AUTHOR=Li Ya , Han Qiuju , Zhao Huajun , Guo Quanjuan , Zhang Jian 

TITLE=Napabucasin Reduces Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.597520

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2020.597520

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. <italic>Cancer</italic> stem cells (CSCs) are a rare population with self-renewal and multipotent differentiation capacity, and reside among the more differentiated cancer cells. CSCs are associated with tumor recurrence, drug resistance and poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of napabucasin against HCC and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Napabucasin significantly decreased the viability of HCC cells <italic>in vitro</italic> by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In addition, it suppressed CSC-related gene expression and spheroid formation <italic>in vitro</italic>, indicating depletion of CSCs. The anti-neoplastic effects of napabucasin was also evident in homograft tumor-bearing mouse models. Our findings provide the scientific basis of conducting clinical trials on napabucasin as a new therapeutic agent against HCC.</p>