Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39225209›Full record

ArticleAnti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry2025

Novel Celecoxib Derivative, RF26, Blocks Colon Cancer Cell Growth by Inhibiting PDE5, Activating cGMP/PKG Signaling, and Suppressing β-catenin-dependent Transcription.

Sara Sigler, Mohammad Abdel-Halim, Reem K Fathalla, Luciana Madeira Da Silva, Adam B Keeton, Yulia Y Maxuitenko, Kristy L Berry, Gang Zhou, Matthias Engel, Ashraf H Abadi and 1 more

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Article in Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Celecoxib in oncology: targeting the COX-2/PGEFrontiers in pharmacology · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Sara SiglerDepartment of Pharmacology, Drug Discovery Research Center, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, 36608, USA.
Mohammad Abdel-HalimDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.ORCID 0000-0003-1326-4219
Reem K FathallaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
Luciana Madeira Da SilvaDepartment of Pharmacology, Drug Discovery Research Center, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, 36608, USA.
Adam B KeetonDepartment of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36832, United States.
Yulia Y MaxuitenkoDepartment of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36832, United States.
Kristy L BerryDepartment of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36832, United States.
Gang ZhouGeorgia Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA 30912, United States.
Matthias EngelPharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2.3, D-66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
Ashraf H AbadiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
Gary A PiazzaDepartment of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36832, United States.

Funding

National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health 1R01CA131378, 1RO1CA148817, 1RO1CA197147, 1RO1CA155638
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevious studies have reported that the cGMP-specific PDE5 isozyme is overexpressed in colon adenomas and adenocarcinomas and essential for colon cancer cell proliferation, while PDE5 selective inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil) have been reported to have cancer chemopreventive activity.

aimThis study aimed to determine the anticancer activity of a novel PDE5 inhibitor, RF26, using colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and the role of PDE5 in CRC tumor growth

objectiveThe objective of this study was to characterize the anticancer activity of a novel celecoxib derivative, RF26, in CRC cells previously reported to lack COX-2 inhibition but have potent PDE5 inhibitory activity.

methodsAnticancer activity of RF26 was studied using human CRC cell lines. Effects on cell growth, cGMPdependent protein kinase (PKG) activity, β-catenin levels, TCF/LEF transcriptional activity, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis were measured. CRISPR/cas9 PDE5 knockout techniques were used to determine if PDE5 mediates the anticancer activity of RF26 and validate PDE5 as a cancer target.

resultsRF26 was appreciably more potent than celecoxib and sildenafil to suppress CRC cell growth and was effective at concentrations that activated PKG signaling. RF26 suppressed β-catenin levels and TCF/LEF transcriptional activity and induced G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis within the same concentration range. CRISPR/cas9 PDE5 knockout CRC cells displayed reduced sensitivity to RF26, proliferated slower than parental cells, and failed to establish tumors in mice.

conclusionFurther evaluation of RF26 for the prevention or treatment of cancer and studying the role of PDE5 in tumorigenesis are warranted.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Agentsbeta CateninCelecoxibColonic NeoplasmsCyclic GMPCyclic GMP-Dependent Protein KinasesCyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5Phosphodiesterase 5 InhibitorsAnimalsApoptosisCell ProliferationDose-Response Relationship, DrugDrug Screening Assays, AntitumorHumansMiceMolecular StructureAntineoplastic Agentsbeta CateninCelecoxibCyclic GMPCyclic GMP-Dependent Protein KinasesCyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5Phosphodiesterase 5 InhibitorscelecoxibcGMPcolorectal cancerPDE5PKGpyrazolines.β-catenin

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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 OpenQuestion graph.