Anticancer properties for 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (A-007)/3,7-diaminophenothiazin-5-ium double salts

4,4'-Dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (A-007) formed stable double salts with phenothiazin-5-ium salts (2a-d), which have improved in vitro anticancer activities, as compared to A-007 alone. The stable salt between methylene blue (2a) and A-007 allowed the latter to diffuse into the dermis layers of skin. It is anticipated that these new salts will allow A-007 to penetrate into the deep lymphatic/vascular channels of the dermis, which contain metastatic cancer cells, and improve in vivo anticancer activities.     

NMR spectroscopic study of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with A-007 prodrugs

One- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy was used to demonstrate the formation of inclusion cyclodextrin complexes with several A-007 prodrugs. These complexes are comprised from the encapsulation of the two phenol moieties of the A-007 prodrugs within the cyclodextrin cavity. Considering the size of the two phenol moieties of the A-007 prodrugs compared to the sizes of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrin cavities, we observed complementary binding of the A-007 prodrug with only beta-cyclodextrin, which was also demonstrated spectroscopically. The beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes increased the prodrug solubility and modified the prodrug half-life in water. Therefore, beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes can be used as an essential form of A-007 prodrug delivery.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-indolyloxazolines as a new class of tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Discovery of A-289099 as an orally active antitumor agent

A series of indole containing oxazolines has been discovered as a result of structural modifications of the lead compound A-105972. The compounds exert their anticancer activity through inhibition of tubulin polymerization by binding at the colchicine site. A-289099 was identified as an orally active antimitotic agent active against various cancer cell lines including those that express the MDR phenotype. The anticancer activity, pharmacokinetics, and an efficient and enantioselective synthesis of A-289099 are described.     

Discovery,SAR, synthesis,pharmacokinetic and biochemical characterization of A-192411: a novel fungicidal lipopeptide-(I)

The echinocandin class of cyclic lipopeptides has been simplified to discover potent antifungal compounds. Namely A-192411 shows good in vitro activity against common pathogenic yeasts and has an acceptable safety window in vivo. Discovery, limited SAR, synthesis, biochemical and pharmaco-dynamic profiles of A-192411 are presented.     

2-Arylbenzoxazoles as novel cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors: optimization via array synthesis

2-Arylbenzoxazole 5 was identified as a hit from a fluorescence-based high-throughput screen for CETP inhibitors. The synthesis and SAR investigation employing array synthesis of the A- and B-rings are described.     

Discovery of A-770041, a src-family selective orally active lck inhibitor that prevents organ allograft rejection

We describe the identification, SAR, and pharmacology of the src-family selective lck inhibitor A-770041 that prolongs the survival of major histocompatibility mismatched allografts in models of solid organ transplant rejection for greater than 65 days.     

1-Benzyl-3-cetyl-2-methylimidazolium iodide (NH125) induces phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor-2 (eEF2): a cautionary note on the anticancer mechanism of an eEF2 kinase inhibitor

Eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF2K) relays growth and stress signals to protein synthesis through phosphorylation and inactivation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). 1-Benzyl-3-cetyl-2-methylimidazolium iodide (NH125) is a widely accepted inhibitor of mammalian eEF2K and an efficacious anti-proliferation agent against different cancer cells. It implied that eEF2K could be an efficacious anticancer target. However, eEF2K siRNA was ineffective against cancer cells including those sensitive to NH125. To test if pharmacological intervention differs from siRNA interference, we identified a highly selective small molecule eEF2K inhibitor A-484954. Like siRNA, A-484954 had little effect on cancer cell growth. We carefully examined the effect of NH125 and A-484954 on phosphorylation of eEF2, the known cellular substrate of eEF2K. Surprisingly, NH125 increased eEF2 phosphorylation, whereas A-484954 inhibited the phosphorylation as expected for an eEF2K inhibitor. Both A-484954 and eEF2K siRNA inhibited eEF2K and reduced eEF2 phosphorylation with little effect on cancer cell growth. These data demonstrated clearly that the anticancer activity of NH125 was more correlated with induction of eEF2 phosphorylation than inhibition of eEF2K. Actually, induction of eEF2 phosphorylation was reported to correlate with inhibition of cancer cell growth. We compared several known inducers of eEF2 phosphorylation including AMPK activators and an mTOR inhibitor. Interestingly, stronger induction of eEF2 phosphorylation correlated with more effective growth inhibition. We also explored signal transduction pathways leading to NH125-induced eEF2 phosphorylation. Preliminary data suggested that NH125-induced eEF2 phosphorylation was likely mediated through multiple pathways. These observations identified an opportunity for a new multipathway approach to anticancer therapies.     

Structure-activity relationship of a novel class of naphthyl amide KATP channel openers

We have discovered a novel series of N-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxy-1-trifluoromethyl-ethyl)-naphthalen-1-yl] amides that are potent openers of K(ATP) channels and investigated structure-activity relationships (SAR) around the 1,2-disubstituted naphthyl core. A-151892, a prototype compound of this series, was found to be a potent and efficacious potassium channel opener in vitro in transfected Kir6.2/SUR2B cells and pig bladder strips. Additionally, A-151892 was found to selectively inhibit unstable bladder contractions in vivo in an obstructed rat model of myogenic bladder function     

Structure-activity relationships of non-imidazole H(3) receptor ligands. Part 1

SAR studies for novel non-imidazole containing H(3) receptor antagonists with high potency and selectivity for rat H(3) receptors are described. A high throughput screening lead, A-923, was further elaborated in a systematic manner to clarify a pharmacophore for this class of aryloxyalkyl piperazine based compounds.     

Synthesis and SAR of highly potent and selective dopamine D(3)-receptor antagonists: 1H-pyrimidin-2-one derivatives

The synthesis and SAR of novel highly potent and selective dopamine D(3)-receptor antagonists based on a 1H-pyrimidin-2-one scaffold are described. A-690344 antagonized PD 128907-induced huddling deficits in rat (ED(50) 6.1mg/kg po), a social interaction paradigm.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of estradiol–chlorambucil hybrids as anticancer agents

A series of estradiol–chlorambucil hybrids was synthesized as anticancer drugs for site-directed chemotherapy of breast cancer. The novel compounds were synthesized in good yields through efficient modifications of estrone at position 16α of the steroid nucleus. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anticancer efficacy in different hormone-dependent and hormone-independent breast cancer cell lines. The novel hybrids showed significant in vitro anticancer activity when compared to chlorambucil. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) reveals the influence of the length of the spacer chain between carrier and drug molecule.     

Design,synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel sulfonylurea derivatives of podophyllotoxin

Three series of novel sulfonylurea podophyllotoxin derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against four tumor cell lines (A-549, DU-145, KB and KBvin). Compounds 14c (IC₅₀: 1.41–1.76 μM) and 14e (IC₅₀: 1.72–2.01 μM) showed superior cytotoxic activity compared with etoposide (IC₅₀: 2.03 to >20 μM), a clinically available anticancer drug. Significantly, most of the compounds exhibited comparable cytotoxicity against the drug-resistant tumor cell line KBvin, while etoposide lost activity completely. Preliminary structure–activity relationship (SAR) correlations indicated that the 4′-O-methyl functionality in podophyllotoxin analogues may be essential to maintain cytotoxic activity, while an arylsulfonylurea side chain at podophyllotoxin’s 4β position can significantly improve cytotoxic activity.     

Effect of substitution at N″-position of N'-hydroxy-N-amino guanidines on tumor cell growth

Structural modification of one of our earlier reported lead molecule (ABNM13) has been carried out to study the effect of different substituents at the N″-position of N-hydroxy-N'-amino guanidines (HAGs) on their anticancer activity. Compounds with electron donating substituents were found to be less active. In contrast, those with electron withdrawing groups were found favorable for anticancer activity. The obtained results provide significant SAR information that may be useful for further drug designing with HAGs.     

Synthesis of 4β-carbamoyl epipodophyllotoxins as potential antitumour agents

A series of new 4β-carbamoyl epipodophyllotoxin analogues have been synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity against eleven cancer cell lines including Zr-75-1, MCF7, KB, Gurav, DWD, Colo 205, A-549, Hop62, PC3, SiHa and A-2780. Most of the compounds exhibited better growth-inhibition activities against tested cell lines than that of etoposide. Further, compounds 6g and 6i are also evaluated for their DNA topoisomerase-II (topo-II) inhibition activity and they exhibited significant inhibition of topo-II catalytic activity comparable to etoposide.     

Synthesis of D- and L-tyrosine-chlorambucil analogs active against breast cancer cell lines

A series of D- and L-tyrosine-chlorambucil analogs was synthesized as anticancer drugs for chemotherapy of breast cancer. The novel compounds were synthesized in good yields through efficient modifications of D- and L-tyrosine. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anticancer efficacy in different hormone-dependent and hormone-independent (ER+ and ER-) breast cancer cell lines. The novel analogs showed significant in vitro anticancer activity when compared to chlorambucil. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) reveals both, the influence of the length of the spacer chain and the stereochemistry of the tyrosine moiety. Interestingly, the D- and L-tyrosinol-chlorambucil derivatives with 10 carbon atoms spacer are selective towards MCF-7 (ER+) breast cancer cell line.     

The synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of selective acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors containing 4-(thiazol-5-yl)but-3-yn-2-amino motif: polar region modifications

The structure-activity relationship study focused on the polar region of the HTS hit A-80040 (1) producing several series of potent and selective ACC2 inhibitors. The SAR suggests a compact lipophilic pocket that does not tolerate polar and ionic groups. Replacement of the hydroxyurea group with isoxazoles improves ACC2 selectivity while maintaining potency. Variations at the propargylic site of 11a reduce ACC2 potency.     

Synthesis of MeON-neoglycosides of digoxigenin with 6-deoxy- and 2,6-dideoxy-d-glucose derivatives and their anticancer activity

Cardiac glycosides show anticancer activities and their deoxy-sugar chains are vital for their anticancer effects. In order to study the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of cardiac glycosides toward cancers and get more potent anticancer agents, a series of MeON-neoglycosides of digoxigenin was synthesized and evaluated. First, ten 6-deoxy- and 2,6-dideoxy-d-glucopyranosyl donors were synthesized starting from methyl α-d-glucopyranoside and 2-deoxy-d-glucose. Meanwhile, the digoxigenin was obtained by acidic hydrolysis of commercially available digoxin as glycosyl acceptor. Then, a 22-member MeON-neoglycoside library of digoxigenin was successfully synthesized by neoglycosylation method. Finally, the induction of Nur77 expression and its translocation from the nucleus to cytoplasm together with cytotoxicity of these MeON-neoglycosides were evaluated. The SAR analysis revealed that C3 glycosylation is required for their induction of Nur77 expression. Moreover, some MeON-neoglycosides (2b and 8b) could significant induce the expression of Nur77 and its translocation from the nucleus to cytoplasm. However, these compounds showed no inhibitory effects on the proliferation of cancer cells, suggesting that they may not induce apoptosis of NIH-H460 cancer cells and their underlying potential and application toward cancer cells deserves future study.     

Antimitotic and cell growth inhibitory properties of combretastatin A-4-like ethers

A series of diarylamines, diaryl and arylbenzyl ethers based on combretastatin A-4 was prepared and evaluated for anticancer activity. 2-Methoxy-5-(3',4',5'-trimethoxyphenoxymethyl)phenol was the most active (IC50, K562 20 nM) and caused significant G2/M cell cycle arrest.     

Synthesis and in vitro activity of N'-cyano-4-(2-phenylacetyl)-N-o-tolylpiperazine-1-carboximidamide P2X7 antagonists

A novel series of cyanoguanidine-piperazine P2X(7) antagonists was designed based upon the structure of A-740003. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies focused on the piperazine moiety and the right hand side substitution. Compounds were assayed for activity at human and rat P2X(7) receptors and compound 29 was found to possess potent activity (IC(50)=30-60 nM) at both species.     

The synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic studies of novel oxa-spermidine derivatives and homologues

A series of oxa-spermidine derivatives and homologues were prepared and their anticancer properties were evaluated. All these compounds showed an average GI50 value in the range of 3.9-28.9 microM. SAR studies showed that the presence of a sulphonamido functionality and the length of the alkyl chain are important factors for an enhanced activity.