Figure 5. The combination of BKM120 with a MEK inhibitor synergistically inhibits the growth of human NSCLC cells (A, B and D) and enhances induction of apoptosis C.

A and B, The indicated cell lines were seeded in 96-well plates and treated the next day with different concentrations of PD0325901 (PD) alone, BKM120 alone and their respective combinations as indicated (A) or with different concentrations of U0126 alone, BKM120 alone and their respective combinations (B). After 3 days, cell numbers were estimated using the SRB assay. The data are means ± SDs of four replicate determinations. C. The indicated cell lines were treated with 2 μM BKM120 in the absence and presence of 20 nM PD0325901 or 20 μM U0126 for 24 h (H157) or 36 h (A549) and then harvested for preparation of whole-cell protein lysates and subsequent Western blot analysis to detect the given proteins. D. the indicated cells were treated with PD0325901, BKM120, and their combinations as indicated. The same treatments were repeated every 3 days. After 12 days, the plates were stained for the formation of cell colonies with crystal violet dye. The representative pictures of the colonies were taken as showed.