Phenotype-Oriented Characterization of NSC828786 Identifies Convergent HPN-AMACR-Associated Transcriptomic Signatures...

Prostate cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality, and new therapeutic strategies are needed for advanced disease. Niclosamide and related salicylanilide compounds have emerged as multitarget anticancer agents, but the molecular contexts associated with their activity remain incompletely understood. Here, we applied a phenotype-oriented integrative framework to characterize the molecular context and phenotypic activity of NSC828786, a niclosamide-like salicylanilide derivative. Cross-cohort transcriptomic analyses identified AMACR (alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase) and HPN (hepsin) as consistently upregulated genes in independent prostate adenocarcinoma cohorts. NCI-60 profiling demonstrated broad-spectrum low-micromolar antiproliferative activity, including AR-negative prostate cancer and breast cancer cell lines spanning multiple receptor subtypes; however, quantitative ranking did not support preferential receptor subtype selectivity. CellMiner COMPARE analysis showed no significant correlation between baseline AMACR or HPN expression and NSC828786 sensitivity. Structure-based analyses supported computational compatibility of NSC828786 with predicted HPN- and AMACR-associated binding regions, while zebrafish assays showed no overt developmental abnormalities at concentrations ≤ 5 μM. These findings identify NSC828786 as a phenotypically active salicylanilide derivative and position HPN and AMACR as exploratory candidate molecular associations warranting further mechanistic and target engagement studies.