Imaging and inhibiting: A dual function molecular flare for cancer cells

Wnt pathway is dysregulated and activated in many human malignancies. More than 90% of colon cancers have variations in the Wnt pathway. Sulindac targeting protein Dvl of the Wnt/Dvl/β-catenin pathway which regulates cancer gene expression, has been reported to significantly reduce the incidence and the risk of death from the colorectal and other types of cancer. Herein, a dual functional compound (SLN) containing Sulindac and a linked fluorophore has been reported firstly, to combine the functions of lighting up colon cancer cells as a flare and inhibiting colon tumor as a drug. SLN can not only mark the Dvl protein in Wnt pathway to recognize tumors layer by layer, but also achieve the effective inhibition of colon cancer, providing a promising reagent for chemotherapy and a fluorescence indicator for surgery during removing the colon tumor in situ.