Abstract: Objective To explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) on ovarian carcinoma. Methods （1）Two groups of ovarian carcinoma cell lines (SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP, HO8910 and HO8910-PM) were exposed to SAHA (1, 3, 5 and 7 μmol/L SAHA， group 1-group 4). CCK-8 method was employed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of SAHA.（2） Ovarian cancer cell lines treated with SAHA (2 or 5 μmol/L SAHA) were used as 1 and 2 groups. Flow cytometry was performed following staining with Annexin V-FITC and PI for cell cycle and apoptosis.（3） Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot assay were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression levels of phenotypic correlation factor. Results （1） After 48 h of SAHA treatment， the OD value of SKOV3， SKOV3/DDP， and HO8910 showed a trend of gradually reduce (P＜0.05).（2） The apoptotic rates were significantly higher in SAHA 1 and SAHA 2 groups than those of control group (P＜0.05). Compared with control group, after 48 h of SAHA treatment， S phase and G2/M phase of SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cells increased； G0/G1 phase of HO8910 and HO8910-PM cells increased in SAHA 1 and 2 groups (P < 0.05).（3） The expression levels of CyclinB1 and Cdc2 (p34) mRNA were significantly lower in SAHA 1 and 2 groups than those of control group， while the expression levels of Caspase-3， p21 and p53 mRNA expression were significantly higher in SAHA 1 and 2 groups than those of control group. Furthermore， the expression of Ac-Histone H3， Ac-Histone H4，p53 protein were markedly improved， and CyclinB1， Cdc2(p34) protein decreased in SAHA 1- 4 groups. Conclusion SAHA may suppress cell growth, induce apoptosis and cause cycle arrest in ovarian carcinoma cells by promoting histone acetylation or modulating their phenotype-related proteins of Caspase-3, p53, CyclinB1 and Cdc2(p34).

Key words: ovarian neoplasms, apoptosis, cell proliferation, malignant phenotype, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, histone acetylationacetylation