Qingyihuaji formula reverses gemcitabine resistant human pancreatic cancer through regulate lncRNA AB209630/miR-373/EphB2-NANOG signals

To investigate the possible mechanism of Qingyihuaji formula (QYHJ) for reversing gemcitabine (GEM) resistant human pancreatic cancer. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were detected in CFPAC-1 cells. Xenograft mice established with CFPAC-1 through subcutaneous on 33 immunodeficient nude mice and randomly divided into four groups: vehicle, GEM (35 mg/kg), QYHJ (40 g/kg), and GEM + QYHJ (35 mg/kg + 40 g/kg) groups for 28-day treatment. Tumor growth and the mRNA expression of lncRNA AB209630, miR373, EphB2, and NANOG evaluated in dissected tumor tissue by real-time PCR, the CD133+ cancer stem cells were isolated by flow cytometer, and the changes of the tumor sphere forming were measured. QYHJ, especially the combination of GEM and QYHJ, was significantly inhibited the cell proliferation and migration of CFPAC-1 in vitro in the indicated times. The combination of GEM and QYHJ also remarkably promoted the cell apoptosis of CFPAC-1. QYHJ treatment effectively blocked the tumor growth in nude mice. QYHJ, especially GEM + QYHJ treatment, was significantly increased the mRNA expression of lncRNA AB209630, significantly decreased the mRNA levels of miR373, EphB2 and NANOG, and markedly reduced the tumor sphere formation and the numbers of CD133+ stem cells. In addition, GEM alone treatment had no significant effect in the above biomarker changes. QYHJ could effectivly enhance the antihuman pancreatic tumor activity of GEM, which may be through inhibiting pancreatic cancer stem cell differentiation by lncRNA AB209630/miR-373/EphB2-NANOG signaling pathway.