Induction of tubulin polymerization and apoptosis in malignant mesothelioma cells by a new compound JBIR-23

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis Thus novel therapeutic agents need to be developed for treating it We recently reported the isolation of the novel anti-MPM compound designated as JBIR-23 from Strep tomyces sp AK-AB27 In this study JBIR-23 exerted its cytotoxic effect on MPM cells by promotion of tubulin polymerization and G(2)/M arrest which was followed by apoptosis induction via the caspase pathway through phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-jun N-terminal kinase Furthermore in vivo analysis demonstrated that JBIR-23 prevented tumor growth in tumor-bearing nude mice without evident side effects (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved