Synthesis, antiproliferative activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization by 1,5- and 1,8-disubstituted 10H-anthracen-9-ones bearing a 10-benzylidene or 10-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene) moiety.
A novel series of 1,5- and 1,8-disubstituted 10-benzylidene-10H-anthracen-9-ones and 10-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene)-10H-anthracen-9-ones was synthesized to assess the substituent effects on biological activity. The 3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy-benzylidene analogue 16 h displayed strong antiproliferative activity against several tumor cell lines, including multi-drug resistant phenotypes. Flow cytometric studies showed that KB/HeLa cells treated by elected compounds were arrested in the G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Among the compounds tested for inhibition of tubulin polymerization, 14 compounds proved to be exceptionally active with IC(50) values < 1 microM. In the 1,5-dichloro-derived series of benzylideneanthracenones, E/Z isomers were separated and biological effects were monitored. We found that the olefinic geometry had no significant effect on biological activity. Furthermore, the E isomeric 1,5-dichloro-substituted phenacylidenes entirely proved to be more potent inhibitors of tubulin polymerization than the recently described 10-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene)-10H-anthracen-9-ones. In conclusion, the present study improves understanding of the action of anthracenone-based tubulin polymerization inhibitors and contributes to the design of further potent anti-tubulin drugs.
Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Westphalian Wilhelms-University, Hittorfstrasse 58-62, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
Holger C
HC
Nickel
Peter
P
Schmidt
Konrad J
KJ
Böhm
Silke
S
Baasner
Klaus
K
Müller
Matthias
M
Gerlach
Eberhard
E
Unger
Eckhard G
EG
Günther
Helge
H
Prinz
D000873:Anthracenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001597:Benzylidene Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000187:drug effects*; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D000873:Anthracenes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001597:Benzylidene Compounds; D014404:Tubulin