Research Article

LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models

Volume: 47 Number: 5 October 27, 2026

LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models

Abstract

Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with chemoresistance representing a major therapeutic challenge. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway contributes to tumor progression and treatment resistance, making it a promising target for combination therapy. This study investigated whether the dual TGF-β receptor I/II inhibitor LY2109761 enhances the cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in colorectal cancer cells while assessing its impact on immune cell viability. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay following treatment with 5-FU and LY2109761, alone or in combination, in HCT 116 colorectal cancer cells. Preliminary Bliss independence analysis indicated a localized positive interaction at selected concentrations; however, the limited concentration matrix precludes a definitive conclusion regarding pharmacological synergy. Exploratory ELISA analyses revealed non-significant changes in TGF-β and TGF-βR2 levels following treatment. Because downstream TGF-β signaling was not directly assessed, these findings should not be interpreted as mechanistic evidence of pathway inhibition. Nevertheless, LY2109761 enhanced the cytotoxic activity of 5-FU under selected concentration conditions and did not markedly increase apoptotic death in PBMCs, supporting further mechanistic and preclinical investigation of this proof-of-concept combination strategy.

Keywords

5-FU, Coculture, HCT 116, LY2109761, PBMC, TGF-β receptor inhibitor

Supporting Institution

Istanbul University

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Istinye University Human Research Ethics Committee (Meeting No: 2025/04; Protocol No: 2025-195; Approval Date: May 20, 2025). All procedures involving human participants and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Thanks

This research was supported by Istinye University Scientific Research Projects (2023/B10).

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APA
Ay, E. N., Akyüz, S., Kokoglu, A., Deniz, G., & Kaleağasıoğlu, F. (2026). LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, 47(5), 860-870. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1972130
AMA
1.Ay EN, Akyüz S, Kokoglu A, Deniz G, Kaleağasıoğlu F. LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models. CSJ. 2026;47(5):860-870. doi:10.17776/csj.1972130
Chicago
Ay, Ebru Nur, Sarehan Akyüz, Ayşenur Kokoglu, Günnur Deniz, and Ferda Kaleağasıoğlu. 2026. “LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47 (5): 860-70. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1972130.
EndNote
Ay EN, Akyüz S, Kokoglu A, Deniz G, Kaleağasıoğlu F (October 1, 2026) LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47 5 860–870.
IEEE
[1]E. N. Ay, S. Akyüz, A. Kokoglu, G. Deniz, and F. Kaleağasıoğlu, “LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models”, CSJ, vol. 47, no. 5, pp. 860–870, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.17776/csj.1972130.
ISNAD
Ay, Ebru Nur - Akyüz, Sarehan - Kokoglu, Ayşenur - Deniz, Günnur - Kaleağasıoğlu, Ferda. “LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47/5 (October 1, 2026): 860-870. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1972130.
JAMA
1.Ay EN, Akyüz S, Kokoglu A, Deniz G, Kaleağasıoğlu F. LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models. CSJ. 2026;47:860–870.
MLA
Ay, Ebru Nur, et al. “LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, vol. 47, no. 5, Oct. 2026, pp. 860-7, doi:10.17776/csj.1972130.
Vancouver
1.Ebru Nur Ay, Sarehan Akyüz, Ayşenur Kokoglu, Günnur Deniz, Ferda Kaleağasıoğlu. LY2109761 Potentiates 5-FU-Induced Cytotoxicity in HCT 116 Cells and Preserves PBMC Viability In Co-Culture Models. CSJ. 2026 Oct. 1;47(5):860-7. doi:10.17776/csj.1972130