Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry最新文献

Introduction: Tumors can be targeted by modulating the immune response of the patient. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) are critical immune checkpoints in cancer biology. The efficacy of certain cancer immunotherapies has been achieved by targeting these molecules using monoclonal antibodies.

Method: Small-molecule drugs have also been developed as inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, with a mechanism of action that is distinct from that of antibodies: they induce the formation of PD-L1 homodimers, causing their stabilization, internalization, and subsequent degradation. Drug repurposing is a strategy in which new uses are sought after for approved drugs, expediting their clinical translation based on updated findings. In this study, we generated a pharmacophore model that was based on reported small molecules that targeted PD-L1 and used it to identify potential PD-L1 inhibitors among FDA-approved drugs.

Results: We identified 12 pharmacophore-matching compounds, but only 4 reproduced the binding mode of the reference inhibitors in docking experiments. Further characterization by molecular dynamics showed that pranlukast, an antagonist of leukotriene receptors that is used to treat asthma, generated stable and energyfavorable interactions with PD-L1 homodimers and induced homodimerization of recombinant PD-L1.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that pranlukast inhibits the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, meriting its repurposing as an antitumor drug.

Background: Since it was discovered that a natural polyether ionophore called salinomycin (SAL) selectively inhibits human cancer cells, the scientific world has been paying special attention to this compound. It has been studied for nearly 15 years.

Objective: Thus, a very interesting research direction is the chemical modification of SAL structure, which could give more biologically active agents.

Methods: We evaluated the anticancer activity of (thio)urea analogues class of C20-epi-aminosalinomycin (compound 3b). The studies covered the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), proapoptotic activity, cytotoxic activity, and lipid peroxidation in vitro.

Results: Thioureas 5a‒5d showed antiproliferative activity against selected human colon cancer cell lines greater than that of chemically unmodified SAL, with a 2~10-fold higher potency towards a metastatic variant of colon cancer cells (SW620). Mechanistically, SAL derivatives showed pro-apoptotic activity in primary colon cancer cells and induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these cells. In SW620 cells, SAL derivatives increased lipid peroxidation with a weak effect on apoptosis and low ROS formation with cytotoxic effects followed by cytostatic ones, suggesting different modes of action of the compounds against primary and metastatic colon cancer cells.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that urea and thiourea derivatives of SAL provide promising leads for the rational development of new anticancer active agents.

Objective: Crocin (CRO), the primary antioxidant in saffron, is known for its anticancer properties. However, its effectiveness in topical therapy is limited due to low bioavailability, poor absorption, and low physicochemical stability. This study aimed to prepare crocin nanoparticles (CRO-NPs) to enhance their pharmaceutical efficacy and evaluate the synergistic effects of Cro-NPs with doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy on two cell lines: human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and non-cancerous cells (WI38).

Methods: CRO-NPs were prepared using the emulsion diffusion technique and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Zeta potential, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Cell proliferation inhibition was assessed using the MTT assay for DOX, CRO, CRO-NPs, and DOX+CRO-NPs. Apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry, and changes in the expression of apoptotic gene (P53) and autophagic genes (ATG5 & LC3) were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: TEM and SEM revealed that CRO-NPs exhibited a relatively spherical shape with an average size of 9.3 nm, and zeta potential analysis indicated better stability of CRO-NPs compared to native CRO. Significantly higher antitumor effects of CRO-NPs were observed against HepG2 cells (IC50 = 1.1 mg/ml and 0.57 mg/ml) compared to native CRO (IC50 = 6.1 mg/ml and 3.2 mg/ml) after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Annexin-V assay on HepG2 cells indicated increased apoptotic rates across all treatments, with the highest percentage observed in CRO-NPs, accompanied by cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Furthermore, gene expression analysis showed upregulation of P53, ATG5, and LC3 genes in DOX/CRO-NPs co-treatment compared to individual treatments. In contrast, WI38 cells exhibited greater sensitivity to DOX toxicity but showed no adverse response to CRONPs.

Conclusion: Although more in vivo studies in animal models are required to corroborate these results, our findings suggest that CRO-NPs can be a potential new anticancer agent for hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, they have a synergistic effect with DOX against HepG2 cells and mitigate the toxicity of DOX on normal WI38 cells.

Gastric cancer in advanced stages lacked effective treatment options. claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) is a membrane protein that is crucial for close junctions in the differentiated epithelial cells of the gastric mucosa, playing a vital role in barrier function, and can be hardly recognized by immune cells due to its polarity pattern. As the polarity of gastric tumor cells changes, claudin18.2 is exposed on the cell surface， resulting in immune system recognition, and making it an ideal target. In this review, we summarized the expression regulation mechanism of claudin18.2 both in normal cells and malignant tumor cells. Besides, we analyzed the available clinical results and potential areas for future research on claudin18.2-positive gastric cancer and claudin18.2-targeting therapy. In conclusion, claudin18.2 is an ideal target for gastric cancer treatment, and the claudin18.2-targeting therapy has changed the treatment pattern of gastric cancer.

Background: Tumor cell resistance to cisplatin is a common challenge in endometrial cancer chemotherapy, stemming from various mechanisms. Targeted therapies using proteasome inhibitors, such as MG132, have been investigated to enhance cisplatin sensitivity, potentially offering a novel treatment approach.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of MG132 on cisplatin sensitivity in the human endometrial cancer (EC) cell line RL95-2, focusing on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell signaling.

Methods: Human endometrial cancer RL95-2 cells were exposed to MG132, and cell viability was assessed in a dose-dependent manner. The study evaluated the effect of MG132 on cisplatin-induced proliferation inhibition and apoptosis, correlating with caspase-3 activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) upregulation. Additionally, we examined the inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-13 during MG132 and cisplatin co-administration.

Results: MG132 exposure significantly reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. It augmented cisplatin- induced proliferation inhibition and enhanced apoptosis, correlating with caspase-3 activation and ROS upregulation. Molecular analysis revealed a profound inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. MG132 also significantly increased the expression of cisplatin-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting a transition from chronic to acute inflammation.

Conclusion: MG132 enhances the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin in human EC cells by suppressing the ubiquitin- proteasome pathway, reducing cell viability, enhancing apoptosis, and shifting the inflammatory response. These findings highlighted the potential of MG132 as an adjuvant in endometrial cancer chemotherapy. Further research is needed to explore detailed mechanisms and clinical applications of this combination therapy.

Background: Nitric Oxide (NO) has recently gained recognition as a promising approach in the field of cancer therapy. The quinoline scaffold is pivotal in cancer drug research and is known for its versatility and diverse mechanisms of action.

Objective: This study presents the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of novel quinoline nitrate derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

Methods: The compounds were synthesized through a multi-step process involving the preparation of substituted 1-(2-aminophenyl) ethan-1-one, followed by the synthesis of substituted 2- (chloromethyl)-3,4-dimethylquinolines, and finally, the formation of substituted (3,4- dimethylquinolin-2-yl) methyl nitrate derivatives. The synthesized compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. Molecular docking studies were conducted to assess the binding affinity of the compounds to the EGFR tyrosine kinase domain.

Results: The docking scores revealed varying degrees of binding affinity, with compound 6k exhibiting the highest score. The results suggested a correlation between molecular docking scores and anticancer activity. Further evaluations included MTT assays to determine the cytotoxicity of the compounds against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (A-549) and pancreatic cancer (PANC-1) cell lines. Compounds with electron-donating groups displayed notable anticancer potential, and there was a correlation between NO release and anticancer activity. The study also investigated nitric oxide release from the compounds, revealing compound 6g as the highest NO releaser.

Conclusion: The synthesized quinoline nitrate derivatives showed promising anticancer activity, with compound 6g standing out as a potential lead compound. The correlation between molecular docking, NO release, and anticancer activity suggests the importance of specific structural features in the design of effective anticancer agents.

Cancer, an intricate and formidable disease, continues to challenge Medical Science with its diverse manifestations and relentless progression. In the pursuit of novel therapeutic strategies, organic heterocyclic compounds have emerged as promising candidates due to their versatile chemical structures and intricate interactions with biological systems. Among these, pyrazine derivatives are characterized by a six-membered aromatic ring containing four carbon and two nitrogen atoms situated in a 1,4-orientation. These compounds garnered significant attention for their potential as anticancer agents. This comprehensive review provides a detailed analysis of the advancements made during this timeframe, encompassing the chemical diversity of pyrazine derivatives, their mechanisms of action at the cellular level, and structure-activity relationships, spanning the years 2010 to 2024. By examining their therapeutic potential, challenges, and future prospects, this review offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of pyrazine derivatives as potent tools in the fight against cancer.

Acyl urea compounds have garnered significant attention in cancer therapeutics, particularly for their potential effectiveness against cancers that predominantly affect women, such as breast and ovarian cancers. The paper presents a report on the investigation of acyl urea compounds that are reported to involve a multi-faceted approach, including synthetic chemistry, biological assays, and computational modeling. A wealth of information on acyl urea and its purported effects on cancer affecting women has been gathered from different sources and condensed to provide readers with a broad understanding of the role of acyl urea in combating cancer. Acylureas demonstrate promising results by selectively inhibiting key molecular targets associated with cancer progressions, such as EGFR, ALK, HER2, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Specifically, targeting acyl ureas impedes tumor proliferation and metastasis while minimizing harm to healthy tissues, offering a targeted therapeutic approach with reduced side effects compared to conventional chemotherapy. Continued research and clinical trials are imperative to optimize the efficacy and safety profiles of acylurea-based therapies and broaden their applicability across various cancer types. Acyl urea compounds represent a promising class of therapeutics for the treatment of cancers in women, particularly due to their ability to selectively inhibit key molecular targets involved in tumor growth and progression. The combination of synthetic optimization, biological evaluation, and computational modeling has facilitated the identification of several lead compounds with significant anticancer potential. This abstract explores the therapeutic mechanisms and targeted pathways of acyl ureas in combating these malignancies, which will be useful for future studies.

Currently, breast cancer is the most common cancer type, accounting for 1 in every 4 cancer cases. Leading both in mortality and incidence, breast cancer causes 1 in 4 cancer deaths. To decrease the burden of breast cancer, novel therapeutic agents which target the key hallmarks of cancer, are being explored. The Bcl-2 family of proteins has a crucial role in governing cell death, making them an attractive target for cancer therapy. As cancer chemotherapies lead to oncogenic stress, cancer cells upregulate the Bcl-2 family to overcome apoptosis, leading to failure of treatment. To fix this issue, Bcl-2 family inhibitors, which can cause cell death, have been introduced as novel therapeutic agents. Members of this group have shown promising results in in-vitro studies, and some are currently in clinical trials. In this review, we will investigate Bcl-2 family inhibitors, which are already in trials as monotherapy or combination therapy for breast cancer, and we will also highlight the result of in vitro studies of novel Bcl-2 family inhibitors on breast cancer cells. The findings of these studies have yielded encouraging outcomes regarding the identification of novel Bcl-2 family inhibitors. These compounds hold significant potential as efficacious agents for employment in both monotherapy and combination therapy settings.

Krüppel-like factors (KLFs, total 18 members) from the zinc finger protein (ZFP) super-family have a wide range of biological functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This paper reviews the recent some progresses of aberrant KLFs with their potential values for diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy in HCC. The recent advances of oncogenic KLFs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy of HCC were reviewed based on the related literature on PUBMED and clinical investigation. Based on the recent literature, KLFs, according to biological functions in HCC, are divided into 4 subgroups: promoting (KLF5, 7, 8, 13), inhibiting (KLF3, 4, 9~12, 14,17), dual (KLF2,6), and unknown functions (KLF1, 15, 16, or 18 ?). HCC-related KLFs regulate downstream gene transcription during hepatocyte malignant transformation, participating in cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. Some KLFs have diagnostic or prognostic value, and other KLFs with inhibiting promoting function or over-expressing inhibiting roles might be molecular targets for HCC therapy. These data have suggested that Abnormal expressions of KLFs were associated with HCC progression. Among them, some KLFs have revealed the clinical values of diagnosis or prognosis, and other KLFs with the biological functions of promotion or inhibition might be as effectively molecular targets for HCC therapy.