In collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. David Shapiro (UIUC Biochemistry) we have discovered a family of potent and selective anticancer agents, headlined by the compound ErSO. ErSO and its derivatives induce quantitative tumor regression in certain xenograft models and have tremendous translational potential.

Related Publications
- A Necrosis Inducer Promotes an Immunogenic Response and Destroys Ovarian Cancers in Mouse Xenografts and Patient Ascites Organoids
Duraki D, Jabeen R, Mao C, Wang L, Ghosh S, Dai X, Zhu J, Boudreau MW, Nelson ER, Hergenrother PJ, Cheng G, Shapiro DJ
Cancer Lett. 2025, 625, 217738
Link to Journal
- Single dose of a small molecule leads to complete regressions of breast tumors in mice
Mulligan MP, Boudreau MW, Bouwens BA, Lee Y, Carrell HW, Zhu J, Mousses S, Shapiro DJ, Nelson ER, Fan TM, Hergenrother PJ
ACS Cent. Sci. 2025, 11, 228-238.
- Plasma Membrane Channel TRPM4 Mediates Immunogenic Therapy-Induced Necrosis
Ghosh S, Yang R, Duraki D, Zhu J, Kim JE, Jabeen M, Mao C, Dai X, Livezey MR, Boudreau MW, Park BH, Nelson ER, Hergenrother PJ, Shapiro DJ
Cancer Res. 2023, 83, 3115-3130
- Evolution of 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)indoline-2-one as a scaffold for potent and selective anticancer activity
Boudreau, M.W. and Hergenrother, P.J.
RSC Med. Chem. 2022, 13, 711-725
Link to journal
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- Activators of the anticipatory unfolded protein response with enhanced selectivity for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer
Boudreau, M.W.; Mulligan, M.P.; Shapiro, D.J.; Fan, T.M.; Hergenrother, P.J.
J. Med. Chem. 2022, 65, 3894-3912
- A small molecule activator of the unfolded protein response eradicates human breast tumors in mice
Boudreau, MW; Duraki, D; Wang, L.; Mao, C.; Kim, J.E.; Tang, B.; Fanning, S.W.; Kiefer, J.; Tarasow, T.M.; Bruckheimer, E.M.; Moreno, R.; Mousses, S.; Greene, G.L.; Roy, E.J.; Park, B.H.; Fan, T.M.; Nelson, E.R.; Hergenrother, P.J.; Shapiro, D.J.
Science Transl. Med. 2021, 13, eabf1383