Speaker: Nira Ben Jonathan, University of Cincinnati, United States
Title: Suppression of Breast Cancer by Small Molecules That Block the Prolactin Receptor
Excited to feature groundbreaking work on small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) that target the prolactin receptor (PRLR)—a key driver of breast cancer growth, invasion, and chemotherapy resistance.
Highlights from this pre-clinical research include:
✨ High-throughput screening of 51,000 molecules, leading to two promising candidates—SMI-1 and SMI-6
✨ Both molecules bind the PRLR with strong affinity (1–3 μM)
✨ SMI-6 shows exceptional selectivity, high anti-tumor activity, and no detectable toxicity
✨ Rapid suppression of tumor growth in mouse xenograft models
✨ Ability to block PRL-driven JAK2/STAT5 activation and inhibit cancer cell proliferation & invasion
With oral delivery, potential brain penetration, and low production costs, SMI-6 represents an exciting step toward developing a novel, targeted breast cancer therapy.
