin for control group of cells was (20.60±2.86) μg/mL, while the IC50 values for the three groups of transfected cells were (11.53±1.46) μg/mL, (14.13±1.82) μg/mL and (15.53±0.46) μg/mL respectively, all of which had statistical differences versus control (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition of survivin gene expression can increase the chemotherapy sensitivity of BEL-7402 cells to doxorubicin.