# Mechanism of SC targeting RhoA regulation and its potential value in gastric cancer therapy

## TL;DR

This paper identifies a new compound, SC, that targets RhoA to inhibit gastric cancer progression by disrupting cell migration and tumor growth.

## Contribution

The paper introduces SC as a novel RhoA inhibitor with dual-action capabilities in gastric cancer therapy.

## Key findings

- SC suppresses RhoA expression and inhibits cell migration in gastric cancer cells.
- SC induces pseudopodia retraction and cytoskeletal collapse in vitro.
- Oral administration of SC reduces tumor growth in a xenograft model.

## Abstract

RhoA drives the malignant progression of gastric cancer through cytoskeletal remodeling and the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we identified a novel small-molecule inhibitor, (E)-1,9-bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)non-3-en-5-one (SC), targeting RhoA through molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) validation. SPR kinetics revealed high-affinity binding (KD = 1.588 μM) with rapid association (ka = 2.769 × 103 1/Ms) and slow dissociation (kd = 4.398 × 10−3 1/s), achieving stable SC-RhoA complex formation. In vitro, SC suppressed RhoA expression, in turn upregulating E-cadherin, downregulating N-cadherin and Vimentin, and inhibiting cell migration (p < 0.001). Scanning electron microscopy confirmed pseudopodia retraction and cytoskeletal collapse. Remarkably, oral administration of SC (50 mg/kg/day) attenuated tumor growth in a xenograft model. These results present SC as a potential dual-action RhoA inhibitor that concurrently disrupts GTPase activity and protein stability, offering a promising therapeutic strategy against gastric cancer.

•Identification of SC as the monomeric compound with specific anti-gastric cancer activity.•SC triggers significant cell death in gastric cancer cells.•Dual-targeting capability by coupling enzymatic inhibition with protein destabilization.•SC might as a RhoA-directed therapeutic for gastric cancer.

Identification of SC as the monomeric compound with specific anti-gastric cancer activity.

SC triggers significant cell death in gastric cancer cells.

Dual-targeting capability by coupling enzymatic inhibition with protein destabilization.

SC might as a RhoA-directed therapeutic for gastric cancer.