Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is frequently accompanied by a poor prognosis. The majority of patients with AML will experience recurrence due to multiple drug resistance. Our previous study reported that targeting the mTOR pathway may increase cell sensitivity to
doxorubicin (Doxo) and provide an improved therapeutic approach to
leukemia. However, the effect and mechanism of action of NVP‑BEZ235 (
BEZ235), a dual inhibitor of PI3K/mTOR, on Doxo‑resistant K562 cells (K562/A) is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of
BEZ235 on K562/A cell proliferation. K562/A cells was investigated using CCK‑8, flow cytometry and western blotting, following
BEZ235 treatment. It was observed that
BEZ235 significantly decreased the viability of K562/A cells. In addition,
BEZ235 arrested K562/A cells at the G0/G1 phase, and reduced the
protein expression levels of CDK4, CDK6 and
cyclin D1. Apoptotic cells were more frequently detected in K562/A cells treated with
BEZ235 compared with the control group (12.97±0.91% vs. 7.37±0.42%, respectively; P<0.05). Cells treated with
BEZ235 exhibited downregulation of Bcl‑2 and upregulation of Bax. Furthermore,
BEZ235 treatment markedly decreased the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its downstream effectors. Thus, these results demonstrated that
BEZ235 inhibited cell viability, induced G0/G1 arrest and increased apoptosis in K562/A cells, suggesting that
BEZ235 may reverse Doxo resistance in
leukemia cells. Therefore, targeting the PI3K/mTOR pathway may be of value as a novel therapeutic approach to
leukemia.