The invention discloses a substituted 
diaryl ether compound. The 
structural formula of the compound is shown in the specification. In the 
structural formula, Z is -CH- or -N-; W is -CH-or -N-; Y is -O-, -CH2-, -NH- or -NRy-; R1 is one of 
hydrogen, 
halogen, NO2, CN, CF3, ORa, CORa, COORa, SO2Ra, SO2NRaRb, NRaRb, NRaCORb, a non-substituted / substituted C1-C4 
alkyl group, a non-substituted / substituted 
aryl group and a non-substituted / substituted heterocyclic group; R2 is 
hydrogen, a non-substituted / substituted C1-C4 
alkyl group, or 
halogen; and R is one of a non-substituted / substituted C1-C12 
alkyl group, a non-substituted / substituted C3-C12 cycloalkyl group, a non-substituted / substituted C2-C12 alkenyl group, a non-substituted / substituted 
aryl group, substituted alkylamine, and a non-substituted / substituted heterocyclic group. The substituted 
diaryl ether compound can obviously inhibit the malignant proliferation 
phenotype of 
cancer cells, promotes the expression of 
cell apoptosis factor proteins, and provides a new potential 
anticancer drug.