Chb-M′, an Inhibitor of the RUNX Family Binding to DNA, Induces Apoptosis in p53-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Inhibits Tumor Growth and Repopulation In Vivo

Runt-related transcription factor (RUNX) proteins are considered to play various roles in cancer. Here, we evaluated the anticancer activity of Chb-M′, a compound that specifically and covalently binds to the consensus sequence for RUNX family proteins, in p53-mutated non-small cell lung cancer cells. Chb-M′ killed the cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. The compound showed an anticancer effect comparable to that of the clinically used drugs alectinib and ceritinib in vivo. Notably, Chb-M′ extended the cancer-free survival of mice after ending treatment more effectively than did the other two drugs. The results presented here suggest that Chb-M′ is an attractive candidate as an anticancer drug applicable to the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and various other types of cancers.