Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40124275›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of gastroenterology2025

Apatinib regulates the glycolysis of vascular endothelial cells through PI3K/AKT/PFKFB3 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Yi Wu, Bin-Bin Xie, Bing-Liang Zhang, Qing-Xin Zhuang, Shi-Wei Liu, Hong-Ming Pan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in World journal of gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Exercise inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells via the POU2F2-SPOCD1-PI3K/AKT signaling axis.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
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

6 authors.

Yi WuDivision of Cancer Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Medical Center, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang Province, China.
Bin-Bin XieDivision of Cancer Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Medical Center, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang Province, China.
Bing-Liang ZhangSection of Oncology, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750000, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
Qing-Xin ZhuangSection of Oncology, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750000, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
Shi-Wei LiuSection of Oncology, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750000, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
Hong-Ming PanDivision of Cancer Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Medical Center, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang Province, China. panhongming@zju.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent and aggressive malignancy in the Chinese population; the severe vascularization by the tumor makes it difficult to cure. The high incidence and poor survival rates of this disease indicate the search for new therapeutic alternatives. Apatinib became a drug of choice because it inhibits tyrosine kinase activity, mainly through an effect on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, thereby preventing tumor angiogenesis. This mechanism of action makes apatinib effective in the treatment of HCC.

aimTo investigate the effect of apatinib on the glycolysis of vascular endothelial cells (VECs).

methodsThis present study has investigated the effects of HCC cells on VECs, paying particular attention to changes in the glycolytic activity of VECs. The co-culture system established in the present study examined key cellular functions such as extracellular acidification rate and oxygen consumption rate. It also discusses participation of apatinib in the above processes. Core to the findings is the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) signaling pathway, emphasizing the function of phosphorylated AKT and its interaction with PFKFB3, an essential regulator of glycolysis. In the investigation, molecular mechanisms by which such a pathway could influence the above VECs functions of proliferation, migration, and tube formation were underlined through coimmunoprecipitation analysis. Besides, supplementary

resultsThe glycolytic metabolism in VECs co-cultured with HCC cells is highly active, and the increased glycolysis in these endothelial cells accelerates the malignant transformation of HCC cells. Apatinib has been shown to inhibit this glycolytic activity in the VECs. It also hinders the development, multiplication, and movement of these cells while encouraging their programmed cell death. Moreover, biological analysis revealed that apatinib mainly influences VECs by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Subsequent research indicated that apatinib blocks the PI3K/AKT/PFKEB3 pathway, which in turn reduces glycolysis in these cells.

conclusionApatinib influences the glycolytic pathway in the VECs of HCC a through the PI3K/AKT/PFKFB3 signaling pathway.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsCarcinoma, HepatocellularEndothelial CellsGlycolysisLiver NeoplasmsPyridinesAnimalsCell Line, TumorCell MovementCell ProliferationCoculture TechniquesHumansMiceMice, NudeNeovascularization, PathologicPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinaseAntineoplastic AgentsapatinibPFKFB3 protein, humanPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasePhosphofructokinase-2Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktPyridines6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3ApatinibGlycolysisHepatocellular carcinomaPhosphatidylinositol 3-kinaseProtein kinase BVascular endothelial cells

Identifiers

PMID40124275
PMCPMC11924011

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.