Discovery of Jaspamycin from marine-derived natural product based on MTA3 to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Studies have underscored the pivotal role of metastasis-associated protein 3 (MTA3) as a cancer regulator, yet its potential as a drug target across cancers necessitates comprehensive evaluation. In this study, we analyzed MTA3 expression profiles to ascertain its diagnostic and prognostic value in pan-cancers, probing associations with genetic variations and immunological characteristics. Notably, liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) exhibited the most significant correlation with MTA3. By transfection of siRNA, interference of MTA3 affected HepG2 and Hepa1-6 cell viability and migration. Through drug screening and drug-likeness evaluation among marine-derived natural products, Jaspamycin was identified as a potential hepatocellular carcinoma treatment by targeting MTA3. By applying in vitro and in vivo experiment, the inhibitory effects of Jaspamycin on hepatocellular carcinoma viability, migration, and tumor progression were observed. To assess the potential of MTA3 as an anticancer drug target, MTA3 overexpression plasmid was transfected together with Jaspamycin treatment, and observed that MTA3 upregulation counteracted the inhibitory effects of Jaspamycin on hepatocarcinoma cell proliferation and migration, underscoring the efficacy of MTA3 as a drug target in hepatocellular carcinoma drug screening. This study highlights the clinical significance of MTA3 in pan-cancer, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, it identifies Jaspamycin, a marine-derived compound with promising pharmacological properties, as an effective inhibitor of MTA3 activity, suggesting its potential for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.