In accordance to the results of immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, the mRNA expression of NF-κB, VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9 and eNOS in pancreatic cancer tissue were up-regulated in the gemcitabine group, but down-regulated in the emodin group and the combination group compared to the control group in pancreatic cancer tissues (P<0.05) (Fig. 10A, B). Here, MMP9 is linked to familial pancreatic carcinoma.