Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of a new group of heterocyclic analogues of the combretastatins

Molecules. 2014 Jun 11;19(6):7881-900. doi: 10.3390/molecules19067881.

Abstract

A series of new analogs of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4, 1) with the A or B-ring replaced by a 3-oxo-2,3-dihydrofurocoumarin or a furocoumarin residue have been designed and synthesized by employing a cross-coupling approach. All the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity with respect to model cancer cell lines (CEM-13, MT-4, U-937) using conventional MTT assays. Structure-activity relationship analysis reveals that compounds 2, 3, 6-8 in which the (Z)-styryl substituent was connected to the 2-position of the 3-oxo-2,3-dihydrofurocoumarin core, demonstrated increased potency compared to 3-(Z)-styrylfurocoumarins 4, 5, 9-11. The methoxy-, hydroxyl- and formyl- substitution on the aromatic ring of the (Z)-styryl moiety seems to play an important role in this class of compounds. Compounds 2 and 3 showed the best potency against the CEM-13 cell lines, with CTD50 values ranging from 4.9 to 5.1 μM. In comparison with CA-4, all synthesized compounds presented moderate cytotoxic activity to the T-cellular human leucosis cells MT-4 and lymphoblastoid leukemia cells CEM-13, but most of them were active in the human monocyte cell lines U-937.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Bibenzyls / chemical synthesis
  • Bibenzyls / chemistry
  • Bibenzyls / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coumarins / chemistry
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Ficusin / chemistry
  • Ficusin / pharmacology
  • Furocoumarins / chemistry
  • Furocoumarins / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Stilbenes / chemical synthesis
  • Stilbenes / chemistry
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemical synthesis
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Bibenzyls
  • Coumarins
  • Furocoumarins
  • Stilbenes
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • combretastatin
  • fosbretabulin
  • Ficusin
  • oreoselone