Abstract: Objective：Norcantharidin （NCTD） is a new small molecule with anticarcinogen activity, which was extracted from Chinese cantharides. ABT-737 is another small molecule with anticarcinogen activity in lower dose by inhibiting BCL-2. This study was designed to explore the effect of NCTD combined with ABT-737 on the in vitro proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. Methods：HeLa and SiHa cell lines were cultured in vitro. NCTD alone or in combination with ABT-737 was used to treat cells. MTT assay was used to determine the viability of cells. The flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. Results：NCTD alone could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HeLa and SiHa in a dose-dependent manner. NCTD combined with ABT-737 could significantly enhance the effect of NCTD. The apoptosis rates of HeLa in the ABT-737 （1 μmol/L） group and the NCTD （60 μmol/L） group were （31.65±7.75）% and （40.34±14.52）%, while this rate was （63.03±10.90）% in the NCTD combined ABT-737 group. The apoptosis rates of SiHa in the ABT-737 group and the NCTD group were （9.76±0.04）% and （22.04±3.03）%, respectively; while the rate in the NCTD combined ABT-737 group was （58.36±2.31）%. Effect of the combined two drugs on apoptosis was significantly stronger than that of any single drug （P＜0.05）. Conclusions：NCTD shows the in vitro anti-proliferation effect on the HeLa and SiHa cell lines and the effects of both inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis when combined with ABT-737.

Key words: Uterine cervical neoplasms, Carcinoma, Cantharidin, Cell proliferation, Apoptosis