NNISC-2

NNISC-2 is a novel naphthalimide analog containing an isoselenocyanate (ISC) functional group, developed by researchers at the Penn State University College of Medicine. It is designed as a dual-action anti-tumor agent that targets both DNA topoisomerase II and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The incorporation of the ISC group is intended to reduce the systemic and central nervous system (CNS) toxicities associated with parent naphthalimides like mitonafide, while maintaining or enhancing efficacy against cancers where Akt is frequently activated, such as melanoma. In preclinical studies, NNISC-2 demonstrated significant inhibition of topoisomerase II relaxation activity, comparable to its isothiocyanate counterpart NNITC-2, and showed a dose-dependent decrease in Akt pathway proteins in human melanoma cell lines.