Sodium butyrate enhances Fas-mediated apoptosis of human hepatoma cells

Overexpression of CYP2E1 enhances sensitivity of HepG2 cells to Fas-mediated cytotoxicity

“…8,26 Hence, it was proposed that less Fas expression may contribute to HCC resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis. However, as in the previous report by Ogawa et al 2 we found that FasL was hard to induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells despite it expressed more Fas receptor. This result indicated that other mechanisms rather than week Fas expression are involved in hepatoma resistance.…”

“…In agreement with this clinical problem, several hepatoma cell lines were also reported to be resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis. 2 Further study showed that the surface expression of Fas was relatively low in hepatoma, and significantly decreased in cases of poor differentiation and large tumor size. 8,26 Hence, it was proposed that less Fas expression may contribute to HCC resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis.…”

“…1 Although several effective therapies have been established for the early stages of this disease, HCC at advanced stages is still resistant to treatment, and its prognosis remains very poor. 2 Thus, the need to identify effective hepatoma therapies is obvious.…”

“…Hence, the resistance of cancer cells to apoptosis constitutes an important problem in cancer therapy. 2 Apoptosis is mediated through a series of biochemical steps. The best-characterized apoptotic pathway is that induced through the surface molecule Fas (CD95/APO-1).…”

“…5,6 However, human hepatoma cells have been reported to be strongly resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis. 2,7 Low level of Fas expression was implicated in the resistance of hepatoma. 8 But the resistance remains unchanged on Fas-positive HCC cell lines, suggesting that some mechanisms other than weak Fas expression are behind the hepatoma resistance.…”