Ginsenoside Rg3 inhibition of vasculogenic mimicry in pancreatic cancer through downregulation of VE-cadherin/EphA2/MMP9/MMP2 expression

Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), a trace tetracyclic triterpenoid saponin, is extracted from ginseng and shown to have anticancer activity against several types of cancers. This study explored the effect of Rg3 on pancreatic cancer vasculogenic mimicry. Altered vasculogenic mimicry formation was assessed using immunohistochemistry and PAS staining and associated with the expression of vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin), epithelial cell kinase (EphA2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. The effect of Rg3 on the regulation of pancreatic cancer vasculogenic mimicry was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The data showed vasculogenic mimicry in pancreatic cancer tissues. In addition, the expression of VE-cadherin, EphA2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins associated with formation of pancreatic cancer vasculogenic mimicry. Rg3 treatment reduced the levels of vasculogenic mimicry in nude mouse xenografts in vitro and in vivo, while the expression of VE-cadherin, EphA2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA and proteins was downregulated by Rg3 treatment in vitro and in tumor xenografts. In conclusion, ginsenoside Rg3 effectively inhibited the formation of pancreatic cancer vasculogenic mimicry by downregulating the expression of VE-cadherin, EphA2, MMP9 and MMP2. Further studies are required to evaluate ginsenoside Rg3 as an agent to control pancreatic cancer.