MEIS2 inhibitor

MEIS2 inhibitor (referred to in research as MEISi) is a small molecule pharmacological inhibitor targeting the Myeloid Ecotropic Insertion Site 2 (MEIS2) homeobox transcription factor. MEIS2 is a critical regulator of stem cell identity and cell fate, and its deregulation is associated with various cancers, including platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. By blocking MEIS2, the inhibitor reduces the population of ALDH+ cancer stem cells (CSCs) and inhibits the expression of stemness-associated genes such as ALDH1A2 and Sox2. Preclinical studies conducted at Northwestern University demonstrate that MEIS2 inhibition can resensitize ovarian cancer cells to platinum-based chemotherapy (e.g., cisplatin and carboplatin) and suppress tumor growth and initiation in vivo.