Selective ablation of Notch3 in HCC enhances doxorubicin's death promoting effect by a p53 dependent mechanism.

Background/aims: The functional roles of endogenous Notch3 and Notch1 for protecting human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lines against doxorubicin-induced death have been investigated. We previously reported aberrant Notch3 and Notch4 up-regulation in HCC and we have extended these observations to include Notch1.

Methods: Notch1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting.