Dronedarone hydrochloride inhibits gastric cancer proliferation in vitro and in vivo by targeting SRC

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a significant global concern, ranking as the fifth most prevalent cancer. Unfortunately, the five-year survival rate is less than 30 %. Additionally, approximately 50 % of patients experience a recurrence or metastasis. As a result, finding new drugs to prevent relapse is of utmost importance. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of Dronedarone hydrochloride (DH) on gastric cancer cells was examined using proliferation assays and anchorage-dependent assays. The binding of DH with SRC was detected by molecular docking, pull-down assays, and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA). DH's inhibition of Src kinase activity was confirmed through in vitro kinase assays. The SRC knockout cells, established using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, were used to verify Src's role in GC cell proliferation. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were employed to elucidate that DH suppressed tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: Our research discovered DH inhibited GC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. DH bound to the SRC protein to inhibit the SRC/AKT1 signaling pathway in gastric cancer. Additionally, we observed a decrease in the sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to DH upon down-regulation of SRC. Notably, we demonstrated DH's anti-tumor effects were similar to those of Dasatinib, a well-known SRC inhibitor, in GC patient-derived xenograft models. CONCLUSION: Our research has revealed that Dronedarone hydrochloride, an FDA-approved drug, is an SRC inhibitor that can suppress the growth of GC cells by blocking the SRC/AKT1 signaling pathway. It provides a scientific basis for use in the clinical treatment of GC.