The RNAi enhancer enoxacin inhibits the growth and migration of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells
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Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. A decrease in the global expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is observed in various types of cancer, including esophageal cancer. It has been found that the small molecule enoxacin serves as an RNA interference (RNAi) enhancer, increasing the maturation rate of various cellular miRNAs. Here, we show that enoxacin significantly reduces the growth characteristics of ESCC cell lines. It induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in ESCC cells, leading to a clear decrease in ESCC cell number and viability. In addition, enoxacin suppresses the ability of cells to migrate and decreases their capacity to form colonies. Mechanistically, we reveal that enoxacin promotes the maturation of miRNAs through the stimulation of TARBP2 protein, the physical partner of DICER1. Taken together, enoxacin potently blocks the growth, motility, and clonogenicity of ESCC cells, paving the way for further investigation of this small-molecule chemical in animal models of ESCC.
