Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of certain pyrido[3,2-g]quinoline derivatives

The present report describes the synthesis and evaluation of tricyclic pyrido3,2-g]quinoline derivatives in which an additional pyridine ring is linearly fused on the antibacterial quinoline-3-carboxylic acid. Among them, only diethyl 4,6-diamino-10-methylpyrido3,2-g]quinoline-3,7-dicarboxylate (9a) and diethyl 4,6-bis-(3-dimethylaminopropylamino)-10-methylpyrido3,2-g]quinoline-3,7-dicarboxylate (9d) were able to completely inhibit cell proliferation of MCF7 (Breast), NCI-H460 (Lung), and SF-268 (CNS) implying either amino or dimethylaminopropyl moiety at C-4 and C-6 positions is crucial for the antiproliferative activity of pyrido3,2-g]quinoline derivatives. Compounds 9a-9d were further evaluated for their activity against the growth of MCF-7 and two prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and PC-3. Results indicated the antiproliferative activity decreased in an order 9d>9a>9b and 9c. Compound 9d was the most cytotoxic with an IC50 value of 5.63 and 3.96 microM, respectively, against LNCaP and MCF-7. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that growth inhibition of LNCaP by 9d was due to cell cycle arrest in G1 phase, and followed by apoptosis.