RK-33 is a small molecule inhibitor targeting DDX3 an RNA helicase frequently overexpressed in various cancer types including lung cancer DDX3 overexpression correlates with poorer survival outcomes in lung cancer patients suggesting therapeutic relevance Mechanistically RK-33 inhibits DDX3 enzymatic activity thereby disrupting downstream signaling pathways particularly the -catenin-dependent Wnt signaling axis In vitro studies indicate RK-33 induces cell cycle arrest at G1 phase promotes apoptosis and enhances cellular radiosensitivity in DDX3-high expressing cell lines (e g A549 H1299 H23 and H460 IC50 4 4 8 4 M) In preclinical in vivo testing using a Twist1/KrasG12D mouse lung cancer model combined treatment of RK-33 with radiation resulted in reduced tumor growth compared with radiation alone RK-33 serves as a research tool to investigate DDX3 biology and potential therapeutic strategies for cancers with elevated DDX3 expression