ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of dipyridamole (DP), one of the human equilibrative nucleoside transporters (hENTs) blockers, on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle changes of the pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cell line. MethodsPancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 was divided into hENTs blocked group and hENTs unblocked group. The hENTs blocked group was further divided into two subgroups according to the DP concentration, 5 μmol/L DP group and 10 μmol/L DP group. Each group was incubated in culture medium with or without 1.5×106 ng/L 5-FU for 24 h. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Results①The apoptosis results of each group： Incubated in culture medium with 1.5×106 ng/L 5-FU for 24 h, the apoptosis rates of 5 μmol/L DP group and 10 μmol/L DP group were higer than those of hENTs unblocked group （Plt;0.05）, and which of 10 μmol/L DP group was higer than that of 5 μmol/L DP group (Plt;0.05). Incubated in culture medium without 5-FU for 24 h, there were no significant differences of the apoptosis rates among three groups (Pgt;0.05). ②The cell cycle results of each group: Incubated in culture medium with 1.5×106 ng/L 5-FU for 24 h, the percentages of S phase cells in the 5 μmol/L DP group and 10 μmol/L DP group were less than those of hENTs unblocked group (Plt;0.05). The percentage of S phase cell of 5 μmol/L DP group reduced to 87.09% and that of 10 μmol/L DP group reduced to 74.06% as compared with hENTs unblocked group. 5-FU had little influence on G2 phase (Pgt;0.05) except for the percentage of G2 phase cells in the 5 μmol/L DP group increased significantly (Plt;0.05) as compared with the hENTs unblocked group. Incubated in culture medium without 5-FU for 24 h, there were no significant differences of the cell cycles among three groups (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionsIn pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cell, DP could enhance the cytotoxicity of 5-FU by blocking hENTs. The enhanced cytotoxicity is related to elevation of 5-FU concentration in cells, and unrelated to DP itself.