Paper detail

A Novel Bis-Coumarin Targets Multiple Tyrosine Kinases of Key Signaling Pathways in Melanoma and Inhibits Melanoma Cell Survival, Proliferation, and Migration

Melanoma is one of the most dangerous skin malignancies due to its high metastatic tendency and high mortality. Activation of key signaling pathways enforcing melanoma progression depends on phosphorylation of tyrosine kinases, and oxidative stress. We here investigated the effect of the new bis-coumarin derivative (3,5-DCPBC) on human melanoma cell survival, growth, proliferation, migration, and intracellular redox state, and deciphered associated signal pathways. This novel derivative was found to be toxic for melanoma cells, and non-toxic for their benign counterparts, melanocytes and fibroblasts. 3,5-DCPBC inhibited cell survival, migration and proliferation of different metastatic, and non-metastatic melanoma cell lines through the profound suppression of phosphorylation of the Epidermal Growth Factor receptor, and related downstream pathways. Suppression of phosphorylation of key downstream transcription factors and different tyrosine kinases comprise JAK/STAT, SRC kinases, ERK and MAP kinases (p38alpha), all involved in melanoma progression. Simultaneous and specific targeting of multiple tyrosine kinases and corresponding key genes in melanoma cells makes 3,5-DCPBC a highly interesting anti-melanoma, and anti-metastatic drug candidate which may in the long term hold promise in the therapy of advanced melanoma.