RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the mechanisms of G(2)/M cycle arrest induced by topo IIalpha and IIbeta inhibitors in H460 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The inhibitory effects of XK469, adriamycin and etoposide on H460 cell growth were analyzed by MTT assay. The changes in cell cycle and expressions of cdc2, phos-cdc2 and 14-3-3sigma proteins induced by these 3 topo II inhibitors were detected by flow cytometry and Western blotting, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both of the two types of topo II inhibitor resulted in dose-dependent G(2)/M phase arrest and growth inhibition of H460 cells, but XK469 failed to induce 14-3-3sigma protein expression as adriamycin and etoposide did.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Topo IIalpha and topo IIbeta inhibitors induce growth inhibition of H460 cells possibly through two different mechanisms, namely the 14-3-3sigma-dependent pathway and the 14-3-3sigma-independent pathway, but further functional inhibition test of 14-3-3sigma is needed to confirm this hypothesis.</p>