The tricyclic antidepressant imipramine induces autophagic cell death in U-87MG glioma cells

► Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. ► Imipramine inhibited the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in U-87MG glioma cells. ► Imipramine stimulated autophagy, but not apoptosis. ► Imipramine exerts antitumor effects by inducing autophagic cell death.