Hydroxycamptothecin shows antitumor efficacy on HeLa cells via autophagy activation mediated apoptosis in cervical cancer

Objectives: To investigate the effect and the mechanism of anti-tumor agent hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) on HeLa cells in cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: Autophagy and apoptosis were detected by western blotting and the transfection of GFP-LC3 shRNA as well as Hoechst staining. Results: The authors found that the expression of the regulators of Beclin-1, p62, and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) upregulated and then triggered the occurrence of cell autophagy. On the other hand, HCPT could induce to the formation of autophagy and resulted in cell apoptosis after autophagy. Conclusion: HCPT can alter cell autophagy and then trigger cell apoptosis to achieve antitumor effects.