Rubone

Rubone, a chalcone analog, is a modulator of miR-34a. Rubone upregulates miR-34a expression in a p53 dependent manner, downregulates the downstream target Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1 expression, and suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth in vivo. Rubone enhances the anticancer effect of Paclitaxel (PTX; HY-B0015) in PTX-resistant prostate cancer cell lines by reversing the expression of miR-34a downstream targets^[1][2][3]. In Vitro:Rubone (0-60 μM) exhibits significantly high cytotoxicity in DU145-TXR and PC3-TXR cells, suggesting that Rubone has stronger anticancer effect in advanced prostate cancer cells, which has lower miR-34a expression^[3].
Rubone (5, 10 uM; 48 h) significantly reverses the expression of miR-34a downstream gene targets of DU145-TXR and PC3-TXR cell lines^[3].
Rubone (5, 10 uM; 48 h) upregulates miR-34a in PTX-resistant DU145-TXR and PC3-TXR cell lines in a dose dependent manner^[3].
Rubone (5 μM; for 2 weeks) and PTX (for 2 weeks) combination therapy inhibit PC3-TXR cell growth and sphere formation in 3D model, including 3D on top and hanging drop model. Rubone and PTX combination therapy inhibit cell invasion, migration, and cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) population in a p53-independent pathway. Rubone monotherapy or Rubone and PTX combination significantly enhances TAp73 and Elk-1 expression^[3].
In Vivo:Rubone monotherapy (20 mg/kg loaded PEG-PCD micelles; iv for five doses every other day) or combination therapy with PTX (10 mg/kg for each drug loaded PEG-PCD micelles) significantly upregulates miR-34a expression in tumor. The combination therapy inhibits tumor growth. Rubone monotherapy failed to suppress tumor cell proliferation^[3].