Open Access

Itraconazole improves survival outcomes in patients with colon cancer by inducing autophagic cell death and inhibiting transketolase expression

  • Authors:
    • Pei-Wen Shen
    • Yu-Mei Chou
    • Chia-Ling Li
    • En-Chih Liao
    • Hung-Sen Huang
    • Chun-Hao Yin
    • Chien-Liang Chen
    • Sheng-Jie Yu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 8, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.13029
  • Article Number: 768
  • Copyright: © Shen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The incidence of colon cancer continues to increase annually, and it is the leading cause of cancer‑associated mortality worldwide. Altering cell metabolism and inducing autophagic cell death have recently emerged as novel strategies in preventing tumor growth. Autophagy plays an essential role in energy production by degrading damaged cellular components and is also associated with tumor proliferation suppression. Itraconazole is an FDA‑approved drug used as an antifungal medication and has been reported to induce autophagic cell death in breast cancer. However, the effects of itraconazole on cell metabolism and induction of apoptosis in colon cancer remain unclear. The present study analyzed extensive data from patients diagnosed with colon cancer using itraconazole between January 2011 and December 2015, from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. The underlying molecular mechanisms of itraconazole in autophagy‑induced cell death were also investigated. The results demonstrated that the 5‑year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with colon cancer who received itraconazole treatment. In addition, itraconazole decreased the viability and cell colony formation, and induced cleaved caspase‑3 expression and G1 cell cycle arrest of COLO 205 and HCT 116 cells. Notably, itraconazole induced autophagy by enhancing LC3B and p62 expression. Following LC3 knockdown, the viability of itraconazole‑treated COLO 205 and HCT 116 cells notably improved. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that itraconazole may have a beneficial effect on patients with colon cancer, and its underlying molecular mechanisms may be associated with the induction of autophagic cell death.
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November-2021
Volume 22 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
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Spandidos Publications style
Shen P, Chou Y, Li C, Liao E, Huang H, Yin C, Chen C and Yu S: Itraconazole improves survival outcomes in patients with colon cancer by inducing autophagic cell death and inhibiting transketolase expression. Oncol Lett 22: 768, 2021
APA
Shen, P., Chou, Y., Li, C., Liao, E., Huang, H., Yin, C. ... Yu, S. (2021). Itraconazole improves survival outcomes in patients with colon cancer by inducing autophagic cell death and inhibiting transketolase expression. Oncology Letters, 22, 768. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.13029
MLA
Shen, P., Chou, Y., Li, C., Liao, E., Huang, H., Yin, C., Chen, C., Yu, S."Itraconazole improves survival outcomes in patients with colon cancer by inducing autophagic cell death and inhibiting transketolase expression". Oncology Letters 22.5 (2021): 768.
Chicago
Shen, P., Chou, Y., Li, C., Liao, E., Huang, H., Yin, C., Chen, C., Yu, S."Itraconazole improves survival outcomes in patients with colon cancer by inducing autophagic cell death and inhibiting transketolase expression". Oncology Letters 22, no. 5 (2021): 768. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.13029