Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel xanthine derivatives as potential apoptotic antitumor agents

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new series of pyrrol-2(3H)-one and pyridazin-3(2H)-one derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A potential microtubule destabilizing series of new thirty-five Pyrrol-2-one, Pyridazin-3(2H)-one and Pyridazin-3(2H)-one/oxime derivatives has been synthesized and tested for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of 60 human cancer cell lines. Compounds IVc, IVg and IVf showed a broad spectrum of growth inhibitory activity against cancer cell lines representing renal, cancer of lung, colon, central nervous system, ovary, and kidney. Among them, compound IVg was found to have broad spectrum anti-tumor activity against the tested nine tumor subpanels with selectivity ratios ranging between 0.21 and 3.77 at the GI₅₀ level. In vitro assaying revealed tubulin polymerization inhibition by all active compounds IVc, IVg and IVf. The results of the docking study revealed nice fitting of compounds IVc, IVf, and IVg into CA-4 binding site in tubulin. The three compounds exhibited high binding affinities (ΔG_b = -12.49 to -12.99 kcal/mol) toward tubulin compared to CA-4 (-8.87 kcal/mol). Investigation of the binding modes of the three compounds IVc, IVf, and IVg revealed that they interacted mainly hydrophobically with tubulin and similar binding orientations to that of CA-4. These observations suggest that tubulin is a possible target for these compounds.

Design and synthesis of novel quinoline/chalcone/1,2,4-triazole hybrids as potent antiproliferative agent targeting EGFR and BRAFV600E kinases

New quinoline / chalcone hybrids containing 1,2,4-triazole moiety have been designed, synthesized and their structures elucidated and confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques. The designed compounds showed moderate to good activity on different NCI 60 cell lines in a single-dose assay with a growth inhibition rate ranging from 50% to 94%. Compounds 7b, 7d, 9b, and 9d were the most active compounds in most cancer cell lines with a growth inhibition percent between 77% and 94%. Newly synthesized hybrids were evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity against a panel of four human cancer cell lines. Compounds 7a, 7b, 9a, 9b, and 9d showed promising antiproliferative activities. These compounds were further tested for their inhibitory potency against EGFR and BRAF^V600E kinases with erlotinib as a reference drug. The molecular docking study of compounds 7a, 7b, 9a, 9b, and 9d revealed nice fitting into the active site of EGFR and BRAF^V600E kinases. Compounds 7b, 9b, and 9d displayed the highest binding affinities and similar binding pattern to those of erlotinib.

Novel urea linked ciprofloxacin-chalcone hybrids having antiproliferative topoisomerases I/II inhibitory activities and caspases-mediated apoptosis

A novel series of urea-linked ciprofloxacin (CP)-chalcone hybrids 3a-j were synthesized and screened by NCI-60 cancer cell lines as potential cytotoxic agents. Interestingly, compounds 3c and 3j showed remarkable antiproliferative activities against both colon HCT-116 and leukemia SR cancer cells compared to camptothecin, topotecan and staurosporine with IC₅₀ = 2.53, 2.01, 17.36, 12.23 and 3.1 μM for HCT-116 cells, respectively and IC₅₀ = 0.73, 0.64, 3.32, 13.72 and 1.17 μM for leukemia SR cells, respectively. Also, compounds 3c and 3j exhibited inhibitory activities against Topoisomerase (Topo) I with % inhibition = 51.19% and 56.72%, respectively, compared to camptothecin (% inhibition = 60.05%) and Topo IIβ with % inhibition = 60.81% and 60.06%, respectively, compared to topotecan (% inhibition = 71.09%). Furthermore, compound 3j arrested the cell cycle of leukemia SR cells at G2/M phase. It induced apoptosis both intrinsically and extrinsically via activation of proteolytic caspases cascade (caspases-3, -8, and -9), release of cytochrome C from mitochondria, upregulation of proapoptotic Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein level. Thus, the new ciprofloxacin derivative 3j could be considered as a potential lead for further optimization of antitumor agent against leukemia and colorectal carcinoma.

Novel 1,2,4-triazole derivatives as apoptotic inducers targeting p53: Synthesis and antiproliferative activity

A series of novel thiazolo[3,2-b][1,2,4]-triazoles 3a-n has been synthesized and evaluated in vitro as potential antiproliferative. Compounds 3b-d exhibited significant antiproliferative activity. Compound 3b was the most potent with Mean GI₅₀ 1.37 µM comparing to doxorubicin (GI₅₀ 1.13 µM). The transcription effects of 3b, 3c and 3d on the p53 were assessed and compared with the reference doxorubicin. The results revealed an increase of 15-27 in p53 level compared to the test cells and that p53 protein level of 3b, 3c and 3d was significantly inductive (1419, 571 and 787 pg/mL, respectively) in relation to doxorubicin (1263 pg/mL). The docking study of the new compounds 3a-n revealed high binding scores for the new compounds toward p53 binding domain in MDM2. The docking analyses revealed the highest affinities for compounds 3b-d which induced p53 activity in MCF-7 cancer cells. Compound 3b which exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity and induced the highest increase in p53 level in MCF-7 cells showed also the highest affinity to MDM2.

Design and synthesis of novel 2,3-dihydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole-1,4-dione derivatives as antiproliferative EGFR and BRAFV600E dual inhibitors

Recent studies have shown additive and synergistic effects associated with the combination of kinase inhibitors. BRAF^V600E and EGFR are attractive targets for many diseases treatments and have been studied extensively. In keeping with our interest in developing anticancer targeting EGFR and BRAF^V600E, a novel series of 2,3-dihydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole-1,4-dione has been rationally designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of four human cancer cell lines. Compounds 20-23, 28-31, and 33 showed promising antiproliferative activities. These compounds were further tested for their inhibitory potencies against EGFR and BRAF^V600E kinases with erlotinib as a reference drug. Compounds 23 and 33 exhibited equipotency to doxorubicin against the four cell lines and efficiently inhibited both EGFR (IC₅₀ = 0.08 and 0.09 µM, respectively) and BRAF^V600E (IC₅₀ = 0.1 and 0.29 µM, respectively). In cell cycle study of MCF-7 cell line, compounds 23 and 33 induced apoptosis and exhibited cell cycle arrest in both Pre-G1 and G2/M phases. Molecular docking analyses revealed that the new compounds can fit snugly into the active sites of EGFR, and BRAF^V600E kinases. Compound 23, 31 and 33 adopted similar binding orientations and interactions to those of erlotinib and vemurafenib.

Design and synthesis of new 1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2-thio derivatives targeting VEGFR-2: Molecular docking and antiproliferative evaluation

A series of new 1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2-thiol derivatives (scaffold A) as VEGFR-2 inhibitors has been designed and synthesized. Compounds 3a, 3b, 3e and 4b have been selected for in vitro anticancer screening by the National Cancer Institute. Compound 3e showed remarkable anticancer activity against most of the cell lines tested, where a complete cell death against leukemia, non-small cell lung cancer, colon, CNS, melanoma, and breast cancer cell lines was observed. In vitro five dose tests showed that compound 3e had high activity against most of the tested cell lines with GI₅₀ ranging from 19 to 100 μM and selectivity ratios ranging between 0.75 and 1.71 at the GI₅₀ level. VEGFR-2-kinase was tested against 3a, 3b, 3e, 4b and sorafenib was used as a reference. Compounds 3a and 3e were the most potent analogues with IC₅₀ values of 386.4 nM and 198.7 nM against VEGFR-2, respectively, in comparison to sorafenib (IC₅₀ = 0.17 nM). The results of the docking study showed a good fitting of the new compounds to the active site of VEGFR-2 with binding free energies in the range of -9.80 to -11.25 kcal/mol compared to -12.12 kcal/mol for sorafenib. Compounds 4a-e with the hydroxyimino group had a higher affinity to VEGFR-2 than their parent derivatives 3a-e.

Thietanyl Protection in the Synthesis of 8-Substituted 1-Benzyl-3-methyl-3,7-dihydro- 1H-purine-2,6-diones

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

1-Аlkyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones containing no substituents in the N7 position can be synthesized only using protecting groups, for example, benzyl protection. However, in the case of synthesis of 1-benzyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones, the use of benzyl protection may lead to simultaneous debenzylation of both N1 and N7 positions. Therefore, it is necessary to use other protective groups for the synthesis of 1-benzyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

8-Bromo- and 8-amino-substituted 1-benzyl-3-methyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones unsubstituted in the N7 position were synthesized with the use of thietanyl protecting group. The thietane ring was introduced via the reaction of 8-bromo-3-methyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione with 2-chloromethylthiirane, giving rise to 8-bromo-3-methyl-7-(thietan-3-yl)-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione. The subsequent alkylation with benzyl chloride yielded 1-benzyl-8-bromo-3-methyl-7-(thietan-3-yl)-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione, which was oxidized with hydrogen peroxide to be converted to 1-benzyl-8-bromo-3-methyl-7-(1,1-dioxothietan- 3-yl)-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione. This product reacted with amines to give 8-amino-substituted 1-benzyl-3- methyl-7-(1,1-dioxothietan-3-yl)-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones. The reaction of 8-substituted 1-benzyl-3- methyl-7-(1,1-dioxothietan-3-yl)-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones with sodium isopropoxide resulted in the removal of the thietanyl protection and afforded target 8-substituted 1-benzyl-3-methyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6- diones. The structures of the targets compounds have been deduced upon their elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 15N NMR).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A new 8-substituted 1-benzyl-3-methyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones unsubstituted in the N7 position were synthesized using thietanyl protecting group.

CONCLUSION

The present study described a new route to synthesize some new 1,8-disubstituted 3-methyl-3,7- dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones unsubstituted in the N7 position starting from available 8-bromo-3-methyl-3,7- dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione with use of thietanyl protecting group. The advantages of this protocol are the possibility of the synthesis of 1-benzyl-substituted 3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-diones, the stability of the thietanyl protecting group upon nucleophilic substitution by amines of the bromine atom in the position 8, as well as mild conditions, and simple execution of experiments.