Abstract: AIM: To explore the effect of Bcl-2 small molecule inhibitor ABT-737 on the growth and angiogenesis mimicry of SKOV3 cells in a co-culture system of Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) and human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3. METHODS: PMA and IL-4 was used to induce THP-1 cells into TAMs cells in vitro; MTT method was used to detect the cell survival rate of SKOV3 cells after 24 hours of treatment with different concentrations of ABT-737 culture medium; a co-culture system of SKOV3 cells and TAMs cells was established; the experimental groups were divided into control group, SKOV3+ABT-737 group (containing 5.0 μmol/L ABT-737 cultured cells), TAMs+SKOV3 group (SKOV3 cells co-cultured with TAMs cells), TAMs+SKOV3+ABT-737 group (SKOV3 cells Co-cultured with TAMs cells, and added ABT-737 containing 5.0 μmol/L), cells after 24 h was collected, MTT method was used to detect cell survival rate, EdU staining for cell proliferation, ranswell chamber experiment for cell migration and invasion, Flowcytometry for cell apoptosis, the vascular mimicry experiment for the ability of cells to form blood vessels, Western blot for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in cells. RESULTS: THP-1 cells were successfully induced for TAMs cells; the survival rate of SKOV3 cells decreased under the action of ABT-737 (P<0.01); compared with the control group, the survival rate of SKOV3 cells in the SKOV3+ABT-737 group decreased, the number of EdU-labeled positive cells decreased, the number of cell migration and invasion also decreased, the rate of apoptosis increased, and the duct branches decreased, The protein expression of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9 decreased (P<0.01); Compared with the TAMs+SKOV3 group, the cell survival rate of the TAMs+SKOV3+ABT-737 group decreased, the number of EdU-labeled positive cells and the number of cell migration and invasion also decreased, the apoptosis rate increased, and the duct branches decreased. At the same time, the protein expression of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9 decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: ABT-737 can inhibit SKOV3 cell proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis and angiogenesis in a co-culture system, and affect tumor progression.

Key words: ovarian cancer, Bcl-2 small molecule inhibitor ABT-737, tumor macrophage-related cells, co-culture, angiogenic mimicry