Pyrvinium Pamoate Induces Cell Apoptosis and Autophagy in Colorectal Cancer

Background/Aim: In earlier research, we demonstrated that pyrvinium pamoate (PP) can effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. In the current study, we further explore the possibility of PP, as a potential therapeutic drug in the treatment of CRC. Materials and Methods: Hoechst 33258 staining, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were used to further investigate the connection between PP and CRC cell apoptosis and autophagy. Results: We found that PP promoted apoptosis and autophagy of CRC cells. At the protein level, the expression of proteins related to the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway exhibited a negative correlation with the dosage of PP. PP may therefore induce apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our in vitro experiments demonstrated that PP could inhibit the progression of colorectal cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and autophagy. The detailed mechanism needs further investigation.