Design, synthesis and evaluation of acridine derivatives as multi-target Src and MEK kinase inhibitors for anti-tumor treatment

Facile and Novel Synthetic Approach, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and Drug-Likeness Evaluation of 9-Substituted Acridine Derivatives as Dual Anticancer and Antimicrobial Agents

In the present study, numerous acridine derivatives A1-A20 were synthesized via aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) reaction of 9-chloroacridine with carbonyl hydrazides, amines, or phenolic derivatives depending upon facile, novel, and eco-friendly approaches (Microwave and ultrasonication assisted synthesis). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. The title products were assessed for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities using numerous assays. Promisingly, the investigated compounds mainstream revealed promising antibacterial and anticancer activities. Thereafter, the investigated compounds' expected mode of action was debated by using an array of in silico studies. Compounds A2 and A3 were the most promising antimicrobial agents, while compounds A2, A5, and A7 revealed the most cytotoxic activities. Accordingly, RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and SASA analyses of compounds A2 and A3 were performed, and MMPBSA was calculated. Lastly, the ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analyses of the novel acridine derivatives were investigated. The tested compounds' existing screening results afford an inspiring basis leading to developing new compelling antimicrobial and anticancer agents based on the acridine scaffold.

Accelerated synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene and 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridine derivatives using dendritic mesoporous nanosilica functionalized by hexamethylenetetramine: a novel nanocatalyst

Xanthene and acridine derivatives are interesting organic compounds that are used in different research fields like biomedicine and pharmaceutical science. However, applied catalysts for their synthesis have some limitations such as long reaction times, the need for harsh conditions and low yield. So, discovery of novel catalysts for the synthesis of xanthene and acridine derivatives is highly demanded. To overcome the limitation of previous methods on the efficient synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene and 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridine derivatives, a green heterogeneous organic nano-catalyst (Cu@KCC-1-nPr-HMTA) was synthesized by covalent attachment of hexamethylenetetramine to the cavities and channels of dendritic mesoporous nanosilica (KCC-1). The prepared nano-catalyst was identified using various spectroscopic and microscopic methods including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray energy diffraction (EDX), EDX mapping and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis (BET-BJH). The prepared green nano-catalyst showed a spherical and dendritic structure with a surface area of 65.699 m2 g-1, average pore size of 40.78 nm and pore volume of 0.66 cm3 g-1. Also, Cu@KCC-1-nPr-HMTA has many chemo-active sites for the condensation reaction and was used as an efficient nano-catalyst towards one-step synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridine and 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene derivatives from the reaction of aromatic aldehydes, dimedone, and ammonium acetate under solvent-free conditions. Short reaction times of 1 to 5 minutes for 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridine and 30 to 55 minutes for 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene derivatives, high yields and mild reaction conditions are advantages of the proposed synthetic method. It is hoped that the engineered nano-catalyst will be used for the synthesis of other organic compounds in the future.

MEK inhibitors in cancer treatment: structural insights, regulation, recent advances and future perspectives

MEK1/2 are critical components of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK or MAPK signalling pathway that regulates a variety of cellular functions including proliferation, survival, and differentiation. In 1997, a lung cancer cell line was first found to have a MEK mutation (encoding MEK2P298L). MEK is involved in various human cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), spurious melanoma, and pancreatic, colorectal, basal, breast, and liver cancer. To date, 4 MEK inhibitors i.e., trametinib, cobimetinib, selumetinib, and binimetinib have been approved by the FDA and several are under clinical trials. In this review, we have highlighted structural insights into the MEK1/2 proteins, such as the αC-helix, catalytic loop, P-loop, F-helix, hydrophobic pocket, and DFG motif. We have also discussed current issues with all FDA-approved MEK inhibitors or drugs under clinical trials and combination therapies to improve the efficacy of clinical drugs. Finally, this study addressed recent developments on synthetic MEK inhibitors (from their discovery in 1997 to 2022), their unique properties, and their relevance to MEK mutant inhibition.

Medicinal Chemistry Perspectives on Recent Advances in Src Kinase Inhibitors as a Potential Target for the Development of Anticancer Agents: Biological Profile, Selectivity, Structure-Activity Relationship

The physiological Src proto-oncogene is a protein tyrosine kinase receptor that served as the essential signaling pathway in different types of cancer. Src kinase receptor is divided into different domains: a unique domain, an SH3 domain, an SH2 domain, a protein tyrosine kinase domain, and a regulatory tail, which runs from the N-terminus to the C-terminus. Src kinase inhibitors bind in the kinase domain and are activated by phosphorylation. The etiology of cancer involved various signaling pathways and Src signaling pathways are also involved in those clusters. Although the dysregulation of Src kinase resulted in cancer being discovered in the late 19th century it is still considered a cult pathway because it is not much explored by different medicinal chemists and oncologists. The Src kinase regulated through different kinase pathways (MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT3, Hippo kinase, PEAK1, and Rho/ROCK pathways) and proceeded downstream signaling to conduct cell proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. There are numerous FDA-approved drugs flooded the market but still, there is a huge demand for the creation of novel anticancer drugs. As the existing drugs are accompanied by several adverse effects and drug resistance due to rapid mutation in proteins. In this review, we have elaborated about the structure and activation of Src kinase, as well as the development of Src kinase inhibitors. Our group also provided a comprehensive overview of Src inhibitors throughout the last two decades, including their biological activity, structure-activity relationship, and Src kinase selectivity. The Src binding pocket has been investigated in detail to better comprehend the interaction of Src inhibitors with amino acid residues. We have strengthened the literature with our contribution in terms of molecular docking and ADMET studies of top compounds. We hope that the current analysis will be a useful resource for researchers and provide glimpse of direction toward the design and development of more specific, selective, and potent Src kinase inhibitors.

Evaluation of N 10 -substituted acridone-based derivatives as AKT inhibitors against breast cancer cells: in vitro and molecular docking studies

A series of N 10 -substituted acridone-2-carboxamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their potent anti-cancer agents targeting AKT kinase. In vitro cytotoxicity activity of the target compounds was tested against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Among the tested compounds, four compounds (7f, 8d, 8e, and 8f) exhibited promising anti-cancer activity against both cancer cell lines. Notably, compound 8f demonstrated the highest activity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 at IC50 values of 4.72 and 5.53 μM, respectively. In vitro AKT kinase activity revealed that compounds 7f and 8f were the most potent AKT inhibitors with IC50 values of 5.38 and 6.90 μM, respectively. In addition, the quantitative ELISA method of testing confirmed that compound 8f effectively inhibited cell proliferation by suppressing the activation of p-AKT Ser473. Furthermore, molecular docking studies revealed that compound 8f can bind well to the active site of the AKT enzyme. The in silico ADME studies suggested that all synthesized molecules showed good oral bioavailability with a low-toxicity profile and can be used for further optimization as AKT kinase inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03524-z.

Acridine as an Anti-Tumour Agent: A Critical Review

This review summarized the current breakthroughs in the chemistry of acridines as anti-cancer agents, including new structural and biologically active acridine attributes. Acridine derivatives are a class of compounds that are being extensively researched as potential anti-cancer drugs. Acridines are well-known for their high cytotoxic activity; however, their clinical application is restricted or even excluded as a result of side effects. The photocytotoxicity of propyl acridine acts against leukaemia cell lines, with C1748 being a promising anti-tumour drug against UDP-UGT's. CK0403 is reported in breast cancer treatment and is more potent than CK0402 against estrogen receptor-negative HER2. Acridine platinum (Pt) complexes have shown specificity on the evaluated DNA sequences; 9-anilinoacridine core, which intercalates DNA, and a methyl triazene DNA-methylating moiety were also studied. Acridine thiourea gold and acridinone derivatives act against cell lines such as MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3, and MCF-7. Benzimidazole acridine compounds demonstrated cytotoxic activity against Dual Topo and PARP-1. Quinacrine, thiazacridine, and azacridine are reported as anti-cancer agents, which have been reported in the previous decade and were addressed in this review article.

The overview of Mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)-based dual inhibitor in the treatment of cancers

Mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (MEK1/2) are the critical components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (MAPK/ERK1/2) signaling pathway which is one of the well-characterized kinase cascades regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, growth, metabolism, survival and mobility both in normal and cancer cells. The aberrant activation of MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway is a hallmark of numerous human cancers, therefore targeting the components of this pathway to inhibit its dysregulation is a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Enormous efforts have been done in the development of MEK1/2 inhibitors and encouraging advancements have been made, including four inhibitors approved for clinical use. However, due to the multifactorial property of cancer and rapidly arising drug resistance, the clinical efficacy of these MEK1/2 inhibitors as monotherapy are far from ideal. Several alternative strategies have been developed to improve the limited clinical efficacy, including the dual inhibitor which is a single drug molecule able to simultaneously inhibit two targets. In this review, we first introduced the activation and function of the MAPK/ERK1/2 components and discussed the advantages of MEK1/2-based dual inhibitors compared with the single inhibitors and combination therapy in the treatment of cancers. Then, we overviewed the MEK1/2-based dual inhibitors for the treatment of cancers and highlighted the theoretical basis of concurrent inhibition of MEK1/2 and other targets for development of these dual inhibitors. Besides, the status and results of these dual inhibitors in both preclinical and clinical studies were also the focus of this review.

Dual target inhibitors based on EGFR: Promising anticancer agents for the treatment of cancers (2017-)

The EGFR family play a significant role in cell signal transduction and their overexpression is implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous human solid cancers. Inhibition of the EGFR-mediated signaling pathways by EGFR inhibitors is a widely used strategy for the treatment of cancers. In most cases, the EGFR inhibitors used in clinic were only effective when the cancer cells harbored specific activating EGFR mutations which appeared to preserve the ligand-dependency of receptor activation but altered the pattern of downstream signaling pathways. Moreover, cancer is a kind of multifactorial disease, and therefore manipulating a single target may result in treatment failure. Although drug combinations for the treatment of cancers proved to be successful, the use of two or more drugs concurrently still was a challenge in clinical therapy owing to various dose-limiting toxicities and drug-drug interactions caused by pharmacokinetic profiles changed. Therefore, a single drug targeting two or multiple targets could serve as an effective strategy for the treatment of cancers. In recent, drugs with diverse pharmacological effects have been shown to be more advantageous than combination therapies due to their lower incidences of side effects and more resilient therapies. Accordingly, dual target-single-agent strategy has become a popular field for cancer treatment, and researchers became more and more interest in the development of novel dual-target drugs in recent years. In this review, we briefly introduce the EGFR family proteins and synergisms between EGFR and other anticancer targets, and summarizes the development of potential dual target inhibitors based on wild-type and/or mutant EGFR for the treatment of solid cancers in the past five years. Additionally, the rational design and SARs of these dual target agents are also presented in detailed, which will lay a significant foundation for the further development of novel EGFR-based dual inhibitors with excellent druggability.

Anti-tumor effect of synthetic baicalin-rare earth metal complex drugs on SMMC-7721 cells

Baicalin (BC)-rare earth metal complexes [BMCs (BC-Ce, BC-La, and BC-Y)] were synthesized by a complexation coordination method. A mouse tumor model with SMMC-7721 cells was used to examine BMCs for their anti-tumor activities in vivo. The results show that the three new BMCs, Na₃Ce (C₂₁H₁₆O₁₁)₃·10H₂O, Na₂La (C₂₁H₁₆O₁₁)₂·8H₂O, and Na₂Y (C₂₁H₁₆O₁₁)₂·6H₂O significantly inhibited SMMC-7721 cell proliferation, since the BMCs may induce the tumor apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner through decreasing cell membrane fluidity and mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, blocking of the cell cycle at the G₂/M phase, and increasing the expression of Bax and reducing the expression of Bcl-2. The effectiveness order of these three BCMs was as follows: BC-Ce > BC-La > BC-Y > BC. It is concluded that BC-Ce, BC-La, and BC-Y possess potent anti-tumor effects and may be a novel group of anti-tumor drugs. The novel baicalin-rare earth metal complexes (BMC) were synthesized, the anti-tumor effects of the BMC on SMMC-7721 cell analyzed comprehensively.

A Novel Methoxybenzyl 5-Nitroacridone Derivative Effectively Triggers G1 Cell Cycle Arrest in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia K562 Cells by Inhibiting CDK4/6-Mediated Phosphorylation of Rb

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant tumor caused by the abnormal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells. Among a new series of acridone derivatives previously synthesized, it was found that the methoxybenzyl 5-nitroacridone derivative 8q has nanomolar cytotoxicity in vitro against human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. In order to further explore the possible anti-leukemia mechanism of action of 8q on K562 cells, a metabolomics and molecular biology study was introduced. It was thus found that most of the metabolic pathways of the G1 phase of K562 cells were affected after 8q treatment. In addition, a concentration-dependent accumulation of cells in the G1 phase was observed by cell cycle analysis. Western blot analysis showed that 8q significantly down-regulated the phosphorylation level of retinoblastoma-associated protein (Rb) in a concentration-dependent manner, upon 48 h treatment. In addition, 8q induced K562 cells apoptosis, through both mitochondria-mediated and exogenous apoptotic pathways. Taken together, these results indicate that 8q effectively triggers G1 cell cycle arrest and induces cell apoptosis in K562 cells, by inhibiting the CDK4/6-mediated phosphorylation of Rb. Furthermore, the possible binding interactions between 8q and CDK4/6 protein were clarified by homology modeling and molecular docking. In order to verify the inhibitory activity of 8q against other chronic myeloid leukemia cells, KCL-22 cells and K562 adriamycin-resistant cells (K562/ADR) were selected for the MTT assay. It is worth noting that 8q showed significant anti-proliferative activity against these cell lines after 48 h/72 h treatment. Therefore, this study provides new mechanistic information and guidance for the development of new acridones for application in the treatment of CML.

Improvement of conventional anti-cancer drugs as new tools against multidrug resistant tumors

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the dominant cause of the failure of cancer chemotherapy. The design of antitumor drugs that are able to evade MDR is rapidly evolving, showing that this area of biomedical research attracts great interest in the scientific community. The current review explores promising recent approaches that have been developed with the aim of circumventing or overcoming MDR. Encouraging results have been obtained in the investigation of the MDR-modulating properties of various classes of natural compounds and their analogues. Inhibition of P-gp or downregulation of its expression have proven to be the main mechanisms by which MDR can be surmounted. The use of hybrid molecules that are able to simultaneously interact with two or more cancer cell targets is currently being explored as a means to circumvent drug resistance. This strategy is based on the design of hybrid compounds that are obtained either by merging the structural features of separate drugs, or by conjugating two drugs or pharmacophores via cleavable/non-cleavable linkers. The approach is highly promising due to the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic advantages that can be achieved over the independent administration of the two individual components. However, it should be stressed that the task of obtaining successful multivalent drugs is a very challenging one. The conjugation of anticancer agents with nitric oxide (NO) donors has recently been developed, creating a particular class of hybrid that can combat tumor drug resistance. Appropriate NO donors have been shown to reverse drug resistance via nitration of ABC transporters and by interfering with a number of metabolic enzymes and signaling pathways. In fact, hybrid compounds that are produced by covalently attaching NO-donors and antitumor drugs have been shown to elicit a synergistic cytotoxic effect in a variety of drug resistant cancer cell lines. Another strategy to circumvent MDR is based on nanocarrier-mediated transport and the controlled release of chemotherapeutic drugs and P-gp inhibitors. Their pharmacokinetics are governed by the nanoparticle or polymer carrier and make use of the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect, which can increase selective delivery to cancer cells. These systems are usually internalized by cancer cells via endocytosis and accumulate in endosomes and lysosomes, thus preventing rapid efflux. Other modalities to combat MDR are described in this review, including the pharmaco-modulation of acridine, which is a well-known scaffold in the development of bioactive compounds, the use of natural compounds as means to reverse MDR, and the conjugation of anticancer drugs with carriers that target specific tumor-cell components. Finally, the outstanding potential of in silico structure-based methods as a means to evaluate the ability of antitumor drugs to interact with drug transporters is also highlighted in this review. Structure-based design methods, which utilize 3D structural data of proteins and their complexes with ligands, are the most effective of the in silico methods available, as they provide a prediction regarding the interaction between transport proteins and their substrates and inhibitors. The recently resolved X-ray structure of human P-gp can help predict the interaction sites of designed compounds, providing insight into their binding mode and directing possible rational modifications to prevent them from becoming P-gp drug substrates. In summary, although major efforts were invested in the search for new tools to combat drug resistant tumors, they all require further implementation and methodological development. Further investigation and progress in the abovementioned strategies will provide significant advances in the rational combat against cancer MDR.

Design, synthesis and biological research of novel N-phenylbenzamide-4-methylamine acridine derivatives as potential topoisomerase I/II and apoptosis-inducing agents

A series of novel N-phenylbenzamide-4-methylamine acridine derivatives were designed and synthesized based initially on the structure of amsacrine (m-AMSA). Molecular docking suggested that the representative compound 9a had affinity for binding DNA topoisomerase (Topo) II, which was comparable with that of m-AMSA, and furthermore that 9a could have preferential interactions with Topo I. After synthesis of 9a and analogues 9b-9f, these were all tested in vitro and the synthesized compounds displayed potent antiproliferative activity against three different cancer cell lines (K562, CCRF-CEM and U937). Among them, compounds 9b, 9c and 9d exhibiting the highest activity with IC₅₀ value ranging from 0.82 to 0.91 μM against CCRF-CEM cells. In addition, 9b and 9d also showed high antiproliferative activity against U937 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 0.33 and 0.23 μM, respectively. The pharmacological mechanistic studies of these compounds were evaluated by Topo I/II inhibition, western blot assay and cell apoptosis detection. In summary, 9b effectively inhibited the activity of Topo I/II and induced DNA damage in CCRF-CEM cells and, moreover, significantly induced cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. These observations provide new information and guidance for the structural optimization of more novel acridine derivatives.

Rational Design of Multitarget-Directed Ligands: Strategies and Emerging Paradigms

Due to the complexity of multifactorial diseases, single-target drugs do not always exhibit satisfactory efficacy. Recently, increasing evidence indicates that simultaneous modulation of multiple targets may improve both therapeutic safety and efficacy, compared with single-target drugs. However, few multitarget drugs are on market or in clinical trials, despite the best efforts of medicinal chemists. This article discusses the systematic establishment of target combination, lead generation, and optimization of multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs). Moreover, we analyze some MTDLs research cases for several complex diseases in recent years and the physicochemical properties of 117 clinical multitarget drugs, with the aim to reveal the trends and insights of the potential use of MTDLs.

Design, synthesis and molecular modeling study of certain VEGFR-2 inhibitors based on thienopyrimidne scaffold as cancer targeting agents

Different series of novel thieno [2,3-d]pyrimidine derivative (9a-d,10a-f,l,m and 15a-m) were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their ability to in vitro inhibit VEGFR-2 enzyme. Also, the cytotoxicity of the final compounds was tested against a panel of 60 different human cancer cell lines by NCI. The VEGFR-2 enzyme inhibitory results revealed that compounds 10d, 15d and 15 g are among the most active inhibitors with IC₅₀ values of 2.5, 5.48 and 2.27 µM respectively, while compound 10a remarkably showed the highest cell growth inhibition with mean growth inhibition (GI) percent of 31.57%. It exhibited broad spectrum anti-proliferative activity against several NCI cell lines specifically on human breast cancer (T7-47D) and renal cancer (A498) cell lines of 85.5% and 77.65% inhibition respectively. To investigate the mechanistic aspects underlying the activity, further biological studies like flow cytometry cell cycle together with caspase-3 colorimetric assays were carried on compound 10a. Flow cytometric analysis on both MCV-7 and PC-3 cancer cells revealed that it induced cell-cycle arrest in the G0-G1phase and reinforced apoptosis via activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, molecular modeling studies have been carried out to gain further understanding of the binding mode in the active site of VEGFR-2 enzyme and predict pharmacokinetic properties of all the synthesized inhibitors.

Combing metabolomics with bioanalysis methods to study the antitumor mechanism of the new acridone derivative 8q on CCRF-CEM cells: 8q induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and targeted the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 pathway

A novel acridone derivative, N-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-1-((3-methoxybenzyl)amino)-5- nitro-9-oxo-9,10-dihydro-acridine-4-carboxamide (8q), which was synthesized in our lab, showed potent anti-leukaemia activity against CCRF-CEM cells. Moreover, in silico predictions showed that 8q conformed to the rule of five and displayed low toxicity. However, the mechanism of anti-leukaemia action remains unclear. The aim of this research was to reveal the probable anti-leukaemia mechanism of 8q on CCRF-CEM cells. Flow cytometry assay demonstrated that 8q induced apoptosis. The expression of caspase family proteins results showed that 8q could only promote cleaved caspase-3, 7 and 9 expressions without affecting cleaved caspase-8 protein, hinting that 8q induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Further, we detected 3 indicators of mitochondrial lesions, including increased of Cyt-C release, with a decrease in MMP and ATP levels. Next, metabolomics were introduced to assist in the research of the anti-leukaemia mechanism of 8q. The metabolomics results showed that 100 nM 8q could increase the level of GSH, and decrease its oxidation products. These indicated 8q could influence the ROS, which derived by mitochondria. Then we examined the effect of 8q on intracellular ROS levels. What is particularly interesting is that 8q inhibited cell ROS stress at low concentration and stimulated ROS stress at high concentration. The pro-apoptosis mechanisms of 8q were then explored. 8q significantly decreased anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression, whereas it up-regulated the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, Bak, Bad, Bik and Puma expression. In addition, 8q dramatically inhibited the expression of FASN, which is related to fatty acid metabolism. Furthermore, PI3K, AKT and FOXO1 were inactivated, and the expression of total AKT was also inhibited by 8q treatment, which promoted intrinsic apoptosis. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that 8q can induce mitochondrial lesions and promote mitochondrial-mediated pathway apoptosis by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and inhibiting the activity of the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

A one-step synthesized acridine-based fluorescent chemosensor for selective detection of copper(ii) ions and living cell imaging

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescence quenching chemosensor (ACC) for Cu²⁺ detection in HEPES buffer and living cell imaging was developed.

Discovery of 1-(3-aryl-4-chlorophenyl)-3-(p-aryl)urea derivatives against breast cancer by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Hedgehog signalings

PI3K/Akt/mTOR and hedgehog (Hh) signalings are two important pathways in breast cancer, which are usually connected with the drug resistance and cancer migration. Many studies indicated that PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors and Hh inhibitors displayed synergistic effects, and the combination of the two signaling drugs could delay drug resistance and inhibit cancer migration in breast cancer. Therefore, the development of molecules simultaneously inhibiting these two pathways is urgent needed. Based on the structures of PI3K inhibitor buparlisib and Hh inhibitor vismodegib, a series of hybrid structures were designed and synthesized utilizing rational drug design and computer-based drug design. Several compounds displayed excellent antiproliferative activities against several breast cancer cell lines, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 cell. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that the representative compound 9i could inhibit both PI3K/Akt/mTOR and hedgehog (Hh) signalings by inhibiting the phosphorylation of S6K and Akt as well as decreasing the SAG elevated expression of Gli1. Compound 9i could also induce apoptosis remarkably in T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells. In the transwell assay, 9i showed significant inhibition on the migration of MDA-MB-231.

A new acridine derivative induces cell cycle arrest and antiangiogenic effect on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model

BACKGROUND

Acridine derivatives, including amsacrine, have antitumor activity. However, side effects, development of resistance and their low bioavailability, have limited their use. Herein, we described the synthesis, and evaluated the toxicity and antitumor activity of a new amsacrine analogous, the N'-(2-chloro-6-methoxy-acridin-9-yl)-2-cyano-3-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-acrilohidrazida (ACS-AZ10).

METHODS

The compound was obtained in a linear pathway where the ASC-Az intermediate was obtained by coupling of 6,9-dichloro-3-methoxy-acridine and 2-ciany-acethohidrazide followed by condensation with the corresponding aldehyde. The toxicity of ACS-AZ10 was evaluated in mice using acute toxicity and micronucleus assays. Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model was used to investigate the antitumor activity and toxicity of ACS-AZ10 (7.5, 15 or 30mg/kg, i.p.), after nine days of treatment. Cell cycle and angiogenesis were also evaluated.

RESULTS

The ASC-AZ10 was obtained with satisfactory yields and its structure was confirmed by spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. On acute toxicity study, ACS-AZ10 (2000mg/kg, i.p.) induced transient depressant effects on central nervous system. The LD₅₀ was approximately 2500mg/kg. ACS-AZ10 (15 or 30mg/kg) displayed significant antitumor activity considering the tumor weight and volume, cell viability, and total Ehrlich cell count. ACS-AZ10 (7.5mg/kg) induced an increase in sub-G1 peak, suggesting apoptosis. At 15mg/kg ACS-AZ10 induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and a reduction in the percentage of cells in G0/G1 and S phases, suggesting a pre-mitotic blockade. ACS-AZ10 reduced the microvessel density, indicating an antiangiogenic effect. Weak hematological, biochemical and histopathological toxicity were observed. The compound doesn't show genotoxicity in micronucleus assay.

CONCLUSIONS

ACS-AZ10 has potent antitumor activity in vivo along with low toxicity.

Novel multi-substituted benzyl acridone derivatives as survivin inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

Sorafenib was the only small-molecule drug approved by FDA for treatment of the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent study indicated that YM155 was a promising agent for HCC cells with high survivin expression, however, the antitumor activity needs to be further improved. Based on molecular docking and rational design method, a series of multi-substituted benzyl acridone derivatives were designed and synthesized. MTT assay indicated that some of the synthesized compounds displayed better antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cells than YM155. Later study indicated that the representive compound 8u may directly interact with survivin protein and induce HepG2 cells apoptosis, which is different from YM155. In addition, ADME property was predicted in silico, and it performed well. Moreover, in vivo preliminary experiments showed that 8u may be a good lead compound in the treatment of HCC.

Multi-targeting exploration of new 2-aminothiazolyl quinolones: Synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation, interaction with DNA, combination with topoisomerase IV and penetrability into cells

A series of new potentially multi-targeting antimicrobial 2-aminothiazolyl quinolones were designed, synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, MS and HRMS spectra. Bioactive assay manifested that some of the prepared compounds showed moderate to good antibacterial and antifungal activities. Noticeably, compound 10f could effectively inhibit the growth of B. typhi and MRSA with MIC values of 1 and 8 μg/mL, respectively. Experimental results revealed that compound 10f was membrane-active and had the ability to rapidly kill the tested strains and effectively prevent the development of bacterial resistance. Moreover, this compound also exhibited low toxicity against L929 cells. Molecular docking indicated that compound 10f could bind with topoisomerase IV-DNA complexes through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Quantum chemical studies were also performed on 10f to understand the structural features essential for activity. The preliminary mechanism research suggested that compound 10f could intercalate into calf thymus DNA to form a steady supramolecular complex which might block DNA replication to exert the powerful bioactivities.

Synthesis of Aminobenzoic Acid Derivatives via Chemoselective Carbene Insertion into the -NH Bond Catalyzed by Cu(I) Complex

Phosphine ligand stabilized air-stable Cu(I) complexes have been successfully used to functionalize the aromatic aminobenzoic acids in a chemoselective manner without implementing protection and deprotection strategy under mild reaction conditions. This chemoselective carbene insertion into -NH bond over -COOH and -OH bonds leads to the wide range of carboxy and hydroxy functionalized α-amino esters (27 examples). All of the isolated new products have been fully characterized using standard analytical methods.