OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effect of apatinib combined with 5-fluorouracil（ 5-FU） on the proliferation

apoptosis and migration of gastric cancer AGS cells. METHODS: Western Blot method was adopted to evaluate the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2（ VEGFR2） in human gastric cancer AGS

MKN-45

SGC-7901 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cell（ HUVEC）. MTS method was used to determine the effect of blank control group

apatinib group

5-FU group and apatinib combined with 5-FU group on the proliferation of human gastric cancer AGS cells; Annexin V-FITC/PI staining flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis of the four groups of cells; Scratch test was used to determine the migration of AGS cells after drug treatment.RESULTS: Human AGS cells expressed VEGFR2. MTS results showed that compared with blank control group

apatinib group and 5-FU group

the combination of apatinib and 5-FU can significantly inhibit the proliferation of human gastric cancer AGS cells

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）; the inhibition of apatinib alone and 5-FU alone on the proliferation of AGS cells was in a time-dependent and dose-dependent. The results of double staining method showed that compared with blank control group

apatinib group and 5-FU group

the combination of apatinib and 5-FU can significantly induce the apoptosis of human gastric cancer AGS cells

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 001）; the total apoptosis rate was 45. 8%

mainly were advanced apoptotic cells. The results of scratch test showed that compared with blank control group

apatinib group and 5-FU group

the combination of apatinib and 5-FU can significantly inhibit the migration of AGS cells

with statistically significant differences（ P <0. 001）. CONCLUSIONS: Results of experiments in vitro indicate that the combination of apatinib and 5-FU can significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of human gastric cancer AGS cells

and induce cell apoptosis. This study can provide experimental evidence for the combined application of the above two drugs in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.