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c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) Inhibitor IQ-1S as a Suppressor of Tumor Spheroid Growth

Elena Afrimzon1,2, Mordechai Deutsch1, Maria Sobolev1

  • 1The Biophysical Interdisciplinary Jerome Schottenstein Center for the Research and Technology of the Cellome, Physics Department, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 13, 2025
PubMed

Insights

IQ-1S, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, effectively reduced breast cancer cell proliferation in both 2D cultures and 3D spheroids. This JNK inhibitor demonstrated significant antiproliferative effects and induced apoptosis in MCF7 cells, showing potential for preclinical cancer models.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation is implicated in cancer development.
  • IQ-1S is a novel JNK inhibitor derived from the 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one scaffold.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the antiproliferative effects of IQ-1S on MCF7 breast cancer cells.
  • To assess IQ-1S efficacy in both 2D monolayer and 3D multicellular spheroid models.

Main Methods:

  • MCF7 cells were cultured in 2D monolayers and 3D hydrogel arrays to form multicellular spheroids.
  • IQ-1S was administered to cells, and spheroid growth, morphology, and cell proliferation were monitored.
  • Apoptosis was assessed via flow cytometry, and in silico ADME properties were evaluated.

Main Results:

  • IQ-1S treatment significantly reduced the size and altered the morphology of 3D MCF7 spheroids.
  • Cell proliferation was inhibited in 2D MCF7 cultures treated with IQ-1S.
  • IQ-1S treatment led to increased apoptosis in MCF7 cells and demonstrated favorable in silico ADME properties.

Conclusions:

  • IQ-1S effectively inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells in both 2D and 3D culture systems.
  • The JNK inhibitor IQ-1S shows significant potential for preclinical evaluation in tumor growth models.
Keywords:
MCF7 breast cancer cellsaryl oximec-Jun N-terminal kinasekinase inhibitortumor spheroids

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