Abstract: The present invention concerns compounds and their use to treat cell proliferative diseases such as cancer. In general aspects, compounds of the present invention are tyrphostin-like in structure. Compounds of the present invention, in certain embodiments, display significant potency by causing, for example, inhibition of Stat3 activation, reduction in c-myc protein levels and/or induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. In general aspects, compounds of the present invention induce one or more of these activities at nanomolar concentrations and typically function through a unique mechanism involving the induction of stress granules that bind specific signaling molecules and prevent them from participating in signal transduction and oncogenesis.