ArticleOncology letters2019
Shikonin potentiates paclitaxel antitumor efficacy in esophageal cancer cells via the apoptotic pathway.
Article in Oncology letters, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Modulation of TLR/NF-κB/NLRP Signaling by Bioactive Phytocompounds: A Promising Strategy to Augment Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy.Frontiers in oncology · 2022Pooled it
- Development and validation of an m6A and autophagy related lncRNAs signature for predicting survival and modulating the immune microenvironment in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
- Shikonin as a Dietary Phytochemical with Multi-Target Anti-Cancer Activities: From Molecular Mechanisms to Translational Applications.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Deciphering anti-colorectal cancer potential of Avicennia alba bioactives via network pharmacology and in vitro validation.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Natural Plant-Derived Compounds in Food and Cosmetics: A Paradigm of Shikonin and Its Derivatives.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Shikonin inhibits the proliferation of cervical cancer cells via FAK/AKT/GSK3β signalling.Oncology letters · 2022Article
- Ursolic Acid Accelerates Paclitaxel-Induced Cell Death in Esophageal Cancer Cells by Suppressing Akt/FOXM1 Signaling Cascade.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Article
- Article
- Programmed cell death, redox imbalance, and cancer therapeutics.Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death · 2021Review
- Shikonin Reduces Growth of Docetaxel-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells Mainly through Necroptosis.Cancers · 2021Article
- Shikonin Inhibits Tumor Growth of ESCC by suppressing PKM2 mediated Aerobic Glycolysis and STAT3 Phosphorylation.Journal of Cancer · 2021Article
- Design, synthesis and anticancer activity of naphthoquinone derivatives.Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Shikonin is a natural naphthoquinone pigment that can suppress the growth of a number of cancer cell types. Paclitaxel is an antineoplastic chemotherapy drug, which is used for the treatment of various types of solid tumor cancer. However, acquired paclitaxel resistance results in the failure of therapy, and consequent metastasis and relapse. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether shikonin can sensitize esophageal cancer cells to paclitaxel-treatment and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The biological effects of these two agents on esophageal cancer cell lines KYSE270 and KYSE150 were investigated by MTT assay, cell cycle analysis, Annexin-V apoptosis assay, western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results demonstrated that shikonin could significantly increase the cell growth inhibition effect induced by paclitaxel in the examined cell lines (P<0.001). The addition of shikonin to paclitaxel promoted cancer cell mitotic arrest and induced significantly higher levels of cell apoptosis. Notably, the mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 were downregulated, while p53 was upregulated in KYSE270 and KYSE150 cells following combined treatment. In summary, shikonin can sensitize esophageal cancer cells to paclitaxel-treatment by promoting cell mitotic arrest and reinforcing the susceptibility of esophageal cancer cells to apoptosis induced by paclitaxel, which is potentially associated with altered levels of Bcl-2 and p53.
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