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Quercetin Inhibits the Progression of Gastric Cancer Through the AKT/MAPK Signaling Pathway
Guorong Yang1,2, Juwu Chen3, Xiangdi Yang1,2
1Research Center of Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
Cancers
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Quercetin from Epimedium targets SERPINE1 to inhibit gastric cancer (GC) proliferation and regulate the immune microenvironment. This natural compound shows promise as a novel therapeutic strategy for advanced GC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Gastric cancer (GC) presents limited therapeutic options for advanced stages, driving the need for novel treatments.
- Epimedium-derived quercetin is explored for its potential anticancer properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the molecular mechanisms of quercetin against gastric cancer using network pharmacology and experimental validation.
- To identify key molecular targets and pathways involved in quercetin's anti-GC effects.
Main Methods:
- Network pharmacology identified shared targets between Epimedium compounds and GC.
- Molecular docking, TCGA data analysis, in vitro cell assays, and in vivo xenograft models were employed.
- Serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1) was identified as a core target.
Main Results:
- Quercetin targets 137 shared molecules, with SERPINE1 identified as a key target overexpressed in GC and linked to poor prognosis.
- In vitro, quercetin inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration, and induced apoptosis, while suppressing AKT/MAPK signaling and reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
- In vivo, quercetin significantly reduced tumor volume without systemic toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Quercetin exhibits multifaceted antitumor mechanisms against gastric cancer by targeting SERPINE1.
- It effectively suppresses tumor proliferation and modulates the immune microenvironment, presenting a potential therapeutic strategy for GC.
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