Both immunohistochemistry analysis and Western blot analysis revealed that gemcitabine up-regulated the expression of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, eNOS, and NF-κB in orthotopically thanspanted tumors compared to the control group (P<0.05), whereas emodin alone or combined with gemcitabine down-regulated the expression of angiogenesis-associated factors (VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, eNOS, and NF-κB) in pancreatic cancer tissues (P<0.05). Here, VEGFA is linked to familial pancreatic carcinoma.