Synergistic effects of baicalein with gemcitabine or docetaxel on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Pan Liu
    • Jiarui Feng
    • Meng Sun
    • Wen Yuan
    • Ruijing Xiao
    • Jie Xiong
    • Xiaoxin Huang
    • Meng Xiong
    • Wu Chen
    • Xin Yu
    • Qian Sun
    • Xiaojie Zhao
    • Qiuping Zhang
    • Liang Shao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 11, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2017.4153
  • Pages: 1878-1886
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Abstract

Baicalein, a type of flavonoids extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been reported to be a very promising drug for pancreatic cancer. However, it is unclear whether combination of baicalein with gemcitabine or docetaxel is synergistic to the treatment for pancreatic cancer (PC). We investigated the combinational effects of baicalein with gemcitabine or docetaxel on proliferation, cell cycle, migration and apoptosis of human PC cells. Administration of baicalein alone significantly inhibit the proliferation of PC cells. Notably, when it is combined with gemcitabine or docetaxel, combination index (CI) values calculated by Calcusyn software are smaller than 1, indicating the synergism of baicalein with gemcitabine or docetaxel for the treatment of PC cells. Consistently, EdU assay showed that administration of baicalein significantly enhanced the capacity of gemicitabine to inhibit proliferation of PC cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that high-concentration of baicalein was able to arrest PC cells in the S phase. Furthermore, low concentration of baicalein in combination with either gemcitabine or docetaxel exhibited strong suppression on the migration of PC cells. A further study using transmission electron microscope (TEM), DAPI staining and western blot showed that baicalein induced-apoptosis of PC cells might be via caspase-3/PARP signaling pathway. Notably, combination treatment was able to induce more severe cell apoptosis of PC cells. In conclusion, baicalein exhibited synergistic effects with gemcitabine or docetaxel on the treatment of PC cells.
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December-2017
Volume 51 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Liu P, Feng J, Sun M, Yuan W, Xiao R, Xiong J, Huang X, Xiong M, Chen W, Yu X, Yu X, et al: Synergistic effects of baicalein with gemcitabine or docetaxel on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. Int J Oncol 51: 1878-1886, 2017.
APA
Liu, P., Feng, J., Sun, M., Yuan, W., Xiao, R., Xiong, J. ... Shao, L. (2017). Synergistic effects of baicalein with gemcitabine or docetaxel on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. International Journal of Oncology, 51, 1878-1886. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2017.4153
MLA
Liu, P., Feng, J., Sun, M., Yuan, W., Xiao, R., Xiong, J., Huang, X., Xiong, M., Chen, W., Yu, X., Sun, Q., Zhao, X., Zhang, Q., Shao, L."Synergistic effects of baicalein with gemcitabine or docetaxel on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells". International Journal of Oncology 51.6 (2017): 1878-1886.
Chicago
Liu, P., Feng, J., Sun, M., Yuan, W., Xiao, R., Xiong, J., Huang, X., Xiong, M., Chen, W., Yu, X., Sun, Q., Zhao, X., Zhang, Q., Shao, L."Synergistic effects of baicalein with gemcitabine or docetaxel on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells". International Journal of Oncology 51, no. 6 (2017): 1878-1886. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2017.4153