title: Synthesis and biological relationships of 3',6-substituted 2-phenyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid derivatives as antimitotic agents.
abstract: As part of a continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates in the 2-phenyl-4-quinolone series, 3',6-substituted 2-phenyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid derivatives and their salts were synthesized and evaluated. Preliminary screening showed that carboxylic acid analogs containing a m-fluoro substituted 2-phenyl group displayed the highest in vitro anticancer activity. Activity decreased significantly if a chlorine or methoxy group replaced the fluorine atom. 3'-Fluoro-6-methoxy-2-phenyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid (68) had the highest in vitro cytotoxic activity among all tested carboxylic acid derivatives and their salts. The mechanism of action may be similar, but not identical, to that of tubulin binding drugs, such as navelbine and taxol. Compound 68 merits further investigation as a novel hydrophilic antimitotic agent.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Li-Jiau
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kuo-Hsiung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Zhiyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Kenneth F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Bastow
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamori
authors.forename: Sheng-Chu
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D015363:Quinolones; C084179:2-phenyl-4-oxohydroquinoline