Fig. 5

Cholesterol in ovarian cancer patient derived ascites promotes chemoresistance. (A1) Comparison of cholesterol concentrations between malignant and benign ascites. (A2) Comparison of serum ascites cholesterol gradient (SACG) between malignant and benign ascites. SACG was calculated by ascites cholesterol subtracted from serum cholesterol. b Malignant ascites were divided into two groups, low versus high groups, using an optimal cut-off value calculated from a ROC curve and Youden index analysis. (B1) Cholesterol concentration of benign and malignant ascites in low vs high group. PA-1 cell line was treated with indicated malignant ascites for 24 h. (B2) Western blot and densitometry analysis of ABCG2, MDR1 and LXRα/β protein in whole cell lysates. (C = control media without malignant ascites). (B3 and B4) CDDP and PAC induced apoptotic cell death determined by Annexin V/PI staining 24 h after treatment with each respective malignant ascites. (C = control media without malignant ascites, black box indicate control without CDDP/PAC treatment) (B5 and B6) Correlation between cholesterol levels in malignant ascites and relative ratio of number of CDDP- and PAC- induced apoptotic cell death. The correlation coefficient square (R²) was determined by Pearson’s correlation coefficient test. Significant differences are indicated as follows. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001