Objective:To explore the effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting survivin and trichosanthin on the apoptosis of human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells and its molecular mechanisms.Methods:The experimental Eca-109 cells were divided into six groups:untreated group

lipofectamine group

sense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting survivin group(SODN)

antisense oligodeoxy nucleotide targeting survivin group(ASODN)

trichosanthin group

and antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting survivin and trichosanthin group.Expression of survivin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.Expressions of Survivin

Bcl-2

Bax

and Caspase-3 proteins were detected by Western blot.The rate of early apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV-FITC/PI double stain.Results:Expressions of survivin mRNA and protein of the ASODN group

the TCS group

and the combination group were significantly decreased.The combined group had significantly lower expression than the single group(SODN group or the TCS group).However

the early apoptosis rates and expression of caspase-3 protein in the ASODN group

the TCS group and the combination group were significantly increased

with significantly higher results in the combination group than in the single group.Expression of bcl-2 protein of the TCS group and the combination group decreased.However

expression of the bax protein was increased.Conclusion:Survivin antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting survivin and trichosanthin can collaboratively induce apoptosis of the Eca-109 cells.The molecular mechanism may be that two drugs can activate caspase cascade channels due to collaborative suppressing the expression of survivin gene by two drugs and down-regulating the expression of bcl-2 protein and up-regulating the expression of bax protein by TCS.