Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40708305›Full record

ArticleGut and liver2026

Disulfiram/Copper Complex Induces Cytotoxicity in Pancreatic Cancer Cells and 5-Fluorouracil-Resistant Cells through Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor-2 Suppression and Reactive Oxygen Species Modulation.

Eun Kyoung Kim, Cheong Ran Je, Sung Ill Jang, Jung Hyun Jo, See Young Lee, Young Ju Lee, Jae Hee Cho

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gut and liver, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

7 authors.

Eun Kyoung KimDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0009-0007-1604-8833
Cheong Ran JeDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0009-0003-0252-8992
Sung Ill JangDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0003-4937-6167
Jung Hyun JoDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-2641-8873
See Young LeeDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-7293-3518
Young Ju LeeDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0009-0000-2617-5894
Jae Hee ChoDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0003-4174-0091

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background/Aims: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenging cancer to treat and has a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. In this study, the anticancer effects of disulfiram combined with copper (DSF/Cu) on PDAC cells, including those resistant to 5-fluorouracil, was assessed. Methods: Human pancreatic cancer cells (BxPC-3 and CFPAC-1) and their 5-fluorouracil-resistant (5FUR) counterparts were treated with DSF/Cu to assess cytotoxicity. Expression levels of nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (NRF-2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, while intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were evaluated using H2DCFDA staining and flow cytometry. The effects of DSF/Cu on protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results: We demonstrated that DSF/Cu effectively induced cytotoxicity in both pancreatic cancer cells and their 5FUR counterparts by modulating ROS levels, NRF-2 levels, and associated survival pathways. DSF/Cu treatment significantly decreased NRF-2 expression and reduced ROS levels, specifically in 5FUR cells. DSF/Cu facilitated NRF-2-independent HO-1 expression and differentially modulated Akt and MAPK signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer cells and their 5FUR counterparts. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of DSF/Cu as a novel and effective therapeutic strategy for PDAC, specifically for overcoming resistance to standard therapies.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Pancreatic DuctalCopperDisulfiramNF-E2-Related Factor 2Pancreatic NeoplasmsReactive Oxygen SpeciesAnimalsCell Line, TumorDrug Resistance, NeoplasmFluorouracilHumansMiceMice, NudeXenograft Model Antitumor AssaysCopperDisulfiramFluorouracilNFE2L2 protein, humanNF-E2-Related Factor 2Reactive Oxygen SpeciesCopperDisulfiramFluorouracilNF-E2-related factor 2Pancreatic neoplasms

Identifiers

PMID40708305
PMCPMC13180513

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Registered trials

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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.