Napabucasin (BBI-608)

Description: Napabucasin (formerly also known as BBI-608; BBI608; BBI 608) is a novel, potent, and orally bioavailable cancer cell stemness inhibitor with potential antineoplastic activity. Although the exact target has yet to be fully elucidated, BBI608 appears to target and inhibit multiple pathways involved in cancer cell stemness. This may ultimately inhibit cancer stemness cell (CSC) growth as well as heterogeneous cancer cell growth. CSCs are self-replicating cells that are able to differentiate into heterogeneous cancer cells, appear to be responsible for the malignant growth, recurrence and resistance to conventional chemotherapies. Napabucasin was also reported to be a STAT3 inhibitor which blocks stem cell activity in cancer cells.

References: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Feb 10; 112(6):1839-44.