OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of betulinic acid (BA) on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis and cell cycle of pancreatic cancer cells (BxPC-3) in vitro and elucidate the underlying.

METHODThe effect of BA on the proliferation of BxPC-3 was measured by using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Migratory ability of BxPC3 cells were detected by wound healing assay, and the morphological change was observed with light microscope. The influence of BA on cell cycle of BxPC-3 cells was tested by flow cytometry (FCM). Apoptosis was analyzed by using Hochest33342-PI double staining. Western blot technologies were applied to detect the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

RESULTBA exhibited significant cell proliferation and migration inhibition, as well as its potency of inducing apoptosis in BxPC-3 cells in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 value for 72 h was 16.54 mg x L(-1). Cell migration was significantly inhibited at 5 mg x L(-1) of BA. Cells treated with BA showed increased cell population in G0 phase, with decreased G2/M phase population. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was up and down-regulated respectively in BA-treated BxPC-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONBA exerted potent effect on growth inhibition, G0 cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in BxPC-3 cells in vitro, possibly associated with the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax expression. The potent antitumor capacity of BA suggested that it could be a promising new anticancer agent in human pancreatic cancer treatment.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism