title: Synthesis, electrophilic substitution and structure-activity relationship studies of polycyclic aromatic compounds towards the development of anticancer agents.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are considered potentially carcinogenic. Substituted PAH derivatives, in contrast, may serve as anticancer agents, and as chemotherapeutics. This article presents a review of their use. Particular emphasis is placed on the synthesis of these new compounds, electrophilic substitution reactions and novel synthetic methodologies developed in our laboratory. Based on numerous reports and the data available, we believe that DNA-intercalating and membrane-interacting sites are the target for their effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Box-89, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA. banik@solace.mdacc.tms.edu
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Banik
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons