Ursolic acid derivative FZU-03,010 inhibits STAT3 and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in renal and breast cancer cells.

Advanced renal cell carcinoma and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) are malignancies without effective therapeutics currently. Ursolic acid (UA) has been previously reported to have anti-cancer effects in multiple solid tumors. In order to develop more potent anti-cancer reagents, FZU-03,010 based on the chemical structure of UA were synthesized. The results demonstrated that, compared with UA, FZU-03,010 could suppress renal cancer cell 786-0 and TNBC cell HCC1806 cell viability more potently.  Furthermore, FZU-03,010 could induce G1 cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis more efficiently than UA. FZU-03,010 could also inhibit signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation, induce the expression of cell cycle-dependent kinase inhibitors (p21 and p27) and promote cell apoptosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that the UA derivative FZU-03,010 is more potent in inhibiting cancer cell survival, and FZU-03,010 has the potential to be developed as a therapeutic for renal cell cancers and TNBCs.