Enhancement of the cytotoxic potential of the mixed EGFR and DNA-targeting ‘combi-molecule’ ZRBA1 against human solid tumour cells by a bis-quinazoline-based drug design approach

Anticancer Triazenes: from Bioprecursors to Hybrid Molecules

Triazenes are a very useful and diverse class of compounds that have been studied for their potential in the treatment of many tumors including brain tumor, leukemia and melanoma. Novel compounds of this class continue to be developed as either anticancer compounds or even with other therapeutic applications. This review focused on several types of triazenes from the simplest ones like 1,3-dialkyl-3-acyltriazenes to the more complex ones like combi-triazenes with an emphasis on how triazenes have been developed as effective antitumor agents.

The potential of combi-molecules with DNA-damaging function as anticancer agents

DNA-damaging agents, such as methylating agents, chloroethylating agents and platinum-based agents, have been extensively used as anticancer drugs. However, the side effects, high toxicity, lack of selectivity and resistance severely limit their clinical applications. In recent years, a strategy combining a DNA-damaging agent with a bioactive molecule (e.g., enzyme inhibitors) or carrier (e.g., steroid hormone and DNA intercalators) to produce a new 'combi-molecule' with improved efficacy or selectivity has been attempted to overcome these drawbacks. The combi-molecule simultaneously acts on two targets and is expected to possess better potency than the parent compounds. Many studies have shown DNA-damaging combi-molecules exhibiting excellent anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. This review focuses on the development of combi-molecules, which possess increased DNA-damaging potency, anticancer efficacy and tumor selectivity and reduced side reactions than the parent compounds. The future opportunities and challenges in the discovery of combi-molecules were also discussed.