Research Article

The multifaceted antitumor effects of the ALK5 inhibitor BI 4659 in colon cancer: an in vitro study of cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and 3D spheroid formation

Volume: 19 Number: 2 May 31, 2026
EN TR

The multifaceted antitumor effects of the ALK5 inhibitor BI 4659 in colon cancer: an in vitro study of cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and 3D spheroid formation

Abstract

Purpose: Inhibition of ALK5, the main receptor of the TGF-β pathway, is one of the new strategies in colon cancer treatment. In this study, the anticancer effects of the small molecule BI 4659 were investigated in the colon cancer cell line Caco-2. Method: Caco-2 cells were treated with increasing doses of BI 4659 for 72 hours. WST-1 was used for the viability assay, colony formation was used to observe the long-term effect, wound healing was used to determine migration ability, and hanging drop assays were performed for 3D tumors. Findings: BI 4659 exhibited high cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner in the Caco-2 cell line (IC50 = 29.33 ± 2.35 nM). Treatment resulted in significantly reduced colony formation, migration ability, and 3D spheroid size (p <0.05). Conclusion: Treatment with BI 4659 produced a multifaceted antitumor effect in the Caco-2 cell line. Inhibition of ALK5 showed an inhibitory effect on proliferation, migration, and 3D organization. These results suggest that BI 4659 may be a potential candidate for colon cancer treatment. Further experiments are recommended to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and demonstrate vivo effects.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No Funding Received

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethical approval

Thanks

I would like to thank the staff of Bingöl University Cancer Research Laboratory for their technical assistance and valuable support during this study.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cancer Cell Biology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 31, 2026

Submission Date

February 3, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 27, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 19 Number: 2

APA
Sever, A. (2026). The multifaceted antitumor effects of the ALK5 inhibitor BI 4659 in colon cancer: an in vitro study of cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and 3D spheroid formation. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 19(2), 155-161. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1880909
AMA
1.Sever A. The multifaceted antitumor effects of the ALK5 inhibitor BI 4659 in colon cancer: an in vitro study of cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and 3D spheroid formation. BioDiCon. 2026;19(2):155-161. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1880909
Chicago
Sever, Aydın. 2026. “The Multifaceted Antitumor Effects of the ALK5 Inhibitor BI 4659 in Colon Cancer: An in Vitro Study of Cytotoxicity, Clonogenicity, Migration, and 3D Spheroid Formation”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19 (2): 155-61. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1880909.
EndNote
Sever A (May 1, 2026) The multifaceted antitumor effects of the ALK5 inhibitor BI 4659 in colon cancer: an in vitro study of cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and 3D spheroid formation. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19 2 155–161.
IEEE
[1]A. Sever, “The multifaceted antitumor effects of the ALK5 inhibitor BI 4659 in colon cancer: an in vitro study of cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and 3D spheroid formation”, BioDiCon, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 155–161, May 2026, doi: 10.46309/biodicon.2026.1880909.
ISNAD
Sever, Aydın. “The Multifaceted Antitumor Effects of the ALK5 Inhibitor BI 4659 in Colon Cancer: An in Vitro Study of Cytotoxicity, Clonogenicity, Migration, and 3D Spheroid Formation”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19/2 (May 1, 2026): 155-161. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1880909.
JAMA
1.Sever A. The multifaceted antitumor effects of the ALK5 inhibitor BI 4659 in colon cancer: an in vitro study of cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and 3D spheroid formation. BioDiCon. 2026;19:155–161.
MLA
Sever, Aydın. “The Multifaceted Antitumor Effects of the ALK5 Inhibitor BI 4659 in Colon Cancer: An in Vitro Study of Cytotoxicity, Clonogenicity, Migration, and 3D Spheroid Formation”. Biological Diversity and Conservation, vol. 19, no. 2, May 2026, pp. 155-61, doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1880909.
Vancouver
1.Aydın Sever. The multifaceted antitumor effects of the ALK5 inhibitor BI 4659 in colon cancer: an in vitro study of cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and 3D spheroid formation. BioDiCon. 2026 May 1;19(2):155-61. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1880909

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