Research Areas
- Cancer Therapeutics & Drug Discovery
- Colorectal Cancer Biology
- Molecular Oncology
- Biomarker Discovery and Validation
Scientific Achievements
- Establishment of superior cytotoxicity of a novel compound, NN9, against colorectal cancer cells compared with a commonly used chemotherapy drug.
- Validation of NN9’s strong inhibition of Cathepsin L, a key enzyme that supports cancer growth and metastasis.
- Demonstration that NN9 suppresses cancer-promoting markers and activates programmed cell-death pathways in colorectal cancer cell line.
Funding
RCMI Funding:
- U54MD015929-03, NIH-NIMHD: Pilot Project “Antitumorigenic and Antimetastatic Actions of a Novel Cathepsin L Inhibitor in Models of Colorectal Cancer”
Scientific Advance
Anticancer Effects of a Novel Cathepsin‑L Inhibitor (NN9) on SW620 Colorectal Cancer Cells
Poster presentation at the 2025 RCMI Consortium National Conference, Bethesda, MD
Poster presentation at the 2025 RCMI Consortium National Conference, Bethesda, MD
This study investigated whether inhibiting the cathepsin L (CatL) protein using a novel compound, NN9, may successfully target colorectal cancer. CatL contributes to aggressive tumor growth and poorer outcomes, particularly in populations that experience a higher cancer burden. NN9 significantly diminished the viability of human colon cancer cells more potently than a commonly used chemotherapy drug. The compound functions by inhibiting cathepsin L and activating cancer cell self-destruction pathways. These results suggest that NN9 could lead to better treatments for colorectal cancer and may help reduce disparities in cancer outcomes through improved treatment options.
NIH–NIMHD Pilot Project Grant: U54MD015929‑04
