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Sertraline in combination with sorafenib: A promising pharmacotherapy to target both depressive disorders and hepatocellular cancer

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Abstract

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is found within the first five most common tumors worldwide. Sorafenib is an approved agent in HCC treatment. Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The aim of the study is to investigate the combination of sertraline and sorafenib at hepatocellular cancer cell proliferation and death.

Methods

HepG2 cells were treated with drugs and viability test XTT was performed. Cells were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examination or with anti-Bcl-2 antibody and Hoechst 33258 for immunofluorescence.

Results

Viability results supported dose-dependent antiproliferative effect for both sertraline and sorafenib. Microscopic evaluation of stained cells exerts morphological changes.

Discussion

This is the first study to show that sorafenib and sertraline have synergistic effect in hepatocellular cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Maltepe University, Turkey

    Zeynep Gunes Ozunal & Esra Saglam

  2. Cancer and Stem Cell Research Center (MUKKAM), Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Zeynep Gunes Ozunal, Yaprak Donmez Cakil, Hatice Isan & Ranan Gulhan Aktas

  3. Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Yaprak Donmez Cakil & Ranan Gulhan Aktas

Authors
  1. Zeynep Gunes Ozunal
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  2. Yaprak Donmez Cakil
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  3. Hatice Isan
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  4. Esra Saglam
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  5. Ranan Gulhan Aktas
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Correspondence to Zeynep Gunes Ozunal.

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Ozunal, Z.G., Cakil, Y.D., Isan, H. et al. Sertraline in combination with sorafenib: A promising pharmacotherapy to target both depressive disorders and hepatocellular cancer. BIOLOGIA FUTURA 70, 341–348 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1556/019.70.2019.39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/019.70.2019.39

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