title: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of cyclic-indole derivatives as anti-tumor agents via the inhibition of tubulin polymerization.
abstract: This study revealed a new attractive cyclic-indole scaffold for the discovery of mitosis-targeting anti-tumour agents. Among all of the synthesized derivatives, compound 20 displayed the most potent anti-proliferative activity (with IC50values of 22-56 nM against seven cancer cell lines) and tubulin polymerization inhibition (IC50= 0.15 ± 0.07 μM), which were much better than those of the reference compound Combretastain A-4 (CA-4). High selectivity ratios (9.68-7.61) of compound 20 toward human normal cells and cancer cells were also observed. Immunofluorescence assay elucidated that compound 20 disrupted the intracellular microtubule network and interfered with cell mitosis. Cellular mechanism studies demonstrated that compound 20 arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In summary, compound 20 deserves consideration for in vivo anti-tumour evaluation in further studies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Drug Synthesis and Pharmaceutical Process, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Drug Synthesis and Pharmaceutical Process, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Drug Synthesis and Pharmaceutical Process, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Baijiao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Institute of Drug Synthesis and Pharmaceutical Process, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Drug Synthesis and Pharmaceutical Process, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: lixsh@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xingshu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015195:Drug Design; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015394:Molecular Structure; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D050257:Tubulin Modulators
keywords: Antiproliferative activity; Apoptosis; Cell cycle arrest; Cyclic-indole derivatives; Tubulin polymerization inhibitor