Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-arylcoumarin analogues of combretastatins

J Med Chem. 2003 Dec 4;46(25):5437-44. doi: 10.1021/jm030903d.

Abstract

A series of A-ring polymethoxylated neoflavonoids was prepared by ligand coupling reactions involving either Suzuki or Stille reactions. Cytotoxicity studies indicated a potent activity against a CEM leukemia cell line for the compounds presenting a substitution pattern related to that of combretastatin A-4. The two compounds having a 3'-OH and a 4'-OCH(3) substituents on the 4-phenyl B-ring have no effect on human topoisomerases I and II but potently inhibit, in vitro, microtubule assembly. At the cell level, the active compounds were characterized as proapoptotic agents, but they can also trigger cell death via a nonapoptotic pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Biopolymers
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / chemistry
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / chemistry
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / physiology
  • Stilbenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Stilbenes / chemistry
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • Tubulin / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biopolymers
  • Stilbenes
  • Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • Tubulin
  • Caspases
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II
  • fosbretabulin