Synergistic Inhibition of Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth and Migration by Gemcitabine and Withaferin A

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies due to its aggressive nature and resistance to conventional therapies. This study investigates the anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-migratory effects of Gemcitabine (GC) and Withaferin A (WFA) on pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1 and Hs766t. The MTS assay revealed that both compounds effectively inhibit cell proliferation, with WFA showing a stronger effect in Hs766t cells. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that GC and WFA, particularly in combination, significantly induce apoptosis in both cell lines. Migration assays confirmed the potent inhibition of cell migration by both compounds, with the combination treatment being the most effective. Furthermore, actin cytoskeleton analysis indicated substantial changes in cell morphology and stiffness, suggesting that GC and WFA disrupt the structural integrity of cancer cells. Additionally, the study highlights a ROS-mediated mechanism underlying the effects of GC and WFA, as evidenced by increased ROS levels following treatment, which were attenuated by N-acetylcysteine. Importantly, NF-κB activity was significantly modulated, with WFA reducing NF-κB activation induced by GC, potentially contributing to the synergistic pro-apoptotic effect of the combination. These findings suggest that the combination of GC and WFA may offer a synergistic therapeutic approach for treating pancreatic cancer by targeting multiple aspects of tumor cell behavior.