Synergistic anti-tumor effect of paclitaxel and miR-34a combined with ultrasound microbubbles on cervical cancer in vivo and in vitro.

Purpose: Improved therapeutic options for cervical cancer are needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the synergetic, inhibitory effects of ultrasound-mediated paclitaxel (PTX)- and miR-34a-loaded microbubbles (MBs) on cervical cancer. Methods: U14 cervical cancer cells and xenograft mouse tumors were treated with PTX-miR-34a-MBs. Results: Levels of miR-34a increased in vitro and vivo after treatment with ultrasound-mediated PTX-miR-34a-MBs. Furthermore, this treatment decreased the proliferation of cervical cancer cells, microvessel density, and the expression of Bcl-2 and CDK6, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Bax expression was increased in the in vivo model. And, tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced by 78.57% and 87.97%, respectively (P < 0.01). Conclusions: These results indicate that ultrasound-mediated PTX-miR-34a-MBs synergistically inhibit the growth of cervical cancer via the upregulation of miR-34a and downregulation of Bcl-2 and CDK6. Thus, PTX-miR-34a-MBs in combination with ultrasound microbubbles are a promising anticancer delivery strategy for treating cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]