Provided are 1-aryl or 1-heteroaryl substituted beta-carboline compounds or indole analogs thereof having the structure: where X is NH, N—C1-C4 alkyl, S, or O; R1 is 1-naphthyl or 1-dihydroacenaphthenyl, each optionally substituted with a halogen; and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are independently H H, OH, halogen, CN, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, —C(O)OC1-C4 ester, —C1-C4—SO2—NH—C1-C4 sulfonamide, or phenyl with the proviso that X is NH, R1 is 1-naphthyl or 1-naphthyl substituted with a halogen and one of R5, R6, or R7 is C1-C4 alkoxy, then R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are independently H, OH, halogen, CN, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, —C(O)OC1-C4 ester, —C1-C4—SO2—NH—C1-C4 sulfonamide, or phenyl such that at least two of R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are other than H. Also provided are methods for inhibiting proliferation of cells associated with a cell proliferative disease by contacting the cell with the compounds provided herein.