Fig. 3

The differential combinatory effects of local anesthetics on esophageal carcinoma cell migration, growth and survival. a Bupivacaine (Bup) and ropivacaine (Rop) but not mepivacaine (Mep) or lidocaine (Li) significantly augment the effects of 5-FU and paclitaxel in decreasing esophageal carcinoma cell migration. 100 μM of mepivacaine and lidocaine, 50 μM of ropivacaine and 10 μM of bupivacaine were used. All four local anesthetics significantly augment the effects of 5-FU and paclitaxel in decreasing esophageal carcinoma cell in inhibiting proliferation (b) and inducing apoptosis (c). 2.5 mM of mepivacaine, ropivacaine and lidocaine, and 0.5 mM of bupivacaine were used in proliferation assay. 12.5 mM of mepivacaine, ropivacaine and lidocaine, and 2.5 mM of bupivacaine were used in apoptosis assay. 5-FU at 100 nM and paclitaxel at 50 nM were used for the combination studies in migration, proliferation and apoptosis assays. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, compared to paclitaxel or 5-FU alone. All experiments were independently performed at least three times