Multiscale screening and identifying specific targets for artesunate in suppressing bladder cancer.

Background: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a highly aggressive urinary malignancy with high mortality in advanced stages, posing a significant health risk. Artesunate (ART), a derivative of artemisinin, has been demonstrated with potent anti-tumor activity in some studies, yet its specific targets for BLCA and the molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Purpose: This study screened potential targets of ART against BLCA through network pharmacology, followed by molecular docking simulations and experimental validation Methods: This study identified the critical targets of BLCA and ART by employing multiscale screening from public databases, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Molecular docking simulations confirmed the stable binding of ART to the identified tumor-related targets promoting BLCA progression. These computational findings were further validated through experiments Results: Based on network pharmacology analysis, the effects of ART on BLCA were multifaceted. Molecular docking simulations confirmed the binding stability of ART with core targets. The experiments Conclusion: This study identified the mechanism by which ART inhibited BLCA through multiple specific targets, revealing its potential anti-cancer pathways and laying the foundation for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine in BLCA therapy.