Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41634588›Full record

ArticleBMC gastroenterology2026

Artemether as a modulator of EMT in colorectal cancer: enhancing radiosensitivity and reversing chemo-radiation resistance.

Lv Ge, Shan Liu, Shenglan Yu, Ming Li, Wanni Zhang, Chunmao Xie, Zhuo Gao, Sijia Tang, Minqi Xiao, Tao Zou and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2026. 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
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

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

12 authors.

Lv Ge *Yueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Shan Liu *The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Shenglan Yu *Yueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Ming LiYueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Wanni ZhangYueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Chunmao XieYueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Zhuo GaoYueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Sijia TangYueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Minqi XiaoYueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Tao ZouYueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China.
Yongxin JiangThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China. 598104374@qq.com.
Hu LuYueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, China. 328600576@qq.com.

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, China Grant No. 2025JJ70269Scientific Research Project of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine Grant No. 2022XYLH195
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe efficacy of conventional chemoradiotherapy for colorectal cancer is often limited by resistance, with epithelial-mesenchymal transition being a key mechanism. Although the artemisinin derivative artemether (ARE) has shown antitumor potential, it remains unclear whether it can enhance radiosensitivity and reverse chemo-radiation resistance in colorectal cancer by regulating EMT. This study aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing and resistance-reversing effects of ARE on human colorectal cancer xenografts in nude mice and to elucidate the underlying mechanism related to EMT regulation.

methodsA nude mouse xenograft model using human colorectal cancer HCT116 and HCT116-chemo-radiation resistant (HCT116-CRR) cells was established.

resultsARE combined with radiotherapy suppressed tumor growth in nude mice and induced cell death via necrosis and apoptosis. After ARE combined with radiotherapy, β-Catenin was increased in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells implanted in nude mice, while Vimentin was decreased. In HCT116-CRR cells transplanted into nude mice, the E-cadherin and β-Catenin were upregulated, whereas N-Cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, Slug, and Twist were downregulated. ARE effectively significantly enhanced radiosensitivity and reversed chemo-radiation resistance by suppressing EMT.

conclusionsThese findings provide both mechanistic insights and experimental validation for the potential application of ARE as a radiosensitizer in colorectal cancer radiotherapy.

Indexed as

ArtemetherArtemisininsColorectal NeoplasmsEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionRadiation-Sensitizing AgentsRadiation ToleranceAnimalsApoptosisbeta CateninCadherinsChemoradiotherapyDrug Resistance, NeoplasmHCT116 CellsHumansMiceMice, Inbred BALB CArtemetherArtemisininsbeta CateninCadherinsRadiation-Sensitizing AgentsSnail Family Transcription FactorsVimentinArtemetherChemo-radiation resistanceColorectal cancerEpithelial-mesenchymal transitionRadiosensitivity

Identifiers

PMID41634588
PMCPMC12964608

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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.