biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Leung HKMColorectal cancer (CRC) is both a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers. Previous studies have shown that zearalenone and theabrownin each exert anti-CRC effects. Here, we aimed to evaluate the anti-tumor properties of theabrownin and zearalenone mixture (TZ) and to assess whether supplementing TZ with 5-FU, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug, could further suppress CRC tumorigenesis. Our results revealed that TZ significantly attenuated AOM/DSS-induced colorectal tumorigenesis. TZ improved survival rate, reduced tumor count, preserved colon length, and mitigated colonic inflammation in AOM/DSS mice. In addition, the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and IL-17 A/F and proliferative PI3K/AKT were significantly redScientific reports26386https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12280149biostudies-literatureTheabrownin combined with zearalenone suppresses colitis-associated colorectal cancer by inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway and enhancing microbial propionate production.PMC12280149Zhang FLo EKKIsmaiah MJFeliciannaEl-Nezami HChen CLeung HKMfalseTheabrownin combined with zearalenone suppresses colitis-associated colorectal cancer by inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway and enhancing microbial propionate production.Colorectal cancer (CRC) is both a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers. Previous studies have shown that zearalenone and theabrownin each exert anti-CRC effects. Here, we aimed to evaluate the anti-tumor properties of theabrownin and zearalenone mixture (TZ) and to assess whether supplementing TZ with 5-FU, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug, could further suppress CRC tumorigenesis. Our results revealed that TZ significantly attenuated AOM/DSS-induced colorectal tumorigenesis. TZ improved survival rate, reduced tumor count, preserved colon length, and mitigated colonic inflammation in AOM/DSS mice. In addition, the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and IL-17 A/F and proliferative PI3K/AKT were significantly red2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jul2026-03-18T13:55:41.961Z2025-08-21T09:53:04.563ZS-EPMC122801494069121710.1038/s41598-025-11820-2