• GC002, a novel gold(I) phosphine complex, demonstrates superior cytotoxicity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells compared to sorafenib and auranofin.
• GC002 induces irreversible necroptosis in HCC cells through elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation.
• Mechanistically, GC002 directly binds to and inhibits thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), disrupting redox homeostasis in cancer cells.
• In vivo xenograft studies confirm GC002's potent antitumor activity with minimal side effects, highlighting its therapeutic potential for HCC.