DZ-50

DZ-50 is a **novel quinazoline-based small molecule** compound developed as an anticancer agent, primarily studied for its effects in **human prostate cancer**. It targets both prostate tumor epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells and is mechanistically distinct in that it does **not induce classical apoptosis**, but rather induces a form of cell death known as **anoikis** (cell death due to loss of cell-matrix interactions). DZ-50 inhibits cell migration and adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins (e.g., fibronectin, collagen), disrupts integrin β1 expression on cell surfaces, and **strongly inhibits angiogenesis** both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, DZ-50 downregulates Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP3), decreases mesenchymal markers (such as N-cadherin and vimentin), and promotes epithelial marker expression (E-cadherin), thus reversing **epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)**, enhancing tumor cell sensitivity to anoikis. These actions collectively contribute to the suppression of tumor growth and metastasis in preclinical prostate cancer models[1][3].