Zhaofeng Wu
Background: Although psoralen is known for its antitumor and chemosensitizing effects across multiple malignancies, its function and molecular basis in bladder cancer (BC) remain insufficiently understood. Thus, this study examined its anti-cancer actions in BC and identified its potential target.Methods: Human BC cell lines (5637, T24, UM-UC-3, and J82) and a normal bladder epithelial cell line (SV-HUC-1) were exposed to graded psoralen doses. Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays, while apoptosis was analyzed via flow cytometry. Potential psoralen-related targets and BC-associated genes were identified using public databases and intersected via Venny analysis. The expression of aurora kinase A (AURKA) was analyzed using bioinformatics platforms and validated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Functional experiments involving AURKA overexpression were conducted to determine its role in mediating psoralen responses. Expression levels of apoptosis- and proliferation-related proteins, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), cleaved caspase-3, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), were also examined.Results: Psoralen dramatically decreased BC cell viability and colony-forming ability while markedly promoting apoptosis (p < 0.05). Psoralen treatment upregulated cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and downregulated PCNA and Bcl-2 (p < 0.01). Through bioinformatics analysis, AURKA was found to be upregulated in BC tissues and cell lines (p < 0.05). Psoralen reduced AURKA expression, and overexpression of AURKA partially attenuated psoralen-induced proliferation inhibition and apoptosis (p < 0.05).Conclusion: In vitro, psoralen suppresses BC cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis, and AURKA may be involved in these effects. These results point to psoralen as a promising natural compound for further investigation in BC therapy.