Discovery of 3-(thiophen/thiazole-2-ylthio)pyridine derivatives as multitarget anticancer agents

Applications of Pyrrole and Pyridine-based Heterocycles in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

BACKGROUND

The escalation of cancer worldwide is one of the major causes of economy burden and loss of human resources. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 projected cancer deaths in 2023 in the United States. It is projected that by 2040, the burden of global cancer is expected to rise to 29.5 million per year, causing a death toll of 16.4 million. The hemostasis regulation by cellular protein synthesis and their targeted degradation is required for normal cell growth. The imbalance in hemostasis causes unbridled growth in cells and results in cancer. The DNA of cells needs to be targeted by chemotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment, but at the same time, their efficacy and toxicity also need to be considered for successful treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to review the published work on pyrrole and pyridine, which have been prominent in the diagnosis and possess anticancer activity, to obtain some novel lead molecules of improved cancer therapeutic.

METHODS

A literature search was carried out using different search engines, like Sci-finder, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, RSC etc., for small molecules based on pyrrole and pyridine helpful in diagnosis and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. The research findings on the application of these compounds from 2018-2023 were reviewed on a variety of cell lines, such as breast cancer, liver cancer, epithelial cancer, etc. Results: In this review, the published small molecules, pyrrole and pyridine and their derivatives, which have roles in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, were discussed to provide some insight into the structural features responsible for diagnosis and treatment. The analogues with the chromeno-furo-pyridine skeleton showed the highest anticancer activity against breast cancer. The compound 5-amino-N-(1-(pyridin-4- yl)ethylidene)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbohydrazides was highly potent against HEPG2 cancer cell. Redaporfin is used for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, biliary tract cancer, cisplatin-resistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and pigmentation melanoma, and it is in clinical trials for phase II. These structural features present a high potential for designing novel anticancer agents for diagnosis and drug development.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, the N- and C-substituted pyrrole and pyridine-based novel privileged small Nheterocyclic scaffolds are potential molecules used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This review discusses the reports on the synthesis of such molecules during 2018-2023. The review mainly discusses various diagnostic techniques for cancer, which employ pyrrole and pyridine heterocyclic scaffolds. Furthermore, the anticancer activity of N- and C-substituted pyrrole and pyridine-based scaffolds has been described, which works against different cancer cell lines, such as MCF-7, A549, A2780, HepG2, MDA-MB-231, K562, HT- 29, Caco-2 cells, Hela, Huh-7, WSU-DLCL2, HCT-116, HBL-100, H23, HCC827, SKOV3, etc. This review will help the researchers to obtain a critical insight into the structural aspects of pyrrole and pyridine-based scaffolds useful in cancer diagnosis as well as treatment and design pathways to develop novel drugs in the future.

Recent advances in nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds as receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer: Biological activity and structural activity relationship

Erratic cell proliferation is the initial symptom of cancer, which can eventually metastasize to other organs. Before cancer becomes metastatic, its spread is triggered by pro-angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and Platelet Factor (PF4), all of which are part of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are cell-surface proteins and aresignaling enzymes that transfer ATP-phosphate to tyrosine residue substrates. Important biological processes like proliferation, differentiation, motility, and cell-cycle regulation are all possessedby these proteins. Unusual RTK expression is typically associated with cell growth abnormalities, which is linked to tumor acquisition, angiogenesis, and cancer progression. In addition to the already available medications, numerous other heterocyclic are being studied for their potential action against a variety of cancers. In the fight against cancer, in particular, these heterocycles have been used for their dynamic core scaffold and their inherent adaptability. In this review article, we have compiled last five years research work including nitrogen containing heterocycles that have targeted RTK. Herein, the SAR and activity of various compounds containing diverse heterocyclic (pyrimidine, indole, pyridine, pyrazole, benzimidazole, and pyrrole) scaffolds are discussed, and they may prove useful in the future for designing new leads against RTKs. Our focus in this manuscript is to comprehensively review the latest research on the biological activity and structural activity relationship of nitrogen compounds as RTK inhibitors. We believe that this may be an important contribution to the field, as it can help guide future research efforts and facilitate the development of more effective cancer therapies.

Synthesis of 3,3-dimethyl-6-oxopyrano[3,4-c]pyridines and their antiplatelet and vasodilatory activity

OBJECTIVES

Both pyridine and pyrano derivatives have been previously shown to possess biologically relevant activity. In this study, we report the incorporation of these two scaffolds into one molecule.

METHODS

The designed 3,3-dimethyl-6-oxopyrano[3,4-c]pyridines were synthesized by the acylation of enamine under Stork conditions followed by condensation of formed β-diketones with 2-cyanoacetamide. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by using a wide spectrum of physico-chemical methods. Their antiplatelet, anticoagulant and vasodilatory activity together with toxicity were evaluated.

KEY FINDINGS

A series of 6-oxopyrano[3,4-c]pyridines 3a-j was obtained. Four of these compounds were reported for the first time. None of the tested compounds demonstrated anticoagulant effect but 8-methyl derivative (3a) was a potent antiplatelet compound with IC50 numerically twice as low as the clinically used acetylsalicylic acid. A series of further mechanistic tests showed that 3a interferes with calcium signaling. The compound is also not toxic and in addition possesses vasodilatory activity as well.

CONCLUSIONS

Compound 3a is a promising inhibitor of platelet aggregation, whose mechanism of action should be studied in detail.