The stem cell factor antibody enhances the chemotherapeutic effect of adriamycin on chemoresistant breast cancer cells

CD24 expression was analysed by flow cytometry. Both Bcl-2 and annexin V protein expression were quantitatively assessed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).In MCF-7/AdrRes cells the expression of CD24 was significantly higher compared to MCF-7 cells, 86.6% and 16.3% (p？<？0.001), respectively. Bcl-2 expression was significantly increased in the presence of adriamycin and SCF (p？<？0.038) and decreased in the presence of adriamycin and anti-SCF. When adriamycin, anti-SCF and SCF were combined or when adriamycin was used alone the decrease in Bcl-2 expression was insignificantly altered. In the presence of both adriamycin and SCF the expression of annexin V was decreased. However, it was significantly increased in the presence of adriamycin and anti-SCF (p？<？0.042), as well as adriamycin, anti-SCF and SCF combined.In MCF-7 cells the effect of adriamycin alone or with either SCF, anti-SCF or anti-SCF or SCF combined, did not significantly alter the expression of Bcl-2. However, in the presence of both adriamycin and SCF the expression of annexin V was decreased, but was significantly increased in the presence of adriamycin and anti-SCF (p？<？0.001), adriamycin, anti-SCF and SCF combined and adriamycin alone. Our results demonstrate that anti-SCF with low dose of adriamycin reduces Bcl-2 expression in MCF-7/AdrRes cells and increases annexin V expression in both MCF7/AdrRes and MCF-7 cells.Adding anti-SCF to the chemotherapeutic regime of adriamycin may strongly enhance its chemotherapeutic effect in the treatment of patients with breast cancer.Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer and the principal cause of death from cancer among women worldwide [1] Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is frequently used to treat breast cancer patients particularly those with locally advanced disease in order to downstage and downgrade the disease [2] However, a complete pathological response is only observed in 30% of patients, whilst 70% of patients show an incomplete