Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Marinacarboline Analogues as STAT3 Pathway Inhibitors for Docetaxel-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

J Med Chem. 2023 Feb 23;66(4):3106-3133. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01115. Epub 2023 Feb 14.

Abstract

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) is a fatal type of breast cancer (BC), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has emerged as an effective target for mTNBC. In the present study, compound MC0704 was found to be a novel synthetic STAT3 pathway inhibitor, and its potential antitumor activity was demonstrated using in vitro and in vivo models in docetaxel-resistant TNBC cells. Based on marinacarboline (MC), a series β-carboline derivatives were synthesized and investigated for their antitumor activities against docetaxel-resistant MDA-MB-231 (MDA-MB-231-DTR) cells. Combining antiproliferation and STAT3 inhibitory activities, MC0704 was selected as the most promising β-carboline compound. MC0704 effectively impeded the metastatic potential of MDA-MB-231-DTR cells in vitro, and the combination of MC0704 and docetaxel exhibited potent antitumor activities in a xenograft mouse model. These findings suggested that MC0704 can be a lead candidate as a target therapeutic agent for TNBC patients with docetaxel resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Docetaxel / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Docetaxel
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • STAT3 protein, human