(R,R′)-4′-methoxy-1-naphthylfenoterol as a new multi-target compound of antitumorigenic properties

Abstract

Targeted therapies are based on the use of compounds that inhibit a specific target molecule within the tissue of interest. The recent advances in the molecular etiology of cancer significantly shifted the therapeutic approach from nonspecific cytotoxic agents towards molecules directed either at individual receptors or acting simultaneously on multiple molecular targets. This article is an overview of recent literature on (R,R′)-4′-methoxy-1-naphthylfenoterol (MNF), a novel bifunctional ligand that activates β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) and blocks GPR55 receptor. These two activities are important for MNF-dependent inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the potential applicability of MNF in multitarget anticancer therapies.