Research Article

Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer

Volume: 11 Number: 1 January 28, 2026
TR EN

Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the effects of Thymoquinone in combination with Nivolumab on experimental renal cell cancer models. Thymoquinone, a bioactive component extracted from Nigella sativa seeds, exhibits anti inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties against various cancers. Material and Methods: The effects of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab were analyzed using the Renca cell line with 3 (4,5-dimetiltiyazol-. 2-yl)-2.5- difeniltetrazolium-bromure and Annexin V + propidium iodure assays. Renca cells were subcutaneously injected into 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. Groups were designed as control, Thymoquinone, Nivolumab, Thymoquinone+Nivolumab. Tumor tissues were analyzed for apoptosis/necrosis rates, expression of immunomarkers, and ribonucleic acid expression at a significance level of p<0.05. Results: The results showed that Thymoquinone had anti tumor effects both in vitro and in vivo. The combination treatment with Nivolumab led to an increase in immune-mediated tumor cell death, resulting in significant necrosis or complete response to therapy in the tumor tissue. Conclusion: Thymoquinone has been found to have an anti tumor effect on renal cell carcinoma, and Nivolumab has been shown to enhance the impact of immune cell apoptosis. Additionally, there are no side effects on other organs when used alone or in combination. Keywords: Immune checkpoint inhibitors, renal cell cancer, thymoquinone.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by Dokuz Eylul University Scientific Research Council by project number 2020.KB.SAG.047.

Project Number

2020.KB.SAG.047.

Ethical Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and complied with these standards. All of the experimental procedures involving animals were conducted in accordance with the Experimental Animal Care Regulations of Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey with an approved number 22/2017.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Medical Biochemistry and Metabolomics (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 28, 2026

Submission Date

March 14, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 6, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 1

APA
Dirican, A., Gökbayrak, Ö. E., Erol, A., Aktaş, T. Ç., Kolatan, H. E., Serinan, E. Ö., Altun, Z., Somalı, I., Yılmaz, O., & Aktaş, S. (2026). Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer. İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 11(1), 92-97. https://doi.org/10.61399/ikcusbfd.1638444
AMA
1.Dirican A, Gökbayrak ÖE, Erol A, et al. Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer. İKÇÜSBFD. 2026;11(1):92-97. doi:10.61399/ikcusbfd.1638444
Chicago
Dirican, Ahmet, Özde Elif Gökbayrak, Aylin Erol, et al. 2026. “Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer”. İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi 11 (1): 92-97. https://doi.org/10.61399/ikcusbfd.1638444.
EndNote
Dirican A, Gökbayrak ÖE, Erol A, Aktaş TÇ, Kolatan HE, Serinan EÖ, Altun Z, Somalı I, Yılmaz O, Aktaş S (January 1, 2026) Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer. İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi 11 1 92–97.
IEEE
[1]A. Dirican et al., “Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer”, İKÇÜSBFD, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 92–97, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.61399/ikcusbfd.1638444.
ISNAD
Dirican, Ahmet - Gökbayrak, Özde Elif - Erol, Aylin - Aktaş, Tekincan Çağrı - Kolatan, Hatice Efsun - Serinan, Efe Özgür - Altun, Zekiye - Somalı, Işıl - Yılmaz, Osman - Aktaş, Safiye. “Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer”. İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi 11/1 (January 1, 2026): 92-97. https://doi.org/10.61399/ikcusbfd.1638444.
JAMA
1.Dirican A, Gökbayrak ÖE, Erol A, Aktaş TÇ, Kolatan HE, Serinan EÖ, Altun Z, Somalı I, Yılmaz O, Aktaş S. Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer. İKÇÜSBFD. 2026;11:92–97.
MLA
Dirican, Ahmet, et al. “Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer”. İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 11, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 92-97, doi:10.61399/ikcusbfd.1638444.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Dirican, Özde Elif Gökbayrak, Aylin Erol, Tekincan Çağrı Aktaş, Hatice Efsun Kolatan, Efe Özgür Serinan, Zekiye Altun, Işıl Somalı, Osman Yılmaz, Safiye Aktaş. Potential Therapeutic Synergy of Thymoquinone and Nivolumab in Experimental Models of Renal Cancer. İKÇÜSBFD. 2026 Jan. 1;11(1):92-7. doi:10.61399/ikcusbfd.1638444



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