Enhanced anti-tumor effect of combination therapy with gemcitabine and apigenin in pancreatic cancer

Cancer Lett. 2008 Jan 18;259(1):39-49. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2007.09.015. Epub 2007 Oct 29.

Abstract

Apigenin is a dietary flavonoid possessing therapeutic potential against cancers. This study was designed to investigate whether combination therapy with gemcitabine and apigenin enhanced anti-tumor efficacy in pancreatic cancer. In vitro, the combination treatment resulted in more growth inhibition and apoptosis through the down-regulation of NF-kappa B activity with suppression of Akt activation in pancreatic cancer cell lines (MiaPaca-2, AsPC-1). In vivo, the combination therapy augmented tumor growth inhibition through the down-regulation of NF-kappa B activity with the suppression of Akt in tumor tissue. The combination of gemcitabine and apigenin enhanced anti-tumor efficacy through Akt and NF-kappa B activity suppression and apoptosis induction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Apigenin / administration & dosage
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Down-Regulation
  • Drug Synergism
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • BAX protein, human
  • NF-kappa B
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Apigenin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Gemcitabine