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Objective To investigate the effects of metformin combined with gemcitabine on the proliferation，migra⁃ tion，and epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT）of pancreatic cancer cells. Methods The pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells were selected and subcultured. The cell proliferation activity was measured by MTT assay when the final metformin concentrations were 0，5，10，20，40 mmol/L or the final gemcitabine concentrations were 0，0. 1，0. 2，0. 4，0. 8 μmol/L， and the follow-up experiments were carried out with the concentrations of metformin and gemcitabine that could reduce the cell proliferation activity to about 50%. Besides，PANC-1 cells were selected again and were randomly divided into three groups：the control group，metformin group，gemcitabine group，and combination group. The cells were treated with met⁃ formin or/and gemcitabine. The cell migration rate was measured by cell scratch assay. The expression levels of E-cad⁃ herin and Vimentin was detected by Western blotting. Results The proliferation activity of PANC-1 cells decreased with the increased concentrations of metformin and gemcitabine，in a concentration-dependent manner（F= 29. 14，66. 88， both P<0. 01）. After giving metformin（20 mmol/L）and gemcitabine（0. 4 μmol/L），the proliferation activity of PANC-1 cells decreased to about 50%，so the follow-up experiments were conducted with these concentrations. The cell migration rates and the expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin in the metformin group，gemcitabine group，and combination group were lower than those in the control group；the cell migration rate and the expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimen⁃ tin in the combination group were lower than those in the metformin and gemcitabine groups（all P<0. 05）. There was no significant difference in the cell migration rate or expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin between the metformin group and gemcitabine group（all P>0. 05）. Conclusion The combination therapy of metformin and gemcitabine can inhibit the proliferation，migration and EMT of pancreatic cancer cells，and metformin improves the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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