Exploring the interactions of rapamycin with target receptors in A549 cancer cells: insights from molecular docking analysis
2025

Rapamycin and Its Binding to Cancer Cell Receptors

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ganesh Sanjeev K., Devi C. Subathra

Primary Institution: Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

Hypothesis

Rapamycin, beyond its established role as an mTOR inhibitor, may interact with other oncogenic receptors involved in cancer progression, thereby expanding its potential therapeutic applications.

Conclusion

Rapamycin shows significant binding affinity to multiple cancer-related receptors, which may enhance its therapeutic effects in lung cancer treatment.

Supporting Evidence

  • Rapamycin was found to bind with receptors EGFR, FKBP12, MET, FGFR, ROS1, and ALK.
  • The study indicates that rapamycin can enhance the effectiveness of other cancer drugs.
  • Significant cytotoxicity was observed in A549 lung cancer cells treated with rapamycin.
  • Rapamycin's binding affinity to EGFR was greater than that of established EGFR inhibitors.
  • Lower LC50 values in A549 cells suggest higher susceptibility to rapamycin.

Takeaway

Rapamycin is a medicine that can help fight cancer by sticking to different parts of cancer cells, not just the usual one.

Methodology

The study used molecular docking and simulations to analyze the binding of rapamycin to various cancer cell receptors.

Limitations

The study's findings are based on in-silico analysis, which may not fully replicate in vivo conditions.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1007/s00432-024-06072-y

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