Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Effects of Sertraline on Pancreatic Cancer and Non-Cancerous Renal Cells

Fereydouni Balangani, Sogol; Hassanli, Atefeh; Ahmadi, Rahim; Amini, Nooshin

doi:10.48307/FMSJ.2025.29.6.6

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Volume 29, Issue 6 (Bimonthly 2025)

Feyz Med Sci J 2025, 29(6): 600-609

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Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Effects of Sertraline on Pancreatic Cancer and Non-Cancerous Renal Cells

Sogol Fereydouni Balangani

, Atefeh Hassanli

, Rahim Ahmadi

, Nooshin Amini ^*

Member Global Research, Education, and Event Network (GREEN), Iran & Member Global Research, Education, and Event Network (GREEN), Iran , amini.n.2486@gmail.com

Abstract: (436 Views)

Background and Aim: Pancreatic cancer is known for its poor prognosis and limited effective treatment options. Drug repurposing is a promising strategy to accelerate the discovery of new anticancer drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects and relative selectivity of the antidepressant drug sertraline on the pancreatic cancer cell line (PANC-1) compared to the non-cancerous renal cell line (HEK293).
Methods: PANC-1 and HEK293 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with varying concentrations of sertraline (ranging from 1.95 to 500 µg/ml). After 24 hours, cell viability and proliferation were assessed using the MTT colorimetric assay. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was calculated from the dose-response curve using GraphPad Prism software.
Results: Sertraline induced a significant dose-dependent reduction in the viability of PANC-1 cells (P < 0.001), while this effect was less pronounced in HEK293 cells, indicating the drug's selective toxicity against cancer cells. The IC₅₀ value of sertraline for PANC-1 cells was approximately 15.7 µg/ml, demonstrating its considerable antiproliferative effect.
Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal the anticancer potential and relative selectivity of sertraline against pancreatic cancer cells. These results provide a solid foundation for further investigation of sertraline as a candidate for drug repurposing in pancreatic cancer treatment. However, more detailed mechanistic studies and in vivo preclinical trials are necessary to confirm these effects and evaluate safety.

Keywords: Drug repurposing, Sertraline, PANC-1, HEK293, Pancreatic cancer

Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2025/09/22 | Revised: 2025/12/29 | Accepted: 2025/11/12 | Published: 2025/12/30

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Fereydouni Balangani S, Hassanli A, Ahmadi R, Amini N. Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Effects of Sertraline on Pancreatic Cancer and Non-Cancerous Renal Cells. Feyz Med Sci J 2025; 29 (6) :600-609
URL: http://feyz.kaums.ac.ir/article-1-5406-en.html

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