Adipose‑derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate cisplatin‑induced apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells

: Environment-mediated drug resistance (EMDR) serves an important role in tumor chemotherapy resistance. Adipose‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSC) are an important component of the tumor microenvironment. However, the role of ADSC in EMDR remains unclear. Therefore, in order to clarify whether ADSCs contribute to the cisplatin‑mediated apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), the present study isolated ADSCs from the omentum of women with benign disease and collected the ADSC culture medium as conditioned medium. Subsequently, it was revealed that ADSCs decreased the sensitivity of EOC cells to cisplatin via an MTT assay. In addition, it was revealed that ADSCs may reduce cisplatin-induced apoptosis in EOC cells, as determined by Hoechst staining and flow cytometric analysis. Additionally, a lower level of cleaved caspase‑3 was observed, accompanied with decreased intracellular platinum accumulation in EOC cells indirectly co‑cultured with ADSCs. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that ADSCs reduced cisplatin‑induced apoptosis and the intracellular level of platinum in EOC cells, which in turn resulted in cisplatin resistance. Therefore, ADSCs may serve as a therapeutic target for recurrent EOC.