T63, a new 4-arylidene curcumin analogue, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through activation of the reactive oxygen species-FOXO3a pathway in lung cancer cells

► T63, a curcumin analogue, induced G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells. ► T63 treatment rapidly increased reactive oxygen species levels. ► Activation of FOXO3a is essential for T63-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. ► T63 significantly suppressed the growth of A549 lung cancer xenograft tumors. ► T63 treatment showed no notable organ-related toxicity in vivo.