biostudies-literatureUnknown46(10)Wei XMColorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by an immunosuppressive and inflammatory microenvironment, thus responds poorly to therapy. Previous studies show that norcantharidin (NCTD), a demethylated cantharidin (CTD) derived from Mylabris, exerts high efficacy in treating various cancers. In this study we investigated the antitumor effects of NCTD against CRC and the underlying mechanisms. Subcutaneous CRC models were established in balb/c mice using mouse colorectal cancer cell line CT26 and in balb/c nude mice using human colorectal cancer cell line HCT116. The mice were administered NCTD (2 or 4 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, i.p.) for 14 days. We showed that NCTD dose-dependently reduced the tumor growth in both the CRC models. Furthermore, NCTD markedly increased M1 macrophage infiActa pharmacologica Sinica2820-2834https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12460879biostudies-literatureNorcantharidin promotes M1 macrophage polarization and suppresses colorectal cancer growth.PMC12460879Ye LLWu MHLu SCDuan DDShen WXCheng HBLi LGao YJWang JYXi SYWei XMfalseNorcantharidin promotes M1 macrophage polarization and suppresses colorectal cancer growth.Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by an immunosuppressive and inflammatory microenvironment, thus responds poorly to therapy. Previous studies show that norcantharidin (NCTD), a demethylated cantharidin (CTD) derived from Mylabris, exerts high efficacy in treating various cancers. In this study we investigated the antitumor effects of NCTD against CRC and the underlying mechanisms. Subcutaneous CRC models were established in balb/c mice using mouse colorectal cancer cell line CT26 and in balb/c nude mice using human colorectal cancer cell line HCT116. The mice were administered NCTD (2 or 4 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, i.p.) for 14 days. We showed that NCTD dose-dependently reduced the tumor growth in both the CRC models. Furthermore, NCTD markedly increased M1 macrophage infi2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Oct2026-06-03T19:38:29.571Z2026-04-30T03:12:29.711ZS-EPMC124608794039423610.1038/s41401-025-01578-8