# Paroxetine repurposing enhances antitumor immunity via SPOP-mediated PD-L1 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation

## TL;DR

Paroxetine, an antidepressant, can enhance cancer treatment by boosting the immune system's ability to attack tumors.

## Contribution

Paroxetine repurposing as an immune checkpoint inhibitor via SPOP-mediated PD-L1 degradation is newly demonstrated.

## Key findings

- Paroxetine reduces PD-L1 levels in cancer cells, promoting T cell activation.
- In mouse models, paroxetine inhibits tumor growth in colon and lung cancers.
- Paroxetine stabilizes SPOP, leading to PD-L1 ubiquitination and degradation.

## Abstract

Immunotherapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis shows promise in colon and lung cancer treatment but faces challenges like high costs, low response rates, and drug resistance. Developing new small molecule inhibitors is complex. Repurposing existing drugs offers advantages, and paroxetine (PAR), an FDA approved antidepressant, has shown potential antitumor effects, yet its role as an immune checkpoint inhibitor is unclear.

In this study, we investigated PAR as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. We used various cell lines, including colon and lung cancer cells, and in vivo mouse models. Techniques such as Western blotting, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry were employed to analyze protein expression, cell surface marker levels, and immune cell populations. We also conducted gene knockdown and overexpression experiments, as well as molecular docking and binding assays.

PAR downregulates PD-L1 protein levels in a concentration and time dependent manner in multiple cancer cell lines. In vivo, it inhibits tumor growth in colon and lung cancer mouse models by activating T cell immunity. Mechanistically, PAR binds to the Asp130 site of speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP), stabilizing this E3 ubiquitin ligase to promote PD-L1 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Moreover, PAR combines with an anti-CTLA4 antibody enhances cancer cell inhibition, and it also suppresses AOM/DSS induced colon cancer.

Our findings demonstrate that PAR can function as an immune checkpoint inhibitor by targeting SPOP to degrade PD-L1, enhancing antitumor immunity. This provides a new theoretical basis for using PAR in colorectal and lung cancer treatment and offers insights into repurposing other drugs for cancer therapy.

Paroxetine enhances the degradation of PD-L1 by stabilizing the E3 ubiquitin ligase SPOP, thereby transforming the tumor microenvironment from a suppressive state to an activated immune state, which exerts therapeutic effects against colon and lung cancers. This process increases the infiltration and activity of T cells within the tumor microenvironment, enhancing the overall antitumor immune response.

Paroxetine enhances the degradation of PD-L1 by stabilizing the E3 ubiquitin ligase SPOP, thereby transforming the tumor microenvironment from a suppressive state to an activated immune state, which exerts therapeutic effects against colon and lung cancers. This process increases the infiltration and activity of T cells within the tumor microenvironment, enhancing the overall antitumor immune response.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-026-03648-z.