Evidence mapPaperPMID 41920258Full record

ArticleChinese journal of integrative medicine2026

Icaritin Disrupts Cholesterol Biosynthesis and Induce Cell Death in Pancreatic Carcinoma: A Transcriptomic and Lipidomic Analysis.

Wen-Cheng Wei, Hao Wang, Dan Shi, Li-Sha Ai, Hui Liu

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Article in Chinese journal of integrative medicine, 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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5 authors.

Wen-Cheng WeiDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Pingshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518100, China.
Hao WangMaternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Bao'an Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518060, China.
Dan ShiMaternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Bao'an Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518060, China.
Li-Sha AiDepartment of Research Affairs, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518000, China.
Hui LiuDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Pingshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518100, China. liuhui.med@gmail.com.

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6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo explore the effects of icaritin on pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and the mechanisms underlying cell death.

methodsTranscriptomic and lipidomic analyses were performed on the pancreatic cancer cell lines pancreatic carcinoma 1 (PANC-1) and ascites of the pancreas carcinoma 1 (ASPC1) treated with icaritin (0, 25 µ, mol/L) to profile global gene expression and lipid metabolism alterations. Key cholesterol biosynthesis genes were validated via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Additionally, cell viability was assessed using luminescent assays, while cytoplasmic vacuolization (paraptosis marker) was observed microscopically. Total cholesterol levels were quantified enzymatically, and lipid species (e.g., phosphatidylcholine, triglycerides) were analyzed by principal component analysis and pathway enrichment.

resultsIcaritin significantly altered lipid metabolism in pancreatic cancer cells by elevating membrane lipids such as phosphatidylcholine, ceramide, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylethanolamines (P<0.05). Concurrently, it reduced the levels of energy-supplying lipids including triglycerides, diglycerides, and acylcarnitines (P<0.05). There was also a notable decrease in cholesteryl ester 24:1 levels, which is consistent with the suppression of cholesterol biosynthesis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Icaritin inhibited the proliferation of PANC-1 and ASPC1 cells by downregulating key cholesterol biosynthesis genes, such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and squalene epoxidase genes (P<0.01).

conclusionsIcaritin disrupts lipid metabolism and inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis in pancreatic cancer cells, leading to non-apoptotic cell death. This novel mechanism of action provides new therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and highlights its potential as a targeted anticancer agent.

Indexed as

CholesterolFlavonoidsLipidomicsPancreatic NeoplasmsTranscriptomeCell DeathCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationCell SurvivalGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansLipid MetabolismCholesterolFlavonoidsicaritincell deathChinese medicinecholesterol biosynthesisicaritinlipid metabolismpancreatic carcinoma

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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.