Key Points
• In the current study involving cell line, researchers demonstrated that the apoptotic effect of malayoside resulted from the induction of Nur77 expression, cytoplasmic localization, and mitochondrial targeting.
• Nur77 is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, and plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, survival, and apoptosis in NSCLC and other cancers.
• Importantly, the activation of the Nur77 apoptotic pathway by malayoside was tied to its activation of p38α and ERK1/2; the inhibition of p38α and ERK1/2 stymied the ability of malayoside to induce Nur77 expression and apoptosis..
• The authors concluded, “Our findings provide new insight into the mechanism by which p38 and ERK1/2 mediate the apoptotic effects of diverse chemotherapeutic agents for NSCLC. Moreover, other studies have reported that malayoside is less toxic to the heart and has a higher therapeutic index than ouabain [39]. Thus, malayoside may be a potential anti-cancer agent with high efficiency and low toxicity. In a word, malayoside represents a promising agent for NSCLC therapy that warrants further clinical development.”