Anticancer effects of synthetic hexahydrobenzo [g]chromen-4-one derivatives on human breast cancer cell lines

Cytotoxicity of synthetic derivatives against breast cancer and multi-drug resistant breast cancer cell lines: a literature-based perspective study

Cancer is the second most killer worldwide causing millions of people to lose their lives every year. In the case of women, breast cancer takes away the highest proportion of mortality rate than other cancers. Due to the mutation and resistance-building capacity of different breast cancer cell lines against conventional therapies, this death rate is on the verge of growth. New effective therapeutic compounds and treatment method is the best way to look out for in this critical time. For instance, new synthetic derivatives/ analogues synthesized from different compounds can be a ray of hope. Numerous synthetic compounds have been seen enhancing the apoptosis and autophagic pathway that directly exerts cytotoxicity towards different breast cancer cell lines. To cease the ever-growing resistance of multi-drug resistant cells against anti-breast cancer drugs (Doxorubicin, verapamil, tamoxifen) synthetic compounds may play a vital role by increasing effectivity, showing synergistic action. Many recent and previous studies have reported that synthetic derivatives hold potentials as an effective anti-breast cancer agent as they show great cytotoxicity towards cancer cells, thus can be used even vastly in the future in the field of breast cancer treatment. This review aims to identify the anti-breast cancer properties of several synthetic derivatives against different breast cancer and multi-drug-resistant breast cancer cell lines with their reported mechanism of action and effectivity.

Ginsenoside-Rg2 exerts anti-cancer effects through ROS-mediated AMPK activation associated mitochondrial damage and oxidation in MCF-7 cells

In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of ginsenoside Rg2 (G-Rg2) and its underlying signaling pathways in breast cancer (BC) cells. G-Rg2 significantly induced cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in MCF-7 cells among various types of BC cells including HCC1428, T47D, and BT-549. G-Rg2 significantly inhibited protein and mRNA expression of cell cycle G1-S phase regulators, including p-Rb, cyclin D1, CDK4, and CDK6, whereas it enhanced the protein and mRNA expression of cell cycle arrest and apoptotic molecules including cleaved PARP, p21, p27, p53 and Bak through ROS production. These effects were abrogated by the antioxidant N-acetyl-I-cysteine, or NADPH oxidase inhibitors, such as diphenyleneiodonium chloride and apocynin. Interestingly, G-Rg2 induced mitochondrial damage by reducing the membrane potential. G-Rg2 further activated the ROS-sensor protein, AMPK and downstream targets of AMPK activation, including PGC-1α, FOXO1, and IDH2, and downregulated mTOR activation and antioxidant response element-driven luciferase activity. Together, our data demonstrate that G-Rg2 mediates anti-cancer effects by activating cell cycle arrest and signaling pathways related to mitochondrial damage-induced ROS production and apoptosis.

In vivo efficacy studies of chromene-based compounds in triple-negative breast cancer - A systematic review

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered the most aggressive breast cancer subtype, shows a poor response to the currently available therapy, and has no targeted therapy. Chemotherapy, surgery and radiation are the current therapeutic options to treat patients with TNBC, however, response to these therapeutic approaches is very poor and has significant side effects. Thus, there is an urgent need to search for new anti-TNBC agents, more effective and safer than current therapy. A wide range of synthetic chromene derivatives have been explored as anticancer agents in different cancer models, with promising results, and some of them already reached the clinical setting. Especially in TNBC, most of the available studies are conducted in in vitro models, with limited results in vivo. It is important the activity of any new compound that reaches clinical studies is supported by solid pre-clinical data. Thus, in the present study, we review and analyze the studies that use chromene-based compounds using in vivo models of TNBC. The results of this systematic review can add value to ongoing chromene-based studies.

Design, One Pot Synthesis and Molecular Docking Studies of Substituted-1H-Pyrido[2,1-b] Quinazolines as Apoptosis-Inducing Anticancer Agents

Objective:

The present study focused to build pyridine and quinazoline rings in a single molecule and designed a new fused Pyrido[2,1-b] quinazoline to have a better pharmacological activity.

Material and Methods:

A three component, one-pot synthesis of substituted-1H-Pyrido[2,1-b] quinazoline derivatives has been described by conventional and microwave synthesis using triflic acid as catalyst. These compounds were screened for in vitro cytotoxic activity against the panel of cancer cell lines A549, NCI-H460, HT-29, HCT-15, DU-145, and HFL.

Results:

Among the tested compounds, 11-(1-benzyl-1H-indol-3-y1)-2, 3, 4, 11-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[2,1-b] quinazoline (4i) showed most potent cytotoxicity against A549 and NCI-H460 lung cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values 4.57±0.25 and 5.53±0.49 µM, respectively. Moreover, compound 4i was found to be most potent considerable cell growth inhibition with GI₅₀ values of 2.70±0.18 and 3.24±0.40 µM against A549 and NCI-H460 cell lines, respectively. In addition, induction of apoptosis for compound 4i on A549 was investigated by morphological changes, Acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) and DAPI staining. Furthermore, a strong anti-clonogenic effect of compound 4i on lung cancer cells was observed. The flow cytometric analysis investigation reveals that compound 4i arrests the A549 cancer cell lines at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Molecular docking were also performed on 4i, 4j, and erlotinib to predict the binding mode towards the EGFR kinase (PDB code: 1M17) and the compounds have displayed similar interactions and compared with erlotinib.

Conclusion:

Overall, these findings could suggest that the compound 4i would be an ideal lead as an anticancer agent.

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Evaluation of 3-Methylidenechroman-4-ones

In the search for new anticancer agents, a library of variously substituted 3-methylidenechroman-4-ones was synthesized using Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons methodology. Acylation of diethyl methylphosphonate with selected ethyl salicylates furnished 3-diethoxyphosphorylchromen-4-ones which were next used as Michael acceptors in the reaction with various Grignard reagents. The adducts were obtained as the mixtures of trans and cis diastereoisomers along with a small amount of enol forms. Their relative configuration and preferred conformation were established by NMR analysis. The adducts turned up to be effective Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reagents giving 2-substituted 3-methylidenechroman-4-ones, which were then tested for their possible cytotoxic activity against two leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and NALM-6, and against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. All new compounds (14a–o) were highly cytotoxic for the leukemic cells and showed a moderate or weak effect on MCF-7 cells. Analog 14d exhibited the highest growth inhibitory activity and was more potent than carboplatin against HL-60 (IC₅₀ = 1.46 ± 0.16 µM) and NALM-6 (IC₅₀ = 0.50 ± 0.05 µM) cells. Further tests showed that 14d induced apoptosis in NALM-6 cells, which was mediated mostly through the extrinsic pathway.