Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry最新文献

Mesenchymal‒epithelial transition factor (c-Met), a receptortyrosine kinase (RTK), plays a vital role in cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and tumour metastasis.

Objective: With increasing duration of treatment, many tumours gradually develop drug resistance. Therefore, novel antitumour drugs need to be developed to treat patients with tumours. Targeting c-met inhibitors may be an effective treatment strategy.

Methods: Scientific databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, the Wiley Online Library, and Social Sciences Citation Index were used to collect information. All the relevant literature was reviewed, and the available literature was screened. The upstream and downstream pathways of c-Met and their relevance to antitumour effects were searched based on the articles' title, abstract, and full text. The c-Met-targeting drugs with antitumour effects are summarized below. A "citation within a citation" or snowballing approach was used in this screening process to identify additional papers that may have been missed in the initial literature screening process. High-quality studies published in peer-reviewed journals were summarized and prioritized for citation in the review.

Results: In recent years, research on small-molecule targeted drugs has developed rapidly. Many results have also been achieved in the synthesis and isolation of c-Met inhibitors from natural compounds and traditional Chinese medicines.

Conclusion: This article summarizes the developments in anti-c-Met drugs, which are synthesized and isolated from natural compounds and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This study provides primary resources for the development of c-Met inhibitors.

Objective: Lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Protein kinase B (AKT) protein is associated with many pathways in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Mushrooms have a long history of being used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases. Scientists have been exploring the potential of mushrooms for their antioxidant and anticancer properties. In our study, the anti-oxidant, invasion, and apoptosis effects of mushroom extracts were investigated in NSCLC.

Materials and methods: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer cell lines H1299, PC-3, and PC-14 were used in our study. After obtaining the extracts of Rhizopogon luteolus and Ganoderma adspersum, IC50 value was calculated as 25.04-11.73-16.54 ng/ul for R. luteolus and 2.97-1.53-1.01ug/ul for G. adspersum, respectively, in H1299, PC3 and PC14 cell lines. Afterward, proliferative and invasion effects, as well as apoptosis and anti-oxidant effects, were investigated using the IC50 dose. Western blotting was performed to investigate the pathways of these effects.

Results: According to the results of our study, Rhizopogon luteolus and Ganoderma adspersum extracts have anti-proliferative and anti-invasive effects on non-small lung cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis, which has been found to increase the anti-oxidant effect. It was found that this effect was due to cross-talk between antioxidant activity and the AKT-Rb pathway.

Conclusion: We anticipate that Rhizopogon luteolus and Ganoderma adspersum extracts will be effective in cancer treatment by suppressing lung cancer cells via p-Akt and Rb.

Background: Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is overexpressed in tumor cells, which promotes tumor cell survival and cell proliferation and causes tumor cells to escape T-cell killing. Schisanhenol, a biphenyl cyclooctene lignin-like compound, was extracted and isolated from the plant named Schisandra rubriflora (Franch.).

Purpose: In this work, we studied the anticancer potential of schisanhenol and explored whether schisanhenol mediated its effect by inhibiting the expression of PD-L1 in vitro and in vivo.

Materials and methods: In vitro, we performed western blot, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and colony formation assays to study the proteins, genes, and pathways related to the anti-tumour activity of schisanhenol. In vivo, we explored the antitumor activity of schisanhenol through orthotopic liver transplantation and subcutaneous transplantation tumor models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

Results: We found that schisanhenol decreased the viability of HCC cells. It inhibited the expression of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), which plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis. Subsequently, schisanhenol suppressed the expression of PD-L1 by decreasing the activation of STAT3. Furthermore, we found that schisanhenol inhibited the activation of STAT3 via JAK/STAT3 (T705), Src/STAT3 (T705), and PI3K/AKT/mTOR/STAT3 (S727) pathways. Colony formation tests showed that schisanhenol suppressed cell proliferation by inhibiting PD-L1. Schisanhenol also enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) activity and regained their ability to kill tumour cells in co-culture. Finally, in vivo observation confirmed the antitumor activity of schisanhenol.

Conclusion: Schisanhenol inhibits the proliferation of HCC cells by targeting PD-L1 via the STAT3 pathways. These findings prove that schisanhenol is a valuable candidate for HCC therapeutics and reveal previously unknown characteristics of schisanhenol.

Background: Prostate cancer (PC) affects millions of men, causing high mortality rates. Despite the treatment approaches, the options for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), a lethal form of advanced PC, are still limited. Cabazitaxel (Cbx) is the last taxane-derived chemotherapeutic approved for Docetaxel- resistant mCRPC patients. However, its effects are limited due to the activation of several pathways. Therefore, new approaches are needed to increase the efficacy of Cbx. Usnic acid (UA) is a natural product with wellknown anti-tumorigenic and synergistic effects with various chemotherapeutics. Although the cytotoxicity of UA and Cbx has been evaluated on mCRPC cells, the anti-tumorigenic effect of UA combination with any taxane has not been investigated yet. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the possible synergistic effect of Cbx+UA in mCRPC cells.

Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed using WST-1 and Annexin-V. Morphological changes were visualized by fluorescent staining. Finally, cell cycle, mitochondrial health, and ROS levels were determined.

Results: Based on WST-1 results, 25 μM UA exhibited significant additive and synergistic effects with the use of Cbx. Annexin V and cell cycle results showed that UA significantly enhanced the Cbx efficacy at increasing doses compared to using only Cbx (**p<0.01). Moreover, combined treatment significantly increased ROS levels and mitochondrial membrane depolarization compared with Cbx alone (**p<0.01).

Conclusions: Thus, the results suggest that UA increased the anti-tumorigenic effects of Cbx on mCRPC cells by increasing apoptosis, causing an increase in intracellular ROS and disrupting mitochondrial health. Consequently, combining UA and Cbx offers a new combined therapeutic strategy for mCRPC treatment.

Cancer, characterized by aberrant cell growth, presents a formidable health challenge, impacting millions of individuals worldwide each year. Among the myriad mechanisms facilitating tumor progression, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor receptors (VEGFR) play a pivotal role in driving angiogenesis the process by which tumors develop their own blood supply. This vascularization not only supports tumor nourishment and growth but also facilitates metastasis, enabling cancer to spread to distant sites. VEGFR inhibitors offer a strategic approach to disrupt the VEGF-VEGFR binding pathway, thereby impeding angiogenesis, metastasis, and the proliferation of cancer cells. This review elucidates the latest advancements in medicinal chemistry pertaining to VEGFR inhibitors, showcasing a variety of chemical moieties and assessing their efficacy across different cancer cell lines. The novel compounds highlighted in this review exhibit significant promise for anticancer evaluation through targeted VEGFR kinase inhibition. A robust body of in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo studies supports these findings, demonstrating the antitumor effects of these compounds. Computational analyses further enhance our understanding by predicting compound binding affinities, pharmacokinetics, and overall drug-likeness. Despite the significant progress made in developing effective VEGFR inhibitors, challenges remain in refining these agents for optimal cancer treatment. This review not only summarizes the advancements achieved in VEGFR inhibitor development but also emphasizes the ongoing hurdles that must be addressed to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapies.

Background: The lung cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Although methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy are used for treatment, these treatments are sometimes inadequate. In addition, the number of chemotherapeutic agents used is very limited, and it is very important to use new natural agents that can increase the effect of these methods used in treatment.

Objective: The present study was designed to determine the suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis activities and phenolic content of Origanum syriacum methanol extract (OsME) on lung cancer cells (A549).

Methods: For this purpose, the cell viability of A549 cells exposed to OsME was first determined. The morphological changes of the cell were observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope. Moreover, the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells was determined by FACS with AnnexinV/Propodium iodide staining. Additionally, proapoptotic Bax and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 mRNA levels were determined by Real-time PCR. Phenolic compounds of OsME were detected by LC-MS-MS.

Results: It was observed that the viability and proliferation of lung cancer cells decreased after the treatment of different concentrations of OsME. At a concentration of 200 mg/ml of OsME, most of the cell membrane structures were observed to disintegrate. Meanwhile, a 25 μg/ml concentration of OsME increased the Bax expression and percentage of late apoptotic cells. Vanillic acid and luteolin were identified as the main phenolic compounds of OsME.

Conclusion: OsME exhibited antiproliferation activity on A549 cells and induced apoptosis at low doses.

Many oncoproteins are important therapeutic targets because of their critical role in inducing rapid cell proliferation, which represents one of the salient hallmarks of cancer. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a cancer of hematopoietic stem cells that is caused by the oncogene BCR-ABL1. BCR-ABL1 encodes a constitutively active tyrosine kinase protein that leads to the uncontrolled proliferation of myeloid cells, which is a hallmark of CML. A current therapeutic approach for the treatment of CML, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs), effectively inactivates BCR-ABL1 kinase activity; however, drug resistance to TKIs limits the long-term potential for this treatment. Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) has emerged as a promising pharmacological approach for degrading, rather than inhibiting, targeted proteins by harnessing the ubiquitin-proteosome system. This process involves tagging a Protein of Interest (POI) with ubiquitin by the E3 ubiquitin ligases, which subsequently target the protein for proteasomal degradation. The N-end rule or the N-degron concept describes the correlation between the metabolic stability of a protein and the biochemical identity of its N-terminal amino acid. A recent work unveiled that N-degron PROTACs could offer a potential treatment for CML by targeting and degrading BCR-ABL1 proteins. Herein, we present the molecular and biochemical implications for targeting chronic myeloid leukemia.

Introduction: Immunotherapy targeting PD-1/PD-L1 shows significant benefits in lung cancer. Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are frequent, early-developing side effects of ICIs, and their potential role as prognostic markers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy requires further exploration.

Methods: Data of patients with NSCLC treated with camrelizumab Combined with chemotherapy were collected at Xuzhou Medical University from 2019 to 2023. Cutaneous irAEs were monitored using CTCAE v5.0, and therapeutic efficacy was assessed using RECIST 1.1 criteria for ORR and PFS. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified independent predictors of PFS, and a nomogram was constructed to predict survival outcomes.

Results: Data from 151 patients were analyzed. Significant differences in the objective response rate (ORR, P = 0.016) and progression-free survival (PFS, P < 0.0001) were detected between NSCLC patients, either with cirAEs or not. Besides, PFS was significantly different in NSCLC patients who were subgrouped by the time of first cutaneous irAEs occurrence (P = 0.011), duration of cutaneous irAEs (P = 0.002), grade of cutaneous irAEs (P = 0.002), the number of cutaneous irAEs(P = 0.021). The multivariable analysis also revealed that cirAEs were positively associated with survival outcomes (HR: 0.316, 95% CI, 0.193- 0.519, P＜0.001) for PFS. The nomogram was formulated based on the results of multivariate analysis and validated using an internal bootstrap resampling approach, which showed that the nomogram exhibited a sufficient level of discrimination according to the C-index 0.80 (95% CI, 0.748-0.850).

Conclusion: The presence of cirAEs in NSCLC patients treated with camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy is indicative of better treatment efficacy and prognosis. This study supports the utility of cirAEs as biomarkers for predicting the validity of immunotherapy in NSCLC. It proposes a novel, multi-parameter prognostic model to assess patient outcomes more accurately.

Background: Cancer presents a significant global health challenge, necessitating effective treatment strategies. While chemotherapy is widely employed, its non-specific nature can induce adverse effects on normal cells, prompting the exploration of targeted therapies. The 1,2,4-triazole scaffold has emerged as a promising element in anticancer drug development due to its structural diversity and potential to target cancer cells.

Objective: This study aims to synthesize and evaluate novel derivatives derived from the 1,2,4-triazole scaffold for their potential as anticancer agents. Molecular docking techniques are employed to investigate the interactions between the designed derivatives and specific cancer-related targets, providing insights into potential underlying mechanisms.

Methods: The synthesis involves a three-step process to produce 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide derivatives. Various analytical techniques, including NMR and HRMS, validate the successful synthesis. Molecular docking studies utilize X-ray crystal structures of EGFR and CDK-4 obtained from the Protein Data Bank, employing the Schrödinger suite for ligand preparation and Glide's extra-precision docking modes for scoring.

Results: The synthesis yields compounds with moderate to good yields, supported by detailed characterization. Molecular docking scores for the derivatives against EGFR and CDK-4 revealed diverse affinities influenced by distinct substituents. Compounds with hydroxyl, and halogen, substitutions exhibited notable binding affinities, while alkyl and amino substitutions showed varying effects. The 1,2,4-triazole derivatives demonstrated potential for targeted cancer therapy.

Conclusion: The study highlights the successful synthesis of 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamides and their diverse interactions with cancer-related targets. The findings emphasized the potential of these derivatives as candidates for further development as anticancer agents, offering insights into structure-activity relationships. The 1,2,4-triazole scaffold stands out as a promising platform for advancing cancer treatment with enhanced precision and efficacy.