Erythropoietin promotes expression of survivin via STAT3 activation and reduces sensitivity to cisplatin in cervical cancer cells.

Erythropoietin (Epo) is used for the treatment of cancer‑associated anaemia. However, certain studies have identified that the administration of Epo mediates the acquisition of resistance to cisplatin, which is widely used to treat cervical cancer. Our group previously reported that cervical cancer cells express Epo receptor and that exogenous Epo induces cell proliferation and migration. However, the effect of Epo on cervical cancer cell death mediated by chemotherapeutic agents has not yet been evaluated. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the potential effect of Epo on the cytotoxic activity of cisplatin in cervical cancer cells. The effect of Epo was assessed in 3 cervical cancer‑derived cell lines. It was observed that pre‑incubation with Epo induced a significant reduction of cisplatin‑induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Incubation with Epo induced the expression and activation of the transcriptional factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which in turn stimulated the expression and activation of the anti‑apoptotic protein survivin. The cytotoxicity of cisplatin was partially restored by treating the cells with MY155, an inhibitor of survivin. Conversely, inhibition of STAT3 activation using sub‑lethal doses of WP1066, completely abolished the cytoprotective effect of Epo. These observations indicated that Epo was able to hinder the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin in cervical cancer cells by activating anti‑apoptotic responses regulated by STAT3.