Maria Kimatrai Salvador

Synthesis and evaluation of 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles as rigid analogues of combretastatin A-4 with potent antiproliferative and antitumor activity.

Tubulin, the major structural component of microtubules, is a target for the development of anticancer agents. Two series of 1,5-diaryl substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrazoles were concisely synthesized, using a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction, and identified as potent antiproliferative agents and novel tubulin polymerization inhibitors that act at the colchicine site. SAR analysis indicated that compounds with a 4-ethoxyphenyl group at the N-1 or C-5 position of the 1,2,3,4-tetrazole ring exhibited maximal activity. Several of these compounds also had potent activity in inhibiting the growth of multidrug resistant cells overexpressing P-glycoprotein. Active compounds induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway with activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Furthermore, compound 4l significantly reduced in vivo the growth of the HT-29 xenograft in a nude mouse model, suggesting that 4l is a promising new antimitotic agent with clinical potential.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-substituted-4-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-aryl thiazoles as anticancer agents

Antitumor agents that bind to tubulin and disrupt microtubule dynamics have attracted considerable attention in the last few years. To extend our knowledge of the thiazole ring as a suitable mimic for the cis-olefin present in combretastatin A-4, we fixed the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl at the C4-position of the thiazole core. We found that the substituents at the C2- and C5-positions had a profound effect on antiproliferative activity. Comparing compounds with the same substituents at the C5-position of the thiazole ring, the moiety at the C2-position influenced antiproliferative activities, with the order of potency being NHCH(3) > Me >> N(CH(3))(2). The N-methylamino substituent significantly improved antiproliferative activity on MCF-7 cells with respect to C2-amino counterparts. Increasing steric bulk at the C2-position from N-methylamino to N,N-dimethylamino caused a 1-2 log decrease in activity. The 2-N-methylamino thiazole derivatives 3b, 3d and 3e were the most active compounds as antiproliferative agents, with IC(50) values from low micromolar to single digit nanomolar, and, in addition, they are also active on multidrug-resistant cell lines over-expressing P-glycoprotein. Antiproliferative activity was probably caused by the compounds binding to the colchicines site of tubulin polymerization and disrupting microtubule dynamics. Moreover, the most active compound 3e induced apoptosis through the activation of caspase-2, -3 and -8, but 3e did not cause mitochondrial depolarization.

Anticancer activity of novel hybrid molecules containing 5-benzylidene thiazolidine-2,4-dione.

Hybridization of two different bioactive molecules with different mechanism of action is one of the methods that are being adopted to treat cancer. Molecules bearing a thiazolidine-2,4-dione scaffold have been recognized as antineoplastic agents with a broad spectrum of activity against many cancer cell lines. In this manuscript we have described the synthesis and biological evaluation of two series of N-3-substituted-5-arylidene thiazolidine-2,4-diones, bearing the α-bromoacryloylamido moiety at the para- or meta-position on the phenyl of the arylidene portion. We have observed that selected compounds 5a, 5c and 5g suppress proliferation of human myeloid leukaemia HL-60 and U937 cells by triggering morphological changes and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which are well-known features of apoptosis. Finally, our results indicated that the investigated compounds induced apoptotic cell death through a mechanism that involved activation of multiple caspases and was also associated with the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-amino-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-[(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-5-substituted-thiophenes. effect of the 5-modification on allosteric enhancer activity at the A1 adenosine receptor.

We have recently reported a detailed structure-activity relationship study around a wide series of 2-amino-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-[(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]thiophene derivatives as potent allosteric enhancers of the A(1) adenosine receptor. In the current study, we have continued to explore the potential of these molecules by synthesizing of a novel series of analogues that share a common 2-amino-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)thiophene nucleus. Modifications were focused on varying the nature and the position of electron-withdrawing or electron-releasing groups on the phenyl of an arylpiperazine moiety attached at the 4-position of the thiophene ring by a methylene chain, combined with the presence of small alkyl groups (methyl or ethyl), bromine, or aryl moieties at the thiophene C-5 position. In this series of compounds, substitution at the 5-position had a fundamental effect on activity, with the 5-aryl group contributing additively to the allosteric enhancer activity. The thiophene C-5 aryl derivatives 4ad, 4ak, and 4al were the most active compounds in binding and functional experiments.

In silico pharmacology for a multidisciplinary drug discovery process

Abstract The process of bringing new and innovative drugs, from conception and synthesis through to approval on the market can take the pharmaceutical industry 8–15 years and cost approximately

Structure–activity relationships of 2-amino-3-aroyl-4-[(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]thiophenes. Part 2: Probing the influence of diverse substituents at the phenyl of the arylpiperazine moiety on allosteric enhancer activity at the A1 adenosine receptor

1.8 billion. Two key technologies are improving the hit-to-drug timeline: high-throughput screening (HTS) and rational drug design. In the latter case, starting from some known ligand-based or target-based information, a lead structure will be rationally designed to be tested in vitro or in vivo. Computational methods are part of many drug discovery programs, including the assessment of ADME (absorption-distribution-metabolism-excretion) and toxicity (ADMET) properties of compounds at the early stages of discovery/development with impressive results. The aim of this paper is to review, in a simple way, some of the most popular strategies used by modelers and some successful applications on computational chemistry to raise awareness of its importance and potential for an actual multidisciplinary drug discovery process.

Synthesis and biological effects of novel 2-amino-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-substituted thiophenes as allosteric enhancers of the A1 adenosine receptor.

In a preliminary article, we reported the potent allosteric enhancer activity at the A(1) adenosine receptor of a small series of 2-amino-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-[4-(aryl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl]thiophene derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing or electron-releasing groups at the para-position of the phenylpiperazine moiety. In the present study, we report the development of the compounds previously studied by modifying both the number and position of substituents on the phenylpiperazine moiety, aimed at establishing a structure-activity relationship identifying additional compounds with improved activity. The nature and the position of substituents on the phenyl ring tethered to the piperazine seemed to exert a fundamental influence on the allosteric enhancer activity, with the 3,4-difluoro 4i, 3-chloro-4-fluoro 4o, and 4-trifluoromethoxy 4ak derivatives being the most active compounds in binding (saturation and competition experiments) and functional cAMP studies. This study shows that it is also possible to obtain a good separation between allosteric enhancement and antagonistic activity at the A(1) adenosine receptor.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-substituted-2-oxindole hybrid derivatives as novel anticancer agents

Allosteric enhancers for the A1 adenosine receptor represent a novel and unique drug design strategy to augment the response to endogenous adenosine in a site- and event-specific manner. We have previously investigated a detailed structure-activity relationship study around a wide series of 2-amino-3-aroyl-4-[(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]thiophene derivatives as potent allosteric enhancers of the A1 adenosine receptor. In this manuscript we report our investigation on the influence on allosteric enhancer activity of further substitution at the 4-position of the 2-amino-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-thiophene system to explore bulk tolerance by replacement of the arylpiperazine moiety with a series of fused indole nuclei corresponding to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole, 1,2,3,4,10,10a-hexahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole, tetrahydro-γ-carboline, tetrahydroisoquinoline, spiro-1,3-benzodioxolepiperidine, aliphatic tertiary amine, N-alkylaniline, aryl ether and aryl thioether templates. The 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole derivatives 3a-c and 3e were the most active compounds in binding (saturation and competition) and functional cAMP studies, being able to potentiate agonist [(3)H]CCPA binding to the A1 receptor. This study also shows that it is possible to obtain a good separation between allosteric enhancement and antagonistic activity at the A1 adenosine receptor.

Synthesis and Antitumor Molecular Mechanism of Agents Based on Amino 2-(3′,4′,5′-Trimethoxybenzoyl)benzo[b]furan: Inhibition of Tubulin and Induction of Apoptosis

The 2-oxindole nucleus is the central core to develop new anticancer agents and its substitution at the 3-position can effect antitumor activity. Utilizing a pharmacophore hybridization approach, a novel series of antiproliferative agents was obtained by the modification of the structure of 3-substituted-2-oxindole pharmacophore by the attachment of the α-bromoacryloyl moiety, acting as a Michael acceptor, at the 5-position of 2-oxindole framework. The impact of the substituent at the 3-position of 2-oxindole core on the potency and selectivity against a panel of seven different cancer cell lines was examined. We found that these hybrid molecules displayed potent antiproliferative activity against a panel of four cancer cell lines, with one-to double digit nanomolar 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50). A distinctive selective antiproliferative activity was obtained towards CCRF-CEM and RS4; 11 leukemic cell lines. In order to study the possible mechanism of action, we observed that the two most active compounds namely 3(E) and 6(Z) strongly induce apoptosis that follow the mitochondrial pathway. Interestingly a decrease of intracellular reduced glutathione content (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was detected in treated cells compared with controls suggesting that these effects may be involved in their mechanism of action.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Methyl-4,5-Disubstituted Oxazoles as a Novel Class of Highly Potent Antitubulin Agents

Induction of apoptosis is a promising strategy that could lead to the discovery of new molecules active in cancer chemotherapy. This property is generally observed when cells are treated with agents that target microtubules, dynamic structures that play a crucial role in cell division. Small molecules such as benzo[b]furans are attractive as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. A new class of inhibitors of tubulin polymerization based on the 2‐(3′,4′,5′‐trimethoxybenzoyl)benzo[b]furan molecular skeleton, with the amino group placed at different positions on the benzene ring, were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity, inhibition of tubulin polymerization, and cell‐cycle effects. The methoxy substitution pattern on the benzene portion of the benzo[b]furan moiety played an important role in affecting antiproliferative activity. In the series of 5‐amino derivatives, the greatest inhibition of cell growth occurred if the methoxy substituent is placed at the C6 position, whereas C7 substitution decreases potency. The most promising compound in this series is 2‐(3′,4′,5′‐trimethoxybenzoyl)‐3‐methyl‐5‐amino‐6‐methoxybenzo[b]furan (3 h), which inhibits cancer cell growth at nanomolar concentrations (IC50=16–24 nM), and interacts strongly with tubulin by binding to the colchicine site. Sub‐G1 apoptotic cells in cultures of HL‐60 and U937 cells were observed by flow cytometric analysis after treatment with 3 h in a concentration‐dependent manner. We also show that compound 3 h induces apoptosis by activation of caspase‐3, ‐8, and ‐9, and this is associated with cytochrome c release from mitochondria. The introduction of an α‐bromoacryloyl group increased antiproliferative activity with respect to the parent amino derivatives.