Abstract: AIM: To observe effects of 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin and epirubicin on human pancreatic carcinoma cell line Aspc-1 and Bxpc-3. METHODS: The MTT assay and median-effect principle were used to observe the effects. RESULTS: The effects of the individual or combined drugs were enhanced as drug concentration increased.The interaction between 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin was synergistic at higher concentration (CI <1) and antagonistic at lower concentration (CI >1), but between mitomycin and epirubicin, it was slight antagonistic on Aspc-1.The interactions between 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin, mitomycin and epirubicin were synergistic at lower concentration (CI <1) and antagonistic at higher concentration (CI >1) on Bxpc-3.The interaction between 5-fluorouracil and epirubicin was slight antagonistic on both cell line. CONCLUSION: Increment of the local drug concentration by intraarterial infusion or consecutive arterial infusion through the reserved catheter can improve the chemotherapeutic efficiency of pancreatic carcinoma.The interactions between the drugs are related to the drugs concentration, different drugs and cell line.

Key words: median-effcetprinciple, Aspc-1, Bxpc-3, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin, epirubicin, combined chemotherapy