Evidence mapPaperPMID 41721997Full record

ArticleMedical oncology (Northwood, London, England)2026

Elbasvir triggers ferroptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy.

Maoju Tang, Feng Gong, Miyuan Yang, Shuang He, Jiao Cheng, Zhiheng Yang, Lei Xu, Qiang Ma, Xiaolan Guo, Xiaowu Zhong

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Article in Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Maoju Tang *Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China.
Feng Gong *School of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China.
Miyuan Yang *Department of Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Anzhen Nanchong Hospital of Capital Medical University & Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, 637000, China.
Shuang HeSchool of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China.
Jiao ChengSchool of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China.
Zhiheng YangSchool of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China.
Lei XuTranslational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China.
Qiang MaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China.
Xiaolan GuoDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China. alan5200@hotmail.com.
Xiaowu ZhongDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China. zhongxw31@nsmc.edu.cn.

Funding

Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College 2023-2ZD002Medical Research Project of Sichuan S23020North Sichuan Medical College CBY22-ZDA03Science and Technology Support Program 25NSFSC2024Scientific Research Development Plan Project 2024PTZK004the Scientific Research Development Plan Project CBY24-QDA27
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains treatment-resistant; we explored Elbasvir, an NS5A inhibitor, as a ferroptosis inducer. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assays. Apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed via flow cytometry, and key markers via Western blotting. In vivo efficacy was evaluated using BALB/c nude mouse xenografts. Proteomic analysis was conducted by mass spectrometry. Ferroptosis induction was verified via TEM, JC-1, FerroOrange, DCFH-DA, MDA assays, and Western blotting of NCOA4, Ferritin, and FTH1. Binding to NCOA4 was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assays. Elbasvir (40 µM, 48 h) suppressed KYSE150/TE1 viability, induced apoptosis/G0/G1 arrest, and inhibited xenograft growth without toxicity. Proteomics identified ferroptosis as the top pathway. SPR/DARTS confirmed NCOA4 binding. NCOA4 knockdown reduced ferroptosis; overexpression enhanced it. Elbasvir triggered NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy, FTH1 degradation, iron accumulation, and lipid peroxidation. Elbasvir targets NCOA4-FTH1 to induce ferroptosis, offering a repurpose strategy for ESCC. Its safety profile supports clinical translation, with potential applications in iron metabolism-dependent cancers.

Indexed as

BenzofuransEsophageal NeoplasmsEsophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaFerritinsFerroptosisImidazolesNuclear Receptor CoactivatorsAnimalsAutophagyCell Line, TumorCell SurvivalHumansMiceMice, Inbred BALB CMice, NudeOxidoreductasesBenzofuransFerritinsFTH1 protein, humanImidazolesNCOA4 protein, humanNuclear Receptor CoactivatorsOxidoreductasesElbasvirEsophageal squamous cell carcinomaFerroptosisFTH1NCOA4Targeted therapy

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.