The research team headed by Professor Canhua Huang has recently published a research paper “Ketoconazole Exacerbates Mitophagy to Induce Apoptosis by Downregulating Cyclooxygenase-2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma” in Journal Of Hepatology (JIF 14.911). Being awarded Changjiang Scholars Program Endowed Professor, Professor Canhua Huang is achief scientist for National 973 Program at the State key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Sichuan University. The first author of the paper is Yan Chen who is a doctoral student of class 2016 at the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy. Doctor Hai-ning Chen of West China Hospital is also listed as the first author. And Professor Canhua Huang is the corresponding author. Sichuan University is the university of the first author and the corresponding author.

The research findings indicate that broad-spectrum and high-efficiency imidazole antifungal drug ketoconazole has good antitumor activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). "Ketoconazole stimulated apoptosis in HCC cells by triggering mitophagyin vitroandin vivo." And "Ketoconazole induces apoptosis in HCC cells by triggering excessive mitophagy."  The research paper concludes that "ketoconazole, ---, activates PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy by downregulating COX-2, consequently results in the acceleration of apoptosis, thereby inhibiting the growth of HCC. Furthermore, ketoconazole acts synergistically with sorafenib in the suppression of HCC growthin vitroandin vivo." These findings provide a theoretical basis for the use of ketoconazole in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The article is accessible at the link below.

https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(18)32441-3/fulltext