Synthesis and investigation of the anticancer effects of estrone-16-oxime ethers in vitro

Steroids. 2013 Jan;78(1):69-78. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2012.10.009. Epub 2012 Nov 2.

Abstract

An expanding body of evidence indicates the possible role of estrane derivatives as useful anticancer agents. The aim of this study was to describe the cytotoxic effects of 63 newly synthetized estrone-16-oxime ethers on human cancer cell lines (cervix carcinoma HeLa, breast carcinoma MCF7 and skin epidermoid carcinoma A431), studied by means of the MTT assay. Four of the most promising compounds were selected for participation in additional experiments in order to characterize the mechanism of action, including cell cycle analysis, morphological study and the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assay. The cancer selectivity was tested on a noncancerous fibroblast cell line (MRC-5). Since apoptosis and cell cycle disturbance were observed, caspase-3 activities were further assayed for the two most effective agents. These estrone-16-oxime analogs activated caspase-3 and changed the mRNA level expression of endogenous factors regulating the G1-S phase transition (retinoblastoma protein, CDK4 and p16). The repression of retinoblastoma protein was reinforced at a protein level too. These experimental data lead to the conclusion that estrone-16-oxime ethers may be regarded as potential starting structures for the design of novel anticancer agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Shape
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • DNA Replication
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Estrone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Estrone / chemical synthesis
  • Estrone / pharmacology*
  • Ethers / chemical synthesis
  • Ethers / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Oximes / chemical synthesis
  • Oximes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Ethers
  • Oximes
  • Estrone
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Caspase 3