Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to substituted 2-hydroxy-4-(2-(phenylsulfonamido)acetamido)benzoic acid analogs, derivatives thereof, and related compounds, which are useful as inhibitors of STAT protein activity; synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating disorders of uncontrolled cellular proliferation associated with a STAT protein activity dysfunction using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds S3I-201.1066 (Formula 1) and S3I-201.2096 (Formula 2) as selective Stat3 binding agents that block Stat3 association with cognate receptor pTyr motifs, Stat3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, Stat3 transcriptional function, and consequently induced Stat3-specific antitumor cell effects in vitro and antitumor response in vivo.