ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2022
Novel mechanism of napabucasin, a naturally derived furanonaphthoquinone: apoptosis and autophagy induction in lung cancer cells through direct targeting on Akt/mTOR proteins.
Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- STAT3 inhibition eradicates multiple myeloma stem-like cells and induces immunogenic cell death.Blood science (Baltimore, Md.) · 2026Article
- Autophagy-Apoptosis Crosstalk in Cancer: Mechanisms, Signaling Pathways, and Therapeutic Targeting.Cancers · 2026Review
- Formulation of hispidulin-loaded sodium carboxymethyl cellulose nanoparticles: characterisation, biological activities and molecular insights.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Synergistic MDM2-STAT3 Inhibition Demonstrates Strong Anti-Leukemic Efficacy in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Article
- Unlocking the dual role of autophagy: A new strategy for treating lung cancer.Journal of pharmaceutical analysis · 2025Review
- Targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in lung cancer: mechanisms and therapeutic targeting.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Review
- Napabucasin Inhibits Proliferation and Migration of Glioblastoma Cells (U87) by Regulating JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Article
- Effect of napabucasin and doxorubicin via the Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathway in suppressing the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells.Acta cirurgica brasileira · 2024Article
- The Anticancer Effect of Napabucasin (BBI608), a Natural Naphthoquinone.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- In Silico and In Vitro Study of Janus Kinases Inhibitors from Naphthoquinones.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAkt and mTOR are aberrantly activated in cancers and targeting these proteins are interesting for cancer drug discovery. Napabucasin (NB), a phytochemical compound, has been reported as potential anti-cancer agent, however, Akt and mTOR targeting mechanisms remain unclear.
methodApoptosis induction was investigated by Hoechst 33342/PI double staining and annexin V/PI staining with flowcytometry. Autophagy was evaluated by monodansylcadaverine staining and Western blot analysis. Binding affinity of NB and essential signaling proteins (PI3K, Akt, and mTOR) was investigated using molecular docking and confirmed by Western blot analysis.
resultA structure modification from changing methyl moiety of acetyl group of NB to hydroxyl moiety of carboxyl group of NB derivative (napabucasin-acid or NB-acid) greatly affected the compound activities. NB showed more potent anti-cancer activity. NB reduced cell viability with an approximately 20 times lower IC
conclusionResults show for the first time that NB exerts an anti-cancer activity through the direct interaction to Akt and mTOR proteins. The methyl moiety of acetyl group of NB is required for its potent anti-cancer activities. These data encourage further development of NB compounds for Akt and mTOR driven cancers.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.