BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the growth curve, cell colony formation, cell cycle, apoptosis, anti-anoikis, and ability of invasion, adhesion, and migration of cervical cancer cells after exposure to a model of a simulated CO2 pneumoperitoneum environment with different pressures and at different times.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cervical cancer cells were cultured in groups with 8 and 16 mmHg of 100% CO2 for 1, 2, 3, and 4 h in a model of a simulated environment of CO2 pneumoperitoneum. The cells in the control group were cultured in a standard environment. The growth curve was drawn through constant survival cell counts for 7 days, and the group with most obvious change was selected for subsequent experiments to detect cell colony formation, cell cycle apoptosis, and anti-anoikis, and the ability of invasion, adhesion, and migration.

RESULTS: After a brief inhibition, the proliferation of cervical cancer cells was markedly increased and had no relationship with different CO2 pressures. Compared with the control group, the early apoptosis rate in the experimental group was higher, and the ability of invasion, migration, and adhesion decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS: Cervical cancer cells stimulated by a CO2 pneumoperitoneum environment in vitro have an increased the ability to proliferate after a short period of inhibition and have reduced abilities of invasion, migration, and adhesion.

Keywords: Anoikis - drug effects, Annexin A5 - metabolism, Carbon Dioxide - pharmacology, Cell Adhesion - drug effects, Cell Proliferation - drug effects, Hela Cells, Pneumoperitoneum - pathology, Tumor Stem Cell Assay, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology