Platycodin D Exerts Anticancer Effects by Promoting Mitochondrial Apoptosis in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is a challenging malignancy with increasing incidence globally, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. Platycodin D, a saponin derived from Platycodon grandiflorum, has shown promise in cancer therapy, exhibiting anticancer effects in various tumor types. However, the specific mechanisms of action of Platycodin D in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma remain poorly understood. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of Platycodin D in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We revealed that Platycodin D effectively inhibited the proliferation of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells and induced mitochondrial apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that Platycodin D downregulated the expression of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2, indicating a novel target for PD’s action. Finally, the suppression of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 by Platycodin D led to cell cycle arrest and enhanced apoptosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells. Collectively, these findings underscore the potential of Platycodin D as a novel therapeutic agent for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, with implications for targeting mitochondrial apoptosis and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 in cancer treatment.