The endoplasmic reticulum stress-ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti-tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer

Abstract Background Ferroptosis-induced therapy is a promising approach for treating anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), a highly lethal form of cancer. However, the specific effects of two anti-angiogenic agents, lenvatinib and anlotinib, on ferroptosis in ATC are not well understood. Methods Metho...

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Main Authors: Yehao Guo, Juyong Liang, Lingling Ding, Jiajun Wu, Weidong Teng, Jiafeng Wang, Liehao Jiang, Zhuo Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03947-z
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author Yehao Guo
Juyong Liang
Lingling Ding
Jiajun Wu
Weidong Teng
Jiafeng Wang
Liehao Jiang
Zhuo Tan
author_facet Yehao Guo
Juyong Liang
Lingling Ding
Jiajun Wu
Weidong Teng
Jiafeng Wang
Liehao Jiang
Zhuo Tan
author_sort Yehao Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ferroptosis-induced therapy is a promising approach for treating anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), a highly lethal form of cancer. However, the specific effects of two anti-angiogenic agents, lenvatinib and anlotinib, on ferroptosis in ATC are not well understood. Methods Methods: To investigate the anticancer activity of lenvatinib and anlotinib in vivo, a subcutaneous tumor model was established in mice. The pharmacological effects of these agents on ATC cells were assessed using various assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, transwell, and sphere-forming assays. Angiogenesis was evaluated using a tubule formation assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by flow cytometry, and levels of ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were determined through western blot assays. Immunohistochemistry analyses were used to profile the expression of GPX4, HO-1, PERK, and CHOP in tumor tissues. Results Both lenvatinib and anlotinib demonstrated dose- and time-dependent inhibition of Luciferase-8505 C-induced subcutaneous tumors in mice, with anlotinib showing greater efficacy than lenvatinib. In vitro experiments revealed that while both drugs were effective at inhibiting angiogenesis, anlotinib displayed superior antitumor effects in terms of cell viability, proliferation, tumor sphere formation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistic studies indicated that anlotinib induced ROS-mediated ferroptosis through the ER stress pathway, a response not observed with lenvatinib treatment. Conclusion Anlotinib showed superior efficacy in treating ATC compared to lenvatinib, independent of their anti-angiogenic properties. The ability of anlotinib to induce ER stress-mediated ferroptosis suggests that targeting ferroptosis may hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for ATC. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-2aae0fe7cb3045cc9b5dc894e6d3c5372025-08-24T11:51:28ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-08-0125111510.1186/s12935-025-03947-zThe endoplasmic reticulum stress-ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti-tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancerYehao Guo0Juyong Liang1Lingling Ding2Jiajun Wu3Weidong Teng4Jiafeng Wang5Liehao Jiang6Zhuo Tan7Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical CollegeOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical CollegeOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical CollegeZhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Head & Neck CancerOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical CollegeOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical CollegeOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical CollegeOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical CollegeAbstract Background Ferroptosis-induced therapy is a promising approach for treating anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), a highly lethal form of cancer. However, the specific effects of two anti-angiogenic agents, lenvatinib and anlotinib, on ferroptosis in ATC are not well understood. Methods Methods: To investigate the anticancer activity of lenvatinib and anlotinib in vivo, a subcutaneous tumor model was established in mice. The pharmacological effects of these agents on ATC cells were assessed using various assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, transwell, and sphere-forming assays. Angiogenesis was evaluated using a tubule formation assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by flow cytometry, and levels of ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were determined through western blot assays. Immunohistochemistry analyses were used to profile the expression of GPX4, HO-1, PERK, and CHOP in tumor tissues. Results Both lenvatinib and anlotinib demonstrated dose- and time-dependent inhibition of Luciferase-8505 C-induced subcutaneous tumors in mice, with anlotinib showing greater efficacy than lenvatinib. In vitro experiments revealed that while both drugs were effective at inhibiting angiogenesis, anlotinib displayed superior antitumor effects in terms of cell viability, proliferation, tumor sphere formation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistic studies indicated that anlotinib induced ROS-mediated ferroptosis through the ER stress pathway, a response not observed with lenvatinib treatment. Conclusion Anlotinib showed superior efficacy in treating ATC compared to lenvatinib, independent of their anti-angiogenic properties. The ability of anlotinib to induce ER stress-mediated ferroptosis suggests that targeting ferroptosis may hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for ATC. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03947-zAnlotinibLenvatinibFerroptosisEndoplasmic reticulum stressAnaplastic thyroid cancerSignal pathways.
spellingShingle Yehao Guo
Juyong Liang
Lingling Ding
Jiajun Wu
Weidong Teng
Jiafeng Wang
Liehao Jiang
Zhuo Tan
The endoplasmic reticulum stress-ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti-tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer
Cancer Cell International
Anlotinib
Lenvatinib
Ferroptosis
Endoplasmic reticulum stress
Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Signal pathways.
title The endoplasmic reticulum stress-ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti-tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer
title_full The endoplasmic reticulum stress-ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti-tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer
title_fullStr The endoplasmic reticulum stress-ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti-tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer
title_full_unstemmed The endoplasmic reticulum stress-ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti-tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer
title_short The endoplasmic reticulum stress-ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti-tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer
title_sort endoplasmic reticulum stress ferroptosis reciprocal signaling orchestrates anti tumor effect of anlotinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer
topic Anlotinib
Lenvatinib
Ferroptosis
Endoplasmic reticulum stress
Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Signal pathways.
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03947-z
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