Abstract: Provided herein are 1-aryl or 1-heteroaryl pyrido[b]indoles compounds with the structure These compounds comprise a ?-carboline ring structure substituted at C1 with an aryl or heteroaryl moiety and individually substituted at C3-C8 and N9 with a C1-C4 alkyl, a C1-C4 alkoxy, a C1-C4 alkoxyphenyl, or a hydrogen. Also provided are methods for inhibiting proliferation of cancer cells or for treating a cell proliferative disease by contacting the cancer cell or tumor comprising the same with the compounds provided herein or by administering the compounds to a subject with a cell proliferative disease.