Disclosed herein are compounds derived from a chemical structure according to the formula (I) wherein X comprises oxygen or sulfur, R1 comprises a phenyl or naphthyl group, R2 comprises an amide group and R3 comprises a phosphate group. The disclosed compounds demonstrate inhibitory activity against STAT3, a protein found in certain tumor tissues and which promotes cellular overproliferation and resistance to apoptosis. The invention includes compositions containing the disclosed compounds, as well as methods of treatment therewith.
