Discovery of the theobromine derivative MQS-14 that induces death of MGC-803 cells mainly through ROS-mediated mechanisms

Novel Coumarin-Nucleobase Hybrids with Potential Anticancer Activity: Synthesis, In Vitro Cell-Based Evaluation, and Molecular Docking

A new series of compounds planned by molecular hybridization of the nucleobases uracil and thymine, or the xanthine theobromine, with coumarins, and linked through 1,2,3-triazole heterocycles were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against the human tumor cell lines: colon carcinoma (HCT116), laryngeal tumor cells (Hep-2), and lung carcinoma cells (A549). The hybrid compound 9a exhibited better activity in the series, showing an IC50 of 24.19 ± 1.39 μM against the HCT116 cells, with a selectivity index (SI) of 6, when compared to the cytotoxicity against the non-tumor cell line HaCat. The in silico search for pharmacological targets was achieved through molecular docking studies on all active compounds, which suggested that the synthesized compounds possess a high affinity to the Topoisomerase 1-DNA complex, supporting their antitumor activity. The in silico toxicity prediction studies suggest that the compounds present a low risk of causing theoretical mutagenic and tumorigenic effects. These findings indicate that molecular hybridization from natural derivative molecules is an interesting approach to seek new antitumor candidates.

New 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)quinolin-2(1H)-one-based triazole derivatives: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation as antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing agents

A series of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives based on the quinoline-benzimidazole hybrid scaffold was designed, synthesized, and screened against a panel of NCI-60 humanoid cancer cell lines for in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation, which revealed that compound Q6 was the most potent cytotoxic agent with excellent GI₅₀ , TGI, and LC₅₀ values on multiple cancer cell lines. Q6 was tested further on the BT-474 breast cancer line to evaluate the mechanism of action. Preliminary screening studies based on the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay revealed that compound Q6 had an excellent antiproliferative effect against human breast cancer cells, BT-474, with IC₅₀ values of 0.59 ± 0.01 μM. The detailed study based on the acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining (AO/EB) and the 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) assay suggested that the antiproliferative activity shown was due to the induction of apoptosis on exposure to Q6. Further, DCFDA staining showed the generation of reactive oxygen species, altering the mitochondrial potential and leading to the initiation of apoptosis. This was further supported by JC-1 staining, indicating that this scaffold can contribute to the development of more potent derivatives.

Experimental and Theoretical Study on Theobromine Solubility Enhancement in Binary Aqueous Solutions and Ternary Designed Solvents

The solubility of theobromine was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The solubility was determined spectrophotometrically at 25 °C in neat organic solvents, aqueous binary mixtures, Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) and ternary NADES mixtures with water. It was found that addition of water in unimolar proportions with some organic solvents increases theobromine solubility compared to neat solvents. Additionally, using NADES results in a solubility increase of the studied compound not only in relation to water but also DMSO. The addition of water (0.2 molar fraction) to NADES is responsible for an even larger increase of solubility. The measured solubilities were interpreted in terms of three theoretical frameworks. The first one-belonging to the set of data reduction techniques-proved to be very efficient in quantitative back-computations of excess solubility of theobromine in all studied systems. The default approach utilizing the well-recognized COSMO-RS (Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents) framework offered at most a qualitative solubility description. The extended search for possible contacts provided evidence for the existence of many intermolecular complexes that alter the electron density of the solute molecule, thus influencing solubility computations. Taking into account such intermolecular contacts by using the COSMO-RS-DARE (Conductor-like Screening Model for Realistic Solvation-Dimerization, Aggregation, and Reaction Extension) framework seriously increased the accuracy of solubility computations.

New imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-based aryl hydrazones: unravelling their synthesis and antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing potential

Herein, we have designed and synthesized new imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-based aryl hydrazones (9a-w) and evaluated their anti-proliferative potential against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Among the synthesized compounds, 9i and 9m elicited promising cytotoxicity against the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 with IC50 values of 1.65 and 1.12 μM, respectively. Cell cycle analysis revealed that 9i and 9m significantly arrest MDA-MB-231 cells in the G0/G1 phase. In addition, detailed biological studies such as annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide, DCFH-DA, JC-1 and DAPI staining assays revealed that 9i and 9m triggered apoptosis in MDA-MB-213 cells. Overall, the current work demonstrated the cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing potential of 9i and 9m in breast cancer cells and suggested that they could be explored as promising antiproliferative leads in the future.

LSD1/KDM1A inhibitors in clinical trials: advances and prospects

Histone demethylase LSD1 plays key roles during carcinogenesis, targeting LSD1 is becoming an emerging option for the treatment of cancers. Numerous LSD1 inhibitors have been reported to date, some of them such as TCP, ORY-1001, GSK-2879552, IMG-7289, INCB059872, CC-90011, and ORY-2001 currently undergo clinical assessment for cancer therapy, particularly for small lung cancer cells (SCLC) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This review is to provide a comprehensive overview of LSD1 inhibitors in clinical trials including molecular mechanistic studies, clinical efficacy, adverse drug reactions, and PD/PK studies and offer prospects in this field.

Synthesis of new steroidal quinolines with antitumor properties

The incorporation of the heterocycles into the steroid nucleus has been recognized as a useful strategy to develop new steroidal agents for disease treatment. Representative examples are abiraterone and galeterone, which are presently used in clinic for the treatment of advanced prostate cancers. Herein we have developed the first Al₂O₃/KF-promoted pfitzinger reactions for the synthesis of new steroidal quinolines. These new steroidal quinolines showed moderate to good antiproliferative activity against several human lung cancer cells. Of these compounds, compound 2f exhibited the best potency toward the tested three lung cancer cells with IC₅₀ values <10 μM. Mechanistic studies showed that compound 2f concentration-dependently inhibited colony formation, morphological changes, apoptosis, and migration of A549 cells. To conclude, compound 2f could be used as a hit compound for developing steroid-based anti-lung cancer agents.