8­bromo­7­methoxychrysin induces apoptosis by regulating Akt/FOXO3a pathway in cisplatin­sensitive and resistant ovarian cancer cells.

8­bromo­7­methoxychrysin (BrMC), a novel chrysin analog, was reported to have anti­cancer activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of 8­bromo­7­methoxychrysin (BrMC)­induced apoptosis via the Akt/forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) pathway in cisplatin (DDP)­sensitive and ­resistant ovarian cancer cells. The human ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and A2780/DDP were cultured in vitro. Various molecular techniques were used to assess the expression of FOXO3a and B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl­2)­interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) in cisplatin­sensitive and ­resistant ovarian cancer cells. Different concentrations of BrMC induced apoptosis in cisplatin­sensitive and ­resistant ovarian cancer cells. BrMC­induced apoptotic cell death occurred mainly by the activation of Akt, which was accompanied by the overexpression of transcription factor FOXO3a, with a concomitant increase in the expression levels of Bim. Silencing Bim expression by using small interfering RNA, attenuated the induction of apoptosis by BrMC treatment. The results indicated that BrMC­induced apoptosis in cisplatin­sensitive and ­resistant ovarian cancer cells may occur via the regulation of Akt/FOXO3a, leading to Bim transcription.