Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the reversal of adriamycin resistance in human ovarian cancer cells by ultrasound exposure from perspectives of apoptosis and mdr1 gene. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and mdr1 level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Apoptosis indexes were improved in groups in which ultrasound exposures were applied. RT-PCR did not support that insonation-decreased mdr1 level. These findings suggested that the ultrasound-enhanced therapeutic efficacy was not mediated via modulating gene expression, and ultrasound maybe lowered thresholds for apoptosis and oncosis in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells.