Effects of curcumin combined with gemcitabine on proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell lines

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of curcumin on proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells treated with gemcitabine chemotherapy. Methods Cell culture of pancreatic cancer cell lines BxPC3 and PANC-1 with different degrees of malignancy were performed. The two cells were divided into control groups. (Group A), gemcitabine treatment group (group B), curcumin treatment group (group C), curcumin plus gemcitabine treatment group (group D), methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) was used to detect cell proliferation, and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) double staining The method was used to detect the apoptosis of cells. The PI staining method was used to detect the cell cycle and the drug was used to block the cell cycle. Results Compared with curcumin alone, the viability of BxPC3 cells treated with gemcitabine alone was decreased from (83.27±4.13)% to (8.12±0.37)% (P=0.007), and the apoptosis rate was (6.73±2.19)%. Increased to (26.33±3.71)% (P=0.006); cell viability decreased from (83.77±6.03)% to (7.58±1.13)% (P=0.008) in PANC-1 cells treated with gemcitabine alone and curcumin alone. The apoptosis rate increased from (6.21±1.23)% to (25.08±3.24)% (P=0.005). Conclusion Curcumin combined with gemcitabine can significantly inhibit the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells and promote their apoptosis, which provides a new idea for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Key words: Pancreatic cancer; Curcumin; Gemcitabine