Preliminary Studies on the Activity of Mixed Polyphenol-Heterocyclic Systems Against B16-F10 Melanoma Cancer Cells

Med Chem. 2016;12(5):419-25. doi: 10.2174/1573406412666160129104603.

Abstract

The Bcl-2 family includes 26 proteins involved in apoptosis. Cancer cells can develop the ability to avoid apoptosis through the upregulation and/or down regulation of such proteins Bax, Bcl-xL or Mcl-1, especially during chemoresistance progress. These proteins engaged in a network of dynamic interactions that control apoptosis triggering have become attractive therapeutic targets in cancers including melanoma. Among them, the Bax/Bcl-xL interaction appears critical in maintaining mitochondria integrity. Therefore a series of mixed polyphenol-heterocyclic molecules, were rationally designed by molecular docking as Bax/Bcl-xL inhibitors. It has been screened against B16-F10 melanoma cancer cells for a preliminary investigation of their cytotoxicity. All these compounds exhibited a significant cytotoxicity against these cancer cells, in the 0.3-6 .M range. A pyrazole-type molecule, which had a submicromolar IC50 value with an excellent selectivity index (14), is the most promising derivative for further development.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Techniques
  • Catechols / chemical synthesis
  • Catechols / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Melanoma, Experimental
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Pyrazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • bcl-X Protein / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • 3-(4-fluorobenzyl)-5-(3-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazol- 5-yl)benzene-1,2-diol
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BAX protein, human
  • BCL2L1 protein, human
  • Catechols
  • Pyrazoles
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • bcl-X Protein