The BH3 mimetic S1 induces endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cells although it activates autophagy.

SKOV3/DDP human ovarian cancer cells have been shown to be resistant to cisplatin. Although the BH3 mimetic S1 induces cell death in several types of tumor cells, it is unclear whether it induces death in drug-resistant cells. Herein, we found that S1 induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated apoptosis in both SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cells. S1 activated autophagy at early time points in SKOV3/DDP cells, and inhibition of autophagy increased ER stress-associated apoptosis. Collectively, our data indicate that autophagy plays a protective role, but it cannot protect against S1-induced cell death in cisplatin-resistant SKOV3/DDP cells.