A method of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells is disclosed in which cancer cells that contain an enhanced amount relative to non-cancerous cells of one or more of phosphorylated mTOR, Akt1, ERK2 and serine2152-phosphorylated filamin A are contacted with an FLNA-binding effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof that binds to the pentapeptide of filamin A (FLNA) of SEQ ID NO: 1 and exhibits at least about 60 percent of the FITC-labeled naloxone binding amount when present at a 10 μM concentration and using unlabeled naloxone as the control inhibitor at the same concentration. A compound that binds to the FLNA pentapeptide preferably also contains at least four of the six pharmacophores of FIGS. 19-24.