title: Gemcitabine inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which gemcitabine (gem) inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  After PANC-1 cells had been treated by indicated concentration (0, 5, and 25 mg/L) of gem for 48 h, cell proliferation was evaluated by 3'-(4, 5 dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay; cell morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy; Expression of c-IAP2 and Bcl-2 proteins was analyzed by Western blot; the activity of caspase-3 and -9 was detected by spectrophotometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gem significantly inhibited cell proliferation and could induce apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells, with a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that gem significantly reduced c-IAP2 and Bcl-2 proteins expression level (P < 0.05). Spectrophotometric assay showed that gem significantly increased caspase-3 and -9 activity in PANC-1 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gem could induce apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells, probably through downregulating c-IAP2 and Bcl-2 expression levels, and at the same time activating caspase-3 and -9.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinxiang Central Hospital of Henan Province, Henan 453000, PR China.
authors.forename: Gui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yong-Xian
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy, Xinxiang Central Hospital of Henan Province, Henan 453000, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao-Huan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinxiang Central Hospital of Henan Province, Henan 453000, PR China.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guo-Fang
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D000093542:Gemcitabine