Gemcitabine combined with gum mastic causes potent growth inhibition and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells

Abstract

To investigate the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of gemcitabine combined with gum mastic and the underlying mechanisms in human pancreatic cancer cell lines. 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-kappaB p65 subunit, and IkappaBalpha protein was measured using Western blotting. Gemcitabine 0.01-100 microg/mL inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in both pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 and COLO 357 cells. Gum mastic 40 microg/mL significantly potentiated the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of gemcitabine 10 microg/mL after 72-h treatment. When cells were treated with gemcitabine in combination with gum mastic, the IkappaBalpha level was increased, whereas NF-kappaB activation was blocked; the expression of Bax protein was substantially increased, but Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated. Gemcitabine combined with gum mastic causes potent apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. The combination may be an effective therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.