ebselen + sorafenib

The combination of **ebselen** and **sorafenib** is an investigational therapeutic regimen being evaluated for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ebselen, a synthetic organoselenium compound historically known for its antioxidant properties, has been identified as a potent inhibitor of mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI). In the context of aldolase B (ALDOB) deficiency—a common metabolic alteration in HCC—ebselen mimics fructose 1-phosphate (F1P) to competitively bind and inhibit MPI. This inhibition disrupts protein N-glycosylation, triggering maladaptive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and subsequent apoptosis in cancer cells. Sorafenib is an approved small-molecule multikinase inhibitor that targets tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis. When combined, ebselen and sorafenib exhibit strong synergistic effects, significantly enhancing tumor suppression in preclinical models of primary liver cancer.

Other names

ebselen and sorafenibsorafenib + ebselensorafenib and ebselen