Substituted E-3-(2-Chloro-3-indolylmethylene)1,3-dihydroindol-2-ones with antitumor activity.
The synthesis and antitumor activity of a new series of E-3-(2-chloro-3-indolylmethylene)1,3-dihydroindol-2-ones is described. Several compounds were active on the primary test (three human cell lines) and entered the second level (60 human cell lines). All of them were potent growth inhibitors with GI(50) ranging from -5.32 to -7.27. Four are now under review by BEC (Biological Evaluation Committee of the NCI). The most potent antitumor derivatives were also evaluated as cardiotonic agents (in view of a possible coanthracyclinic activity). In order to find a possible mechanism of action their effects on cell cycle progression in an adenocarcinoma cell line (HT29) were tested, evidencing that these molecules are able to block HT29 in mitosis. The introduction of new substituents in the indolinone moiety while maintaining the same chloroindole portion generated interesting derivatives. 3-(2-Chloro-5-methoxy-6-methyl-3-indolylmethylene)5-hydroxy-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one was the most active of the whole series. It was more potent than vincristine against seven of the nine tumors considered. Moreover it was selective towards some cell lines such as MDA-MB-435 (breast), OVCAR-3 (ovarian) and SK-MEL-28 (melanoma). Even the introduction of a benzyl ring at the nitrogen of the chloroindole portion, gave rise to potent compounds.
Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy. aldo.andreani@unibo.it
Aldo
A
Andreani
Massimiliano
M
Granaiola
Alberto
A
Leoni
Alessandra
A
Locatelli
Rita
R
Morigi
Mirella
M
Rambaldi
Vida
V
Garaliene
Giovanna
G
Farruggia
Lanfranco
L
Masotti
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles