Optimization of 4-(N-cycloamino)phenylquinazolines as a novel class of tubulin-polymerization inhibitors targeting the colchicine site

J Med Chem. 2014 Feb 27;57(4):1390-402. doi: 10.1021/jm4016526. Epub 2014 Feb 6.

Abstract

The 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline moiety in prior leads 2-chloro- and 2-methyl-4-(6-methoxy-3,4-dihydroquinolin-1(2H)-yl)quinazoline (1a and 1b) was modified to produce 4-(N-cycloamino)quinazolines (4a-c and 5a-m). The new compounds were evaluated in cytotoxicity and tubulin inhibition assays, resulting in the discovery of new tubulin-polymerization inhibitors. 7-Methoxy-4-(2-methylquinazolin-4-yl)-3,4-dihydroquinoxalin- 2(1H)-one (5f), the most potent compound, exhibited high in vitro cytotoxic activity (GI50 1.9-3.2 nM), significant potency against tubulin assembly (IC50 0.77 μM), and substantial inhibition of colchicine binding (99% at 5 μM). In mechanism studies, 5f caused cell arrest in G2/M phase, disrupted microtubule formation, and competed mostly at the colchicine site on tubulin. Compound 5f and N-methylated analogue 5g were evaluated in nude mouse MCF7 xenograft models to validate their antitumor activity. Compound 5g displayed significant in vivo activity (tumor inhibitory rate 51%) at a dose of 4 mg/kg without obvious toxicity, whereas 5f unexpectedly resulted in toxicity and death at the same dose.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colchicine / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Models, Molecular
  • Quinazolines / chemistry
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Quinazolines
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • Colchicine