Discovery and investigation of antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties of new heterocyclic podophyllotoxin analogues accessible by a one-step multicomponent synthesis

J Med Chem. 2007 Oct 18;50(21):5183-92. doi: 10.1021/jm070528f. Epub 2007 Sep 26.

Abstract

Podophyllotoxin has been extensively used as a lead agent in the development of new anticancer drugs. On the basis of the previously reported simplified 4-aza-2,3-didehydro podophyllotoxin analogues, we implemented a bioisosteric replacement of the methylenedioxybenzene subunit with a pyrazole moiety to afford tetracyclic dihydropyridopyrazoles. Libraries of these structurally simple analogues are prepared by a straightforward one-step multicomponent synthesis and demonstrated to display antiproliferative properties in a number of human cancer cell lines. These new heterocycles potently induce apoptosis in cancerous Jurkat cells even after a short 24 h exposure. In contrast, no apoptosis is detected in primary lymphocytes under the same treatment conditions. The ease of synthesis and encouraging biological activities make the presented library of dihydropyridopyrazoles promising new leads in anticancer drug design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis*
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / chemical synthesis*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Podophyllotoxin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Podophyllotoxin / chemical synthesis*
  • Podophyllotoxin / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • Pyrazoles
  • Caspase 3
  • Podophyllotoxin