Synthesis and SAR investigation of biphenylaminoquinoline derivatives with benzyloxy substituents as promising anticancer agents

The biphenyl scaffold represents a prominent privileged structure within the realms of organic chemistry and drug development. Biphenyl derivatives have demonstrated notable biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, and the treatment of neuropathic pain. Importantly, their anticancer abilities should not be underestimated. In this context, the present study involves the design and synthesis of a series of biphenyl derivatives featuring an additional privileged structure, namely the quinoline core. We have also diversified the substituents attached to the benzyloxy group at either the meta or para position of the biphenyl ring categorized into two distinct groups: [4,3']biphenylaminoquinoline-substituted and [3,3']biphenylaminoquinoline-substituted compounds. We embarked on an assessment of the cytotoxic activities of these derivatives in colorectal cancer cell line SW480 and prostate cancer cell line DU145 for exploring the structure-activity relationship. Furthermore, we determined the IC50 values of selected compounds that exhibited superior inhibitory effects on cell viability against SW480, DU145 cells, as well as MDA-MB-231 and MiaPaCa-2 cells. Notably, [3,3']biphenylaminoquinoline derivative 7j displayed the most potent cytotoxicity against these four cancer cell lines, SW480, DU145, MDA-MB-231, and MiaPaCa-2, with IC50 values of 1.05 μM, 0.98 μM, 0.38 μM, and 0.17 μM, respectively. This highly promising outcome underscores the potential of [3,3']biphenylaminoquinoline 7j for further investigation as a prospective anticancer agent in future research endeavors.

Inhibition of Autophagy Aggravates Arachis hypogaea L. Skin Extracts-Induced Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

The skin of Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut or groundnut) is a rich source of polyphenols, which have been shown to exhibit a wider spectrum of noteworthy biological activities, including anticancer effects. However, the anticancer activity of peanut skin extracts against melanoma and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells remains elusive. In this study, we systematically investigated the cytotoxic, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-migration effects of peanut skin ethanolic extract and its fractions on melanoma and CRC cells. Cell viability results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (AHE) of peanut skin ethanolic crude extract and one of the methanolic fractions (AHE-2) from ethyl acetate extraction exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against melanoma and CRC cells but not in nonmalignant human skin fibroblasts. AHE and AHE-2 effectively modulated the cell cycle-related proteins, including the suppression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), phosphorylation of Retinoblastoma (p-Rb), E2F1, Cyclin A, and activation of tumor suppressor p53, which was associated with cell cycle arrest and paralleled their antiproliferative efficacies. AHE and AHE-2 could also induce caspase-dependent apoptosis and inhibit migration activities in melanoma and CRC cells. Moreover, it is noteworthy that autophagy, manifested by microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (LC3B) conversion and the aggregation of GFP-LC3, was detected after AHE and AHE-2 treatment and provided protective responses in cancer cells. Significantly, inhibition of autophagy enhanced AHE- and AHE-2-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Together, these findings not only elucidate the anticancer potential of peanut skin extracts against melanoma and CRC cells but also provide a new insight into autophagy implicated in peanut skin extracts-induced cancer cell death.

Novel 4-aminoquinoline analogs targeting the HIF-1α signaling pathway

Background: The aminoquinoline core exhibits versatile pharmacological properties, particularly in the area of anticancer activity. This study was designed to investigate the potential of the 4-aminoquinoline scaffold in the development of anticancer agents by targeting the HIF-1α signaling pathway. Methodology: The authors synthesized multiple derivatives of 4-aminoquinoline containing heterocyclic rings by a microwave reactor and assessed the cytotoxicity and inhibitory effects of these derivatives on the HIF-1α signaling pathway. Conclusion: Compound 3s was identified as the most promising HIF-1α inhibitor due to its exceptional antiproliferative effects, with IC50 values of 0.6 and 53.3 nM observed in MiaPaCa-2 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Furthermore, compound 3s was found to inhibit HIF-1α expression by decreasing the level of HIF-1α mRNA.

Targeting Triple Negative Breast Cancer Stem Cells by Heat Shock Protein 70 Inhibitors

Simple Summary

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been a leading cause of cancer deaths among women and limited treatment options are currently available. Consequently, developing the promising therapy for TNBC remains an unmet medical need. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Hsp70 inhibitors on breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) in TNBC cells. The present study demonstrated the potent in vitro and in vivo anti-BCSCs activity of two Hsp70 inhibitors, compound 1 and 6, in TNBC cells. Our findings suggest that targeting Hsp70 could be an attractive strategy for eliminating BCSCs populations in TNBC.

Abstract

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered the most aggressive breast cancer with high relapse rates and poor prognosis. Although great advances in the development of cancer therapy have been witnessed over the past decade, the treatment options for TNBC remain limited. In this study, we investigated the effect and potential underlying mechanism of the Hsp70 inhibitors, compound 1 and compound 6, on breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) in TNBC cells. Our results showed that compound 1 and 6 exhibited potent tumor suppressive effects on cell viability and proliferation, and effectively inhibited BCSC expansion in TNBC cells. Reminiscent with the effect of Hsp70 inhibitors, Hsp70 knockdown effectively suppressed mammosphere formation and the expressions of BCSCs surface markers. Mechanistically, evidence showed that the Hsp70 inhibitors inhibited BCSCs by down-regulating β-catenin in TNBC cells. Moreover, we used the Hsp70 inhibitors treated TNBC cells and a stable Hsp70 knockdown clone of MDA-MB-231 cells to demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of Hsp70 inhibition in suppressing tumorigenesis and xenograft tumor growth. Together, these findings suggest the potential role of Hsp70 as a target for TNBC therapy and foster new therapeutic strategies to eliminate BCSCs by targeting Hsp70.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin Promotes Apoptosis and Inhibits the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition through the Inhibition of the G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 161/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the world and lacks an effective targeted therapy. G-protein-coupled receptor 161 (GPR161) has been demonstrated to perform the functional regulations on TNBC progression and might be a potential new target for TNBC therapy. This study showed the effects of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) on GPR161 regulation, indicating that BDMC effectively inhibited GPR161 expression and downregulated GPR161-driven signaling. BDMC showed the potent inhibitory effects on TNBC proliferation through suppressing GPR161-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/70 kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) activation. Besides, in this study, we discover the mechanism of GPR161-driven TNBC metastasis, linking to GPR161-mediated twist-related protein 1 (Twist1)/matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) contributing to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). BDMC effectively repressed GPR161-mediated TNBC metastasis via inhibiting Twist1/MMP9-induced EMT. The three-dimensional invasion assay also showed that BDMC significantly inhibited TNBC invasion. The combination treatment of BDMC and rapamycin enhanced the inhibition of TNBC proliferation and metastasis through increasing the blockage of mTOR activation. Furthermore, this study also observed that BDMC activated the caspase 3/9 signaling pathway to induce TNBC apoptosis. Therefore, BDMC could be applicable to anticancer therapy, especially targeting on the GPR161-driven cancer type.

P6166Radiomics-based machine learning versus histogram analysis and visual assessment to identify advanced atherosclerotic lesions on coronary computed tomography angiography

Background

Currently used coronary CT angiography (CTA) plaque classification and histogram-based methods have limited accuracy to identify advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Radiomics-based machine learning (ML) could provide a more robust tool to identify high-risk plaques.

Purpose

Our objective was to compare the diagnostic performance of radiomics-based ML against histogram-based methods and visual assessment of ex-vivo coronary CTA cross-sections to identify advanced atherosclerotic lesions as defined by histology.

Methods

Overall, 21 coronaries of seven hearts were imaged ex vivo with coronary CTA. From 95 coronary plaques 611 histological cross-sections were obtained and classified based-on the modified American Heart Association scheme. Histology cross-sections were considered advanced atherosclerotic lesions if early, late fibroatheroma or thin-cap atheroma was present. Corresponding coronary CTA cross-section were co-registered and classified into homogenous, heterogeneous, napkin-ring sign plaques based on plaque attenuation pattern. Area of low attenuation (<30HU) and average CT number was quantified. In total, 1919 radiomic parameters describing the spatial complexity and heterogeneity of the lesions were calculated in each coronary CTA cross-section. Eight different radiomics-based ML models were trained on randomly selected cross-sections (training set: 75% of the cross-sections) to identify advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Plaque attenuation pattern, histogram-based methods and the best ML model were compared on the remaining 25% of the data (test-set) using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) to identify advanced atherosclerotic lesions using histology as a reference.

Results

After excluding sections with heavy calcium (n=32) and no visible atherosclerotic plaque on CTA (n=134), we analyzed 445 cross-sections. Based on visual assessment, 46.5% of the cross-sections were homogeneous (207/445), 44.9% heterogeneous (200/445) and 8.6% were with napkin-ring sign (38/445). Radiomics-based ML model incorporating 13 parameters significantly outperformed visual assessment, area of low attenuation and average CT number to identify advanced lesions (AUC: 0.73 vs. 0.65 vs. 0.55 vs. 0.53; respectively; p<0.05 for all).

Conclusions

Radiomics-based ML analysis may be able to improve the discriminatory power of CTA to identify high-risk atherosclerotic lesions.

5196Coronary artery calcification predicts MACE and all-cause mortality in individuals undergoing non-cardiac computed tomography for non-cardiovascular indications

Introduction

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) measured on ECG-gated cardiac CT is a strong predictor of cardiovascular (CV) risk in asymptomatic individuals in a primary prevention setting. However, the prognostic value of CAC in an unselected population referred for non-gated non-cardiac chest CT (NCCT) is unknown.

Purpose

To determine whether CAC predicts major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality in patients referred for NCCT for non-CV indications.

Methods

A random sample of 741 individuals, without prior known history of coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent NCCT for non-CV indications at a tertiary care hospital in 2008 were included in this study. NCCT was assessed qualitatively for the presence and extent of CAC by two experienced physicians. Data abstraction was performed by electronic medical record (EMR) review. Our primary endpoint of MACE, defined as CV mortality, MI, PCI, CABG, heart failure and stroke as well as secondary endpoint of all-cause mortality, over a median follow up of 8 (IQR 4–10) years, was adjudicated per independent review.

Results

Among 741 individuals (mean age 61.1±15.5 years, 60% female, 91% Caucasian), 57% were hypertensive, 30% had hyperlipidemia, 14% were diabetic and the mean ASCVD score was 12.2±11.6. CAC was present in 425/741 (57.4%) individuals. Among those with CAC, it was mild in 172/425 (40%), moderate in 143/425 (34%) and severe in 110/425 (26%) individuals. Overall, MACE occurred in 115/741 (15.5%) patients. Compared to those without MACE, CAC was more prevalent (83% vs. 53%, p<0.001) and extensive (at least moderate: 67% vs. 28%, p<0.001) in those with MACE. Over a median follow up of 8 (IQR 3–10) years, the presence of any CAC was associated with a 4-fold higher risk of MACE (HR 4.22, 95% CI (1.4–8.9), p<0.001), after adjustment for age and gender. On stratification, severe CAC had a near 9-fold increased risk of MACE (HR 8.8, 95% CI (5.1–15.2), p<0.001), followed by moderate CAC with a near 6-fold increased risk of MACE (HR 5.7, 95% CI (2.8–9.8), p<0.001), and a near doubling of MACE risk with mild CAC (HR 1.99, 95% CI (1.1–4.3), p=0.034). Similar results were observed with all-cause mortality (Figure 1).

Conclusions

CAC is an independent predictor of MACE and all-cause mortality in an unselected patient population referred for NCCT for non-CV indications, which may provide an opportunity to improve population health without the need for additional imaging.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Dr. Banerji and Dr. Alvi were supported by NIH/NHLBI 5T32HL076136.

Interconnections between the prefrontal cortex and the premotor areas in the frontal lobe

We examined interconnections between a portion of the prefrontal cortex and the premotor areas in the frontal lobe to provide insights into the routes by which the prefrontal cortex gains access to the primary motor cortex and the central control of movement. We placed multiple injections of one retrograde tracer in the arm area of the primary motor cortex to define the premotor areas in the frontal lobe. Then, in the same animal, we placed multiple injections of another retrograde tracer in and around the principal sulcus (Walker's area 46). This double labeling strategy enabled us to determine which premotor areas are interconnected with the prefrontal cortex. There are three major results of this study. First, we found that five of the six premotor areas in the frontal lobe are interconnected with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Second, the major site for interactions between the prefrontal cortex and the premotor areas is the ventral premotor area. Third, the prefrontal cortex is interconnected with only a portion of the arm representation in three premotor areas (supplementary motor area, the caudal cingulate motor area on the ventral bank of the cingulate sulcus, and the dorsal premotor area), whereas it is interconnected with the entire arm representation in the ventral premotor area and the rostral cingulate motor area. These observations indicate that the output of the prefrontal cortex targets specific premotor areas and even subregions within individual premotor areas.