Tanshinone IIA inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer BxPC‑3 cells by decreasing protein expression of TCTP, MCL‑1 and Bcl‑xL.

Pancreatic cancer remains a challenging disease worldwide. Tanshinone IIA (Tan‑IIA) is one of the active constituents of Danshen (Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae). Tan‑IIA has been hypothesized to inhibit numerous human cancer cells by various molecular mechanisms. However, the efficacy and molecular mechanism of Tan‑IIA action in pancreatic cancer has not been well studied. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of Tan‑IIA in human pancreatic cancer BxPC‑3 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell cycle analysis of BxPC‑3 cells treated with Tan‑IIA was performed by flow cytometry (FACS). Protein expression levels of TCTP, Mcl‑1, Bcl‑xL, Bax and Caspase‑3 in BxPC‑3 cells were measured by western blot analysis. The results revealed that Tan‑IIA inhibited BxPC‑3 cells in a time‑ and dose‑dependent manner. FACS analysis demonstrated that Tan‑IIA increases the rate of sub‑G1 phase. BxPC‑3 cells treated with Tan‑IIA were identified to upregulate protein expression of Bax and Caspase‑3 and downregulate expression of TCTP, Mcl‑1 and Bcl‑xL. These results indicate that Tan‑IIA may inhibit BxPC‑3 human pancreatic cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis by decreasing protein expression of TCTP, Mcl‑1 and Bcl‑xL and increasing Bax expression in vitro. The chemotherapeutic potential of Tan‑IIA for human pancreatic cancer warrants further study.