Aberrant activation of the transcription factor, STAT3, can promote cancer progression and occurs in various cancer types including breast, prostate, pancreas, liver, brain and leukemia. This study, co-led by A/Prof Gautam Sethi, identifies Fangchinoline (FCN) as an inhibitor of STAT3 activity. Preclinical testing of FCN on a myeloma mouse model resulted in greatly reduced tumour growth and was shown to be well-tolerated. These findings highlight FCN as a promising therapeutic candidate for cancers with aberrant STAT3 activation.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2021.03.008