TRAIL-induced apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells is augmented by targeted therapies

Figure 3 Treatment of HCC cells with TRAIL in combination with 5-FU and doxorubicin. Values are expressed as mean ± SD. A: Huh7 and Hep-G2 cells were analyzed for cell viability after treatment with the chemotherapeutic agents 5-FU and doxorubicin alone. Cells were seeded onto 96-well plates and treated on day one after seeding. Cells were treated for 48 h with 5-FU (upper left panel) and doxorubicin (lower left panel) as indicated. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay. Viability is shown relative to untreated controls. Assays were performed in six-fold values; B: Apoptosis induction in Huh7 and Hep-G2 cells treated with 50 μg/mL 5-FU (upper right panel) and 0.5 μmol/L doxorubicin (lower right panel) either alone or in combination with 100 ng/mL TRAIL + 1 μg/mL Enhancer. Cells were seeded onto 12-well plates, harvested 48 h after treatment and analyzed for apoptosis induction by flow cytometry. Assays were performed in triplicate and are representative of at least two independent experiments.