title: Novel 5-azaindolocarbazoles as cytotoxic agents and Chk1 inhibitors.
abstract: We describe here an efficient synthesis of new 5-azaindolocarbazoles designed for cytotoxic and Chk1 inhibiting properties. The synthesis of 'symmetrical' and 'dissymmetrical' structures is discussed. Concerning the dissymmetrical 5-azaindolocarbazoles derivatives, with both an indole moiety and a 5-azaindole moiety, the synthesis was achieved using two very efficient key steps. The first one is a Stille reaction with a 3-trimethylstannyl-5-azaindole derivative and the second one a photochemical step leading to the proposed polycyclic structure. Various pharmacomodulations were performed to investigate the structure-activity relationships (SAR). Several substituents such as OBn, OH, and methylenedioxy groups were successfully introduced on the indole moiety of the 5-azaindolocarbazole. Compounds with or without substituents on the nitrogen atom of the maleimide were prepared, as well as derivatives with glucopyranosyl substituent on the nitrogen atom of the indole moiety. The cytotoxicity of these new compounds was evaluated on two cell lines (L1210, HT29). Several compounds showed cytotoxicity in the sub-micromolar range. Among the most cytototoxic was the 1,3-dioxolo[4,5-b]-6-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-pyrido[3',4':4,5]pyrrolo[3,2-i]pyrrolo[3,4-g]carbazole-5,7(6H,12H)-dione (35, IC(50)=195 nM on L1210). The compounds were also investigated for their Chk1 inhibiting activity. Compounds without any substitution on the maleimide moiety were the most potent. This is the case of compounds 45-47 with IC(50) of, respectively, 72, 27, and 14nM toward Chk1. Compound 46, which exhibits moderate cytotoxicity, appears to be a good candidate for development in a multi-drug anticancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Chimie Organique et Analytique, Université d'Orléans, UMR CNRS 6005, Rue de Chartres, BP 6759, 45067 Orléans Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lefoix
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coudert
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Routier
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Daniel-Henri
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Caignard
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hickman
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierré
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Golsteyn
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Léonce
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bossard
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Mérour
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D000071877:Checkpoint Kinase 1; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001372:Aza Compounds; D002227:Carbazoles; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D011494:Protein Kinases; C000605867:CHEK1 protein, human; D000071877:Checkpoint Kinase 1