Imipramine-induced Apoptosis and Metastasis Inhibition in Human Bladder Cancer T24 Cells Through EGFR/ERK/NF-κB Pathway Suppression
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIM: Bladder cancer is a prevalent malignancy, ranging from superficial forms to more aggressive types that invade the muscle and require extensive treatment. Imipramine, traditionally used as an antidepressant, has shown potential as an anti-cancer agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, human bladder cancer T24 cells were treated with varying concentrations of imipramine to evaluate its cytotoxic and apoptotic effects. RESULTS: Imipramine induced cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner, significantly increasing apoptosis as shown by Annexin-V/PI staining and TUNEL assay. The drug also up-regulated cleaved caspase-3 and down-regulated the anti-apoptotic factor XIAP. Moreover, imipramine activated both extrinsic/intrinsic apoptotic pathways, evidenced by the increased expression of Fas, FasL, cleaved caspase-8, and cleaved caspase-9, along with mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production. Imipramine inhibited the migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells, likely through the down-regulation of metastasis-related proteins and suppression of the EGFR/ERK/NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Imipramine could be a promising therapeutic agent for bladder cancer.
Source: In Vivo
Authors: WEI-SHU WANG, YU-CHANG LIU, TSAI-LIN LO, FEI-TING HSU, CHIH-HUNG CHIANG
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4407967187