Antitumor effects of a novel benzonaphthofurandione derivative (8e) on the human colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through cell cycle arrest accompanied with the modulation of EGFR and mTOR signaling

► Antitumor effects of a novel benzonaphthofurandione (8e) on colorectal cancer HCT 116 cells both in vitro and an in vivo. ► The anti-proliferative activity of 8e was associated with the induction of cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. ► The 8e-induced cell cycle arrest was well correlated with the suppression of CDK2, CDK4, cyclin D1, cyclin E, c-Myc, and pRb. ► The tumor growth in xenograft nude mice by 8e (10 mg/kg) significantly inhibited without any overt toxicity. ► The down-regulation of EGFR, Akt, and mTOR signalings were associated with the anti-proliferative activity of compound 8e.