Structure-Based Design of Conformationally Constrained, Cell-Permeable STAT3 Inhibitors

We report herein the structure-based design of a class of conformationally constrained, potent, cell-permeable small-molecule inhibitors to target the SH2 domain in STAT3. Compound 11 (CJ-1383) binds to STAT3 with a K(i) value of 0.95 µM, dose-dependently inhibits cellular STAT3 signaling and cancer cell growth, and induces apoptosis in the MDA-MB-468 cancer cell line with constitutively activated STAT3.