Antihypertensive drug telmisartan inhibits cell proliferation of gastrointestinal stromal tumor cells invitro.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. The angiotensinII type1 receptor blockers, telmisartan and candesartan, are widely used antihypertensive drugs that inhibits cancer cell proliferation; however, its underlying mechanisms in mesenchymal tumors, including GIST, remains unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of telmisartan on GIST‑T1 cells and its underlying mechanism. Telmisartan and candesartan inhibited the proliferation of these cells by blocking the G0 to G1 cell cycle transition, which was accompanied by a decrease in cell cycle‑related proteins such as cyclinD1. Furthermore, telmisartan exposure significantly altered microRNA expression invitro. In conclusion, telmisartan suppressed human GIST cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest invitro.