Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41661166›Full record

ArticleeLife2026

Citalopram exhibits immune-dependent anti-tumor effects by modulating C5aR1

Fangyuan Dong, Shan Zhang, Kaiyuan Song, Luju Jiang, Li-Peng Hu, Qing Li, Xue-Li Zhang, Jun Li, Mingxuan Feng, Zhi-Wei Cai and 14 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in eLife, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. 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

24 authors.

Fangyuan Dong *Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Shan Zhang *State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2033-2996
Kaiyuan Song *Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9889-824X
Luju Jiang *State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Li-Peng HuState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Qing LiState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Xue-Li ZhangState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Jun LiState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Mingxuan FengDepartment of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Zhi-Wei CaiDepartment of General Surgery, Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Center, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Hong-Fei YaoDepartment of General Surgery, Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Center, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Rong-Kun LiInstitute of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0056-2025
Hui LiState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Jie ChenDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaona HuDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Jiaofeng WangDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Chongyi JiangDepartment of General Surgery, Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Center, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Helen He ZhuState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Shanghai Cancer Institute and Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Cun WangState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4977-2189
Lin-Tai DaKey Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Zhi-Gang ZhangState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0423-3381
Zhijun BaoDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xu WangInstitute of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
Shu-Heng JiangState Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8516-6234

Funding

Basic Research-Shanghai Jiao Tong University 21TQ1400225China Foundation for Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment P24062487785Clinical Medicine Research Center Construction Project of Huadong Hospital LCZX2202Key Areas Research and Development Programs of Guangdong Province 2023B1111050009Key Specialized Diseases Construction of Huadong Hospital ZDZB2225National Natural Science Foundation of China 82472883Shanghai Oriental Talent Program - Youth Project QNWS2024017Shanghai Outstanding Young Medical Personnel Training Program & Excellence Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 20224Z0009
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is associated with a reduced cancer risk and shows significant anti-tumor effects across multiple tumor types, suggesting the potential for repurposing SSRIs in cancer therapy. Nonetheless, the specific molecular target and mechanism of action of SSRIs remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we reveal that citalopram exerts an immune-dependent anti-tumor effect in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Interestingly, the anti-HCC effects of citalopram are not reliant on its conventional target, the serotonin transporter. Through various drug repurposing approaches, including global reverse gene expression profiling, drug affinity responsive target stability assay, and molecular docking, the complement component 5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) is identified as a new target of citalopram. C5aR1 is predominantly expressed by tumor-associated macrophages, and citalopram treatment enhances local macrophage phagocytosis and elicits CD8

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsCarcinoma, HepatocellularCitalopramLiver NeoplasmsMacrophagesReceptor, Anaphylatoxin C5aSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsAnimalsCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesCell Line, TumorHumansMiceMice, Inbred C57BLAntineoplastic AgentsC5AR1 protein, humanC5ar1 protein, mouseCitalopramReceptor, Anaphylatoxin C5aSelective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors5-HTbiochemistrycancer biologychemical biologydrug discoverydrug repurposingmouseSERTSLC6A4

Identifiers

PMID41661166
PMCPMC12885477

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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.