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Lenvatinib Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth, Migration, and Invasion via Dual-pathway Apoptosis and

Ching-Hsuan Wu1,2, Fei-Ting Hsu3, Chun-Hsien Chen3

  • 1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

In Vivo (Athens, Greece)
|January 2, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Lenvatinib effectively inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) cell growth, migration, and invasion. It induces apoptosis through dual pathways and inactivates the ERK/STAT3/NF-κB signaling axis, showing therapeutic potential for CRC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality.
  • Lenvatinib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, shows promise for cancer treatment.
  • The precise mechanisms of lenvatinib in CRC require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of lenvatinib on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines.
  • To identify the underlying molecular mechanisms of lenvatinib's action in CRC.
  • To evaluate lenvatinib's impact on CRC cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion.

Main Methods:

  • Human CRC cell lines (HT-29, HCT-116) were treated with lenvatinib.
  • Cell viability was assessed using MTT assays.
  • Proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were evaluated by colony formation, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays, respectively.
  • Key signaling pathways were analyzed via western blot.

Main Results:

  • Lenvatinib significantly reduced CRC cell viability and colony formation in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
  • Apoptosis was induced through both extrinsic (Fas/Fas-L, caspase-8) and intrinsic (caspase-9, mitochondrial potential) pathways.
  • Lenvatinib inhibited ERK phosphorylation and downstream STAT3/NF-κB activation, reducing cell migration and invasion.

Conclusions:

  • Lenvatinib demonstrates potent inhibition of colorectal cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion.
  • The drug induces apoptosis via a dual-pathway mechanism.
  • Inactivation of the ERK/STAT3/NF-κB signaling axis is a key mechanism of lenvatinib's anti-cancer effect in CRC.
  • Lenvatinib presents a potential therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer.
Keywords:
Colorectal cancerERK/STAT3/NF-κBapoptosislenvatinibproliferation

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