Fig. 6

AKT mediates ROS-induced STAT3 activation induced by gemcitabine and low-dose VPA. a Two pancreatic cancer cell lines were treated with VPA (0.5 mM or 5 mM) for 12 h, followed by cotreatment with gemcitabine for 24 h. The expression levels of p-AKT, AKT, p-p38, and p38 were determined by western blot analysis. b PANC-1 and Patu8988 cells were pretreated with 20 μm of LY294002 for 2 h, followed by gemcitabine and 0.5 mM of VPA treatment separately and combined; the expression of Bmi1, p-AKT and AKT was detected by western blot analysis. c After pretreatment with 10 mM of NAC or 20 μm of LY294002 for 2 h, followed by gemcitabine and 0.5 mM of VPA treatment separately and combined, the changes in p-STAT3, STAT3, p-AKT and AKT were examined by western blot analysis. d Two pancreatic cancer cell lines were pretreated with 20 μm of LY294002, followed by gemcitabine and 0.5 mM of VPA cotreatment. The migratory and invasive abilities were examined by Transwell migration/invasion assays. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 compared with the control