Abstract:Objective: To investigate the influence of wogonin on the growth of pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cells in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Panc-1 cells were exposed to different concentrations (1, 10 and 100 μmol/L) of wogonin for 24 h, and the cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry. Twenty nude mice bearing Panc-1 cell xenografts were equally randomized into control group, wogonin treatment group (wogonin 60 mg/kg, daily), gemcitabine treatment group (gemcitabine 150 mg/kg, weekly) and combination treatment group (wogonin plus gemcitabine). After 2 consecutive weeks of treatment and 7 d discontinuation, the growth statuses of the tumor xenografts among groups were compared, and the microvessel density (MVD) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results: Compared with untreated control cells, the OD values were decreased and apoptotic rates were increased significantly in Panc-1 cells treated with any of the 3 concentrations of wogonin, and both effects presented a concentration-dependent manner (all P<0.05). Compared with control group of mice, the tumor graft growth in mice of wogonin treatment group, gemcitabine treatment group and combination treatment group were all remarkably suppressed, and the tumor suppression rate was 24.8%, 30.5% and 66.1% respectively, which was significantly higher in combination treatment group than that in either of the single-drug treatment groups (both P<0.05), but showed no statistical difference between the two single-drug treatment groups (P>0.05); the intratumoral CD31 (reflecting MVD) and VEGF expressions in all three treatment groups were significantly reduced with the degrees tending to be more evident in order of gemcitabine treatment group, wogonin group and combination treatment group, and the difference between any two groups had a statistical significance (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Wogonin can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro; in a certain degree, it can suppress the growth of pancreatic cancer in vivo and enhance the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to chemotherapy drugs which may be associated with its action of reducing tumor angiogenesis.