Synergistic effects of sorafenib and cilostazol in HepG2 cells.

Authors

Heba Effat, Omnia Mohamed, Marwa Sharaky, Sally Heikal, Shrouk Elshahawy, Eman Gayad

Published in

Journal of biosciences. Volume 51. Issue 35.

Abstract

Sorafenib, an established multi-kinase inhibitor, is a cornerstone treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the efficacy of combining sorafenib with cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor with emerging anticancer properties, in HepG2 cells. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and expression of VEGF, SMAD4, Bcl-2, TGF-beta, Bax, and caspase-3 were assessed. Combination treatment significantly reduced the IC50 of sorafenib and markedly decreased colony formation compared with either monotherapy. Enhanced apoptosis was observed through increased Bax and caspase-3 levels and reduced Bcl-2 expression. In addition, combined treatment produced potent anti-angiogenic effects through suppression of VEGF and TGF-beta. These findings demonstrate a synergistic interaction between sorafenib and cilostazol and suggest that this combination may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma management.

PMID:
42683851
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Sep 2026.

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