Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42683851›Full record

ArticleJournal of biosciences2026

Synergistic effects of sorafenib and cilostazol in HepG2 cells.

Heba Effat, Omnia Mohamed, Marwa Sharaky, Sally Heikal, Shrouk Elshahawy, Eman Gayad

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of biosciences, 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

6 authors.

Heba EffatNational Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt.
Omnia MohamedTheodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza 12411, Egypt.
Marwa SharakyNational Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt.
Sally HeikalFaculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt.
Shrouk ElshahawyFaculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt.
Eman GayadFaculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sorafenib, an established multi-kinase inhibitor, is a cornerstone treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the efficacy of combining sorafenib with cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor with emerging anticancer properties, in HepG2 cells. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and expression of VEGF, SMAD4, Bcl-2, TGF-beta, Bax, and caspase-3 were assessed. Combination treatment significantly reduced the IC50 of sorafenib and markedly decreased colony formation compared with either monotherapy. Enhanced apoptosis was observed through increased Bax and caspase-3 levels and reduced Bcl-2 expression. In addition, combined treatment produced potent anti-angiogenic effects through suppression of VEGF and TGF-beta. These findings demonstrate a synergistic interaction between sorafenib and cilostazol and suggest that this combination may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma management.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsNiacinamidePhenylurea CompoundsTetrazolesApoptosisbcl-2-Associated X ProteinCaspase 3Cell ProliferationCilostazolDrug SynergismGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHep G2 CellsHumansProto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2Sorafenibbcl-2-Associated X ProteinCaspase 3CilostazolNiacinamidePhenylurea CompoundsProto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2SorafenibTetrazolesTransforming Growth Factor betaVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AVEGFA protein, human

Identifiers

PMID42683851

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.