ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the effects of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer (PaCa) cells and the the possible mechanism involved.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>ADSCs were isolated and co-cultured with PaCa cells. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of PaCa cells. An ELISA was used to determine the concentration of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in the supernatants. The proliferation of PaCa cells by SDF-1 was measured. AMD3100 regulated the co-culture of ADSCs and PaCa. The tumor growth of PaCa cells was assessed after treatment by ADSCs in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ADSCs can promote the proliferation and invasion of PaCa cells (proliferation: SW1990: 1.535 ± 0.153; PANC-1: 1.370 ± 0.100; the value of control was 1; invasion: SW1990: 47.0 ± 2.6 vs. 28.3 ± 1.3; PANC-1: 40.3 ± 1.8 vs. 24.3 ± 1.3; t = 4.332-9.558, P < 0.05). The expression of SDF-1 was high in ADSCs, but not in PaCa cells (69 ± 5 vs. 0 and 0, F = 389.134, P < 0.01). The promotion of SDF-1 on PaCa cells depends on the concentration. AMD3100 significantly downregulates these growth-promoting effects of ADSCs on PaCa cells. ADSCs significantly promoted the growth of SW1990 in nude mice at the 5(th) week (volume: (1295 ± 102) mm(3) vs. (967 ± 81) mm(3), t = 5.614, P < 0.05) , but not in PANC-1 cell.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ADSCs can promote the proliferation and invasion of PaCa cells, which may involve the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.</p>