Abstract 2242 Anti-Cancer Activity of Naphthoquinone Derivatives

Naphthoquinone compounds are one of several core chemical structures that have been investigated in the pursuit of more effective cancer therapeutics. A common problem, however, with existing drugs is nonspecific targeting of healthy cells. A unique characteristic shared by almost all cancer cell types is an abnormal nutrient need, including glucose and amino acids. Correspondingly, one of the hallmarks of most cancer cells is increased expression of the L-type amino acid transporter (LAT1). To capitalize on these consistent molecular changes, we developed a panel of naphthoquinone compounds, including LAT-1 derivatives, and examined their potency and specificity in a range of cell lines.