The molecular mechanisms of a novel multi-kinase inhibitor ZLJ33 in suppressing pancreatic cancer growth

ZLJ33, an oral active multi-kinase inhibitor, was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo against human pancreatic cancer. It could effectively inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and cause inhibition of invasion in pancreatic cancer cells. At a dose of 15.0 mg/kg, ZLJ33 induced tumor shrink in Mia-PaCa2, Capan2, and AsPC-1 xenografts models by 60.59%, 74.19%, and 71.54% according to the tumor weight, respectively. The effect of ZLJ33 on pancreatic cancer was mainly mediated by inactivation of p-PDGFRβ, p-c-Raf, and p-RET. Treatment with ZLJ33 did not cause side effect of hematology indexes in the pancreatic cancer xenograft model. ZLJ33 could be a potential therapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer.