Quambalarine B, a Secondary Metabolite from Quambalaria cyanescens with Potential Anticancer Properties.

Quambalarine B (QB) is a secondary metabolite produced by the basidiomycete Quambalaria cyanescens with potential anticancer activity. Here we report that QB at low micromolar concentration inhibits proliferation of several model leukemic cell lines (Jurkat, NALM6, and REH), whereas higher concentrations induce cell death. By contrast, the effect of QB on primary leukocytes (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) is significantly milder with lower toxicity and cytostatic activity. Moreover, QB inhibited expression of the C-MYC oncoprotein and mRNA expression of its target genes, LDHA, PKM2, and GLS. Finally, QB blocked the phosphorylation of P70S6K, a downstream effector kinase in mTOR signaling that regulates translation of C-MYC. This observation could explain the molecular mechanism behind the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of QB on leukemic cells. Altogether, our results establish QB as a promising molecule in anticancer treatment.