As more active compounds found in Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), this kind of malignant tumor has received more and more attention. Our previous article “IITZ-01 as a Potent Lysosomotropic Autophagy Inhibitor” described the good efficacy of IITZ-01 in TNBC. Today, I would like to introduce another novel small molecule SLLN-15 that activates cytostatic macroautophagy/autophagy in TNBC.

A study from Chia-Hao Ch, et al. has carried out a series experiments both in vitro and in vivo to verify the effect and mechanism of SLLN-15.

In vitro, SLLN-15 (0, 1, 5, 10, 25 μM) treatment for 24 hours markedly decreased overall cell viability of breast cancer cells. In addition, this conpound functioned in TNBC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, in long-term effect experiment of colony-formation assay, the treatment of SLLN-15 (100 nM and 1000 nM) for 7 days almost equally inhibited the colony formation abilities of several breast cancer cell lines. Overall, SLLN-15 induces a dose-dependent anti-proliferative activity in the TNBC cell lines by the induction of autophagy and autophagic flux. The authors concluded that this induction is associated with a selective inhibition of AKT-MTOR signaling.

In vivo, SLLN-15 (30mg/kg, PO, 3 times a week) inhibits the growth of TNBC in animal TNBC cell transplanted mice. Furthermore, it also inhibited TNBC cell progression to metastases. Nonetheless, mechanically, the results also suggest that the SLLN-15-induced autophagy in breast cancer cells functions via the AURKA-AKT-MTOR pathway.

In conclution, oral SLLN-15 reveals a potent anticancer and anti-metastatic activity in mice bearing TNBC. And this compound has potential to be promising clinical drug for the treatment of TNBC.