Objective:To study the effects of oxaliplatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and to investigate its mechanism.Methods:The inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation was estimated by MTT.Morphologic changes under electron microscope were observed.Alteration of cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry.The expression of apoptosis-associated genes mutant type p53

Bcl-2

Bax and Fas were detected with immunohistochemical technique.Results:Oxaliplatin could apparently inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells.Cell cycle analysis indicated that oxaliplatin blocked cells in S and G 2/M phase and the apoptosis emerged when treated with oxaliplatin for 72 hours.Under transmission electron microscope

apoptotic body could be found.The expression of genes Bax was up-regulated

the expression of genes mutant type p53

Bcl-2 was down-regulated

while the expression of Fas was not changed.Conclusion:Oxaliplatin can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells.The apoptosis is related to the up-regulation apoptotic genes and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic genes.