RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Parkin Enhances Gefitinib-induced Anoikis in HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 1853 OP 1862 DO 10.21873/anticanres.16987 VO 44 IS 5 A1 JUNG, BYUNG CHUL A1 WOO, SUNG-HUN A1 KIM, SUNG HOON A1 KIM, YOON SUK YR 2024 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/44/5/1853.abstract AB Background/Aim: Gefitinib exhibits anticancer activity against cervical cancer cells via anoikis, a type of apoptosis induced by cell detachment from the extracellular matrix. Previous studies have reported that Parkin expression affects the efficacy of anticancer drugs. However, the impact of Parkin expression on the therapeutic effects of gefitinib in human cervical cancer remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate whether Parkin over-expression improves the therapeutic effects of gefitinib against HeLa cervical cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Cell viability and apoptotic death of HeLa cells were measured by trypan blue dye exclusion assay and flow cytometry. Cell detachment, adhesion, spreading, and cell-cell interaction were observed by inverted microscopy. Alteration of adhesion-related molecules was evaluated by confocal microscopy and western blot assay. Results: Parkin expression potentiated gefitinib-induced cell detachment by affecting the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, Parkin expression induced a further reduction in the reattachment of and interaction between detached cells. The therapeutic efficacy of low-dose gefitinib combined with Parkin expression was equivalent to that of high-dose gefitinib alone. Conclusion: Parkin expression promotes gefitinib-induced anoikis, consequently increasing the efficacy of gefitinib against HeLa human cervical cancer cells. Based on our results, we propose that Parkin can be used to increase the anti-cancer effect of gefitinib on cervical cancer cells.