Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40486881›Full record

ArticleOncology research2025

Apatinib modulates sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma through inhibiting the EGFR/JNK/ERK signaling pathway.

Dexue Fan, Wei Su, Zhaowen Bi, Xinxing Wang, Xianwen Xu, Mingze Ma, Lichao Zhu, Zhenhai Zhang, Junlin Gao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Oncology research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Dexue FanDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China.
Wei SuLiver Gall Bladder and Pancreatic Surgery Ward, Qinghai Red Cross Hospital, Xining, 810001, China.
Zhaowen BiDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
Xinxing WangDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China.
Xianwen XuDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China.
Mingze MaDepartments of Infectious Diseases, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China.
Lichao ZhuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
Zhenhai ZhangDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China.
Junlin GaoLiver Gall Bladder and Pancreatic Surgery Ward, Qinghai Red Cross Hospital, Xining, 810001, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Apatinib has been reported to be a promising treatment for sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, the underlying mechanism remains ambiguous. The study aimed to explore the efficacy of apatinib in sorafenib-resistant HCC and the underlying mechanism both Methods: After observing epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) changes in HepG2 and HepG2/Sorafenib cells, we treated them with varying concentrations of apatinib to assess its impact on sorafenib-resistant HCC. Subsequently, specific inhibitors of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK, SP600125) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK, PD98059) were introduced to investigate whether apatinib influenced sorafenib-resistant HCC via modulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/JNK/ERK signaling pathway Results: The HepG2/Sorafenib cells exhibited greater resistance to sorafenib compared to HepG2 cells, and sorafenib-resistant HCC was characterized by EMT changes. Apatinib demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of biological behaviors in HepG2/Sorafenib cells, with minimal impact on HepG2 cells. Additionally, apatinib had a pronounced effect on the expression of EMT-related proteins in sorafenib-resistant cells similar to that in sorafenib-sensitive cells. Furthermore, there was a dose-dependent reduction in the expression of proteins associated with the EGFR/JNK/ERK pathway in apatinib-treated groups. Notably, SP600125 and PD98059 contributed to the inhibition of EMT and EGFR/JNK/ERK pathway-related proteins by apatinib in sorafenib-resistant HCC. Conclusion: Apatinib potentially hindered the progression of sorafenib-resistant HCC by suppressing both EMT and the EGFR/JNK/ERK pathway.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularDrug Resistance, NeoplasmLiver NeoplasmsMAP Kinase Signaling SystemPyridinesSorafenibAnimalsAntineoplastic AgentsCell ProliferationEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionErbB ReceptorsHep G2 CellsHumansMiceProtein Kinase InhibitorsSignal TransductionAntineoplastic AgentsapatinibEGFR protein, humanErbB ReceptorsProtein Kinase InhibitorsPyridinesSorafenibApatinibEGFR/JNK/ERKEpithelial mesenchymal transformationHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)Sorafenib resistance

Identifiers

PMID40486881
PMCPMC12144613

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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.