migrastatin core ether

Migrastatin core ether (ME) is a synthetic, structurally simplified analog of migrastatin, a natural product isolated from Streptomyces. Developed by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, ME acts as a potent inhibitor of tumor cell migration and metastasis. Unlike many cytotoxic agents, ME specifically targets the metastatic process without significantly affecting primary tumor proliferation. It has demonstrated high efficacy in preclinical models of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC), significantly reducing metastatic spread to the liver, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Its mechanism involves the inhibition of fascin, an actin-bundling protein essential for the formation of filopodia and cell motility.

Other names

migrastatin ether analog