Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel HSP27 inhibitors to sensitize lung cancer cells to clinically available anticancer agents

•NK16 is a potent HSP27 functional inhibitor by inducing abnormal dimerization of HSP27.•NK16 improved the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin and paclitaxel in NSCLC cells.•NK16 synergistically suppressed tumor growth when combined with paclitaxel or cisplatin.