Bevacizumab and Fingolimod Combination Therapy Induce Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis in Ovcar-3 Cells

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian cancer remains one of the fatal gynecological malignancies. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor. Fingolimod has recently garnered attention as a potential anticancer compound. Emerging evidence highlights the advantages of combinatorial treatment approaches in ovarian cancer. This study aims to investigate the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of the combination therapy involving Bevacizumab and Fingolimod in Ovcar-3 cells. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying their potential synergistic interactions, this research seeks to provide valuable insights into novel therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer treatment. METHODS: Ovcar-3 cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. The concentrations of Bevacizumab and Fingolimod between 100-3.125 μM were added to Ovcar-3 cells. MTT, annexin-V staining, caspase 3/7 activation, mitochondrial potential, and reactive oxygen species analyses were performed. RESULTS: The Bevacizumab-Fingolimod combination triggered apoptosis at 21.79%. The viability was decreased to 78.20%. The percentage of early apoptotic cells was 18.67%, and 3.12% of late apoptotic cells was found to be 3.12%. The Bevacizumab-Fingolimod combination activated caspase 3/7 in Ovcar-3 cells after 24 hours of treatment. The Bevacizumab-Fingolimod combination changed the polarization of mitochondria of Ovcar-3 cells. DISCUSSION: Our study confirmed that Bevacizumab monotherapy significantly reduced the viability of Ovcar-3 cells, demonstrating its antiproliferative effects. These findings support previous results. When Bevacizumab was combined with Fingolimod, its efficacy was further enhanced, as indicated by high apoptotic rates. CONCLUSION: The combination of Bevacizumab and Fingolimod presents a promising treatment strategy for ovarian cancer.