Abstract
Aim:
To investigate the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of gemcitabine combined with gum mastic and the underlying mechanisms in human pancreatic cancer cell lines.
Methods:
Cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and propidium iodine staining, respectively. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, NF-κB p65 subunit, and IκBα protein was measured using Western blotting.
Results:
Gemcitabine 0.01−100 μg/mL inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in both pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 and COLO 357 cells. Gum mastic 40 μg/mL significantly potentiated the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of gemcitabine 10 μg/mL after 72-h treatment. When cells were treated with gemcitabine in combination with gum mastic, the IκBα level was increased, whereas NF-κB activation was blocked; the expression of Bax protein was substantially increased, but Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated.
Conclusion:
Gemcitabine combined with gum mastic causes potent apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. The combination may be an effective therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.
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Huang, Xy., Wang, Hc., Yuan, Z. et al. Gemcitabine combined with gum mastic causes potent growth inhibition and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin 31, 741–745 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/aps.2010.54
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/aps.2010.54
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