An update of new small-molecule anticancer drugs approved from 2015 to 2020

Discovery of novel 4-trifluoromethyl-2-anilinoquinoline derivatives as potential anti-cancer agents targeting SGK1

Given the critical necessity for the development of more potent anti-cancer drugs, a series of novel compounds incorporating trifluoromethyl groups within the privileged 2-anilinoquinoline scaffold was designed, synthesized, and subjected to biological evaluation through a pharmacophore hybridization strategy. Upon evaluating the in vitro anti-cancer characteristics of the target compounds, it became clear that compound 8b, which contains a (4-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)amino substitution at the 2-position of the quinoline skeleton, displayed superior efficacy against four cancer cell lines by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Following research conducted in a PC3 xenograft mouse model, it was found that compound 8b exhibited significant anti-cancer efficacy while demonstrating minimal toxicity. Additionally, the analysis of a 217-kinase panel pinpointed SGK1 as a potential target for this compound class with anti-cancer capabilities. This finding was further verified through molecular docking analysis and cellular thermal shift assays. To conclude, our results emphasize that compound 8b can be used as a lead compound for the development of anti-cancer drugs that target SGK1.

Oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidines as Anticancer Agents: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature Focusing on SAR Analysis

Oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidines have been found to exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including the inhibition of various enzymes and signaling pathways associated with carcinogenesis. The objective of this review is to demonstrate that the oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine scaffold represents a valuable structure for the design of novel anticancer therapies. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the chemical structure and pharmacological properties of oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives, drawing upon the literature and international patents from 1974 until the present. Notably, the review explores structure-activity relationships (SAR) with a view to enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidines.

The role of MAPK pathway in gastric cancer: unveiling molecular crosstalk and therapeutic prospects

Gastric cancer remains a significant health burden globally, especially prevalent in Asian and European regions. Despite a notable decline in incidence in the United States and Western Europe over recent decades, the disease's persistence underscores the urgency for advanced research in its pathogenesis and treatment strategies. Central to this pursuit is the exploration of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, a pivotal cellular mechanism implicated in the complex processes of gastric cancer development, including cellular proliferation, invasion, migration, and metastasis. The MAPK or extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway serves as a crucial conduit for transmitting extracellular signals to elicit intracellular responses, with its signaling cascades subject to alterations due to genetic and epigenetic variations across various diseases, prominently cancer. This review delves into the intricate role of the MAPK signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer, drawing upon the most recent and critical studies that shed light on MAPK pathway alterations as a gateway to the disease. It highlights the pathway's involvement in Helicobacter pylori-mediated gastric carcinogenesis and the tumorigenic processes induced by the Epstein-Barr virus, showcasing the substantial influence of miRNAs and lncRNAs in modulating gastric cancer's biological properties through their interaction with the MAPK pathway. Furthermore, the review extends into the therapeutic arena, discussing the promising impacts of herbal medicines, MAPK pathway inhibitors, and immunosuppressants on mitigating gastric cancer's progression. Through an exhaustive examination of the MAPK pathway's multifaceted role in gastric cancer, from molecular crosstalks to therapeutic prospects, this review aspires to contribute to the ongoing efforts in understanding and combating this global health challenge, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions and improved patient outcomes.

Profile of Fruquintinib in the Management of Advanced Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Design, Development and Potential Place in Therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent and deadly cancer, with metastatic CRC (mCRC) often leading to poor outcomes despite advancements in screening and chemotherapy. Anti-angiogenic agents targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways have become essential in mCRC treatment. Bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor, was the first agent used in this context. However, drug resistance prompted the development of more selective inhibitors, such as fruquintinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that targets VEGFR-1, -2, and -3. Fruquintinib has shown promise in clinical trials, particularly for third-line mCRC treatment. The Phase III FRESCO trial in China demonstrated its efficacy, significantly improving overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to placebo, with manageable safety concerns like hypertension and hand-foot skin reactions. The FRESCO-2 trial extended these findings to European and North American populations, leading to a recent FDA approval for previously treated mCRC patients. The pharmacodynamic profile of fruquintinib includes potent inhibition of VEGFR, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. It has shown synergistic effects when combined with other treatments like chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Current research focuses on exploring fruquintinib's combination with ICIs, such as PD-1 inhibitors, to enhance treatment efficacy, especially in microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC. Ongoing trials are investigating Fruquintinib's potential in combination with other therapies and its use in earlier lines of treatment. While promising, further studies are required to optimize its place in therapy and identify predictive biomarkers for better patient selection.

Electrochemical analysis of anticancer and antibiotic drugs in water and biological specimens

The increasing prevalence of pharmaceuticals in water and complex matrices necessitates accurate measurement and monitoring of their environmental contamination levels. This is crucial not only for environmental conservation but also for comprehending the intricate mechanisms involved and developing more effective treatment approaches. In this context, electrochemical techniques show significant potential for the detection of pharmaceuticals across various matrices. Specifically, voltammetry is advantageous due to its rapid, straightforward, and cost-effective nature, allowing for the simultaneous analysis of multiple anticancer and antibiotic drugs. By utilizing nanomaterial-modified electrochemical sensors, the sensitivity and selectivity of detection methods can be significantly improved. The small size and customizable properties of nanomaterials enable these sensors to identify trace amounts of drugs in diverse samples. However, challenges persist in achieving reliable and accurate electrochemical monitoring of drugs in water and biological samples. Biofluids such as saliva, urine, and blood/serum, along with environmental samples from lakes and rivers, often contain numerous interfering substances that can diminish analyte signals. This review examines electrochemical methods and their potential applications for detecting pharmaceuticals and their metabolites, while also addressing the mechanisms of action and harmful effects of these drugs on both ecosystems and human health. Recent developments in electrochemical sensors utilizing nanomaterials for the detection of health-threatening pharmaceutical contaminants are examined, providing important insights into their underlying mechanisms. The emphasis is placed on the detection of anticancer agents and antibiotics, which relies on the electrocatalytic properties of the sensor materials. Additionally, discussions on density functional theory studies are included, along with an exploration of the emerging challenges and future directions in this area, aimed at enhancing readers' comprehension of the field and underscoring the necessary actions for a sustainable future.

Localized intratumoral delivery of immunomodulators for oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders

Immunotherapy has developed into an important modality of modern cancer treatment. Unfortunately, checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies are currently delivered systemically and require frequent administration, which can result in toxicity and severe, sometimes fatal, adverse events. Localized delivery of immunomodulators for oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders offers the promise of maximum therapeutic potential and reduced systemic adverse effects. This review will discuss the limitations of current standard-of-care systemic therapies and highlight research advances in localized, intratumoral delivery platforms for immunotherapy for oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders.

In Silico Screening of 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Derivatives as Inhibitors of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2)

Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in the growth, survival, and metastasis of solid tumors, with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) being overexpressed in many human solid tumors, making it an appealing target for anti-cancer therapies. This study aimed to identify potential lead compounds with azole moiety exhibiting VEGFR-2 inhibitory effects. A ligand-based pharmacophore model was constructed using the X-ray crystallographic structure of VEGFR-2 complexed with tivozanib (PDB ID: 4ASE) to screen the ZINC15 database. Following virtual screening, six compounds demonstrated promising docking scores and drug-likeness comparable to tivozanib. These hits underwent detailed pharmacokinetic analysis to assess their absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties. Furthermore, Density Functional Theory (DFT) analysis was employed to investigate the molecular orbital properties of the top hits from molecular docking. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted to evaluate the conformational stability of the complexes over a 100 ns run. Results indicated that the compounds (ZINC8914312, ZINC8739578, ZINC8927502, and ZINC17138581) exhibited the most promising lead requirements for inhibiting VEGFR-2 and suppressing angiogenesis in cancer therapy. This integrated approach, combining pharmacophore modeling, molecular docking, ADMET studies, DFT analysis, and MD simulations, provides valuable insights into the identification of potential anti-cancer agents targeting VEGFR-2.

Structurally diverse design and synthesis of novel 2-phenylindole amide derivatives with anti-canine breast cancer activity

Breast cancer stands as the cancer with the highest incidence and mortality rates among women globally, in which triple-negative breast cancer has been ranked as the most difficult one. Bazedoxifene (BZA), a third-generation selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), has been exhibited notable inhibitory effect on both hormone-dependent breast cancer cells and triple-negative breast cancer cells, but showing very low in vivo effeacy. In order to obtain more effective antitumor derivatives than BZA, we have employed a structurally diverse design and synthesis of 57 novel 2-phenylindole amides for detecting their cytotoxities against triple-negative mammary cancer cell line, CMT-7364. Among them, 21 compounds demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against CMT-7364 cells (IC50 < 20 μM). Notably, compound 49 stood out, displaying both similar tumor cell inhibition (20 % reduce in IC50 value) and higher selectivity (4.6 times higher in SI value), compared to Bazedoxifene. Additionally, compound 49 exhibited desirable antitumor effects in a CMT-7364 cell-derived mouse in vivo model, achieving the best inhibition rate of 43.1 % and establishing strong molecular bonding with GP130. Our findings are also supported by comprehensive SAR and 3D-QSAR analyses. Furthermore, the best potent compound 49 was determined to block the cell cycle of canine breast cancer cells in the G0G1 phase in a time-dependent manner, by inducing apoptosis and autophagy. In conclusion, this work presents a valuable lead compound as a potential GP130 inhibitor against triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, laying the foundation for further antitumor drug development.

Seven-membered N-heterocycles as approved drugs and promising leads in medicinal chemistry as well as the metal-free domino access to their scaffolds

Azepanes or azepines are structural motifs of many drugs, drug candidates and evaluated lead compounds. Even though compounds having N-heterocyclic 7-membered rings are often found in nature (e.g. alkaloids), the natural compounds of this group are rather rare as approved therapeutics. Thus, recently studied and approved azepane or azepine-congeners predominantly consist of semi-synthetically or synthetically-obtained scaffolds. In this review a comparison of approved drugs and recently investigated leads was proposed taking into regard their structural aspects (stereochemistry), biological activities, pharmacokinetic properties and confirmed molecular targets. The 7-membered N-heterocycles reveal a wide range of biological activities, not only against CNS diseases, but also as e.g. antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral, antiparasitic and against allergy agents. As most of the approved or investigated potential drugs or lead structures, belonging to 7-membered N-heterocycles, are synthetic scaffolds, this report also reveals different and efficient metal-free cascade approaches useful to synthesize both simple azepane or azepine-containing congeners and those of oligocyclic structures. Stereochemistry of azepane/azepine fused systems, in view of biological data and binding with the targets, is discussed. Apart from the approved drugs, we compare advances in SAR studies of 7-membered N-heterocycles (mainly from 2018 to 2023), whereas the related synthetic part concerning various domino strategies is focused on the last ten years.

Combination of histological and metabolomic assessments to evaluate the potential pharmacological efficacy of saikosaponin D

Saikosaponin D (SsD), a natural triterpenoid saponin compound, exhibits notable potential in suppressing tumor growth and inhibiting metastasis, particularly in breast cancer. However, its underlying mechanism of action for SsD remains unclear. In this study, a combination strategy to reveal the metabolism modulation of SsD on breast cancer was performed by integration of histopathological assessments and untargeted metabolomics analysis. Pathological evaluation of the efficacy of SsD from a visual and intuitive perspective. Accordingly, a non-targeted metabolomics study was used to investigate the pharmacological efficacy using a set of serum samples from mice before and after (0-30 days) modulated with SsD based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem orbitrap mass spectrometry to discover metabolite biomarkers for finding the key metabolic mechanism in a molecular perspective. As a result, 20 metabolites were selected as potential biomarkers for SsD efficacy evaluation with high sensitivity and specificity. These metabolites changes were involved in sphingolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, phenylalanine and tryptophan metabolism, and phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways, suggesting that SsD exerted anti-breast cancer effects through the regulation of the underlying metabolism. In conclusion, we developed a new analysis strategy that effectively discovers tumor-progressing related metabolite biomarkers in serum for pharmacological efficacy evaluation.

Recent advances in the discovery of tropomyosin receptor kinases TRKs inhibitors: A mini review

The tropomyosin receptor tyrosine kinases (TRKs) control the cell proliferation mainly in the nervous system and are encoded by NTRK genes. Fusion and mutation of NTRK genes were detected in various types of cancers. Many small molecules TRK inhibitors have been discovered during the last two decades and some of them have entered clinical trials. Moreover, two of these inhibitors; larotrectinib and entrectinib; were approved by FDA for the treatment of TRK-fusion positive solid tumors. However, mutation of TRK enzymes resulted in resistance to both drugs. Therefore, next generation TRK inhibitors were discovered to overcome the acquired drug resistance. Additionally, the off-target and on-target adverse effects on the brain initiated the need for selective TRK subtype inhibitors. Indeed, some molecules were recently reported as selective TRKA or TRKC inhibitors with minimal CNS side effects. The current review highlighted the efforts done during the last three years in the design and discovery of novel TRK inhibitors.

Formation of a traditional Chinese medicine self-assembly nanostrategy and its application in cancer: a promising treatment

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to prevent and treat a variety of illnesses, and its popularity is increasing worldwide. However, the clinical applications of natural active components in TCM are hindered by the poor solubility and low bioavailability of these compounds. To address these issues, Chinese medicine self-assembly nanostrategy (CSAN) is being developed. Many active components of TCM possess self-assembly properties, allowing them to form nanoparticles (NPs) through various noncovalent forces. Self-assembled NPs (SANs) are also present in TCM decoctions, and they are closely linked to the therapeutic effects of these remedies. SAN is gaining popularity in the nano research field due to its simplicity, eco-friendliness, and enhanced biodegradability and biocompatibility compared to traditional nano preparation methods. The self-assembly of active ingredients from TCM that exhibit antitumour effects or are combined with other antitumour drugs has generated considerable interest in the field of cancer therapeutics. This paper provides a review of the principles and forms of CSAN, as well as an overview of recent reports on TCM that can be used for self-assembly. Additionally, the application of CSAN in various cancer diseases is summarized, and finally, a concluding summary and thoughts are proposed. We strongly believe that CSAN has the potential to offer fresh strategies and perspectives for the modernization of TCM.

In Silico Study of Thiourea Derivatives as Potential Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors

Over the years, the escalation of cancer cases has been linked to the resistance, less selectivity, and toxicity of available anticancer drugs to normal cells. Therefore, continuous efforts are necessary to find new anticancer drugs with high selectivity of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) as a therapeutic target. The EGFR-TK protein has a crucial role in cell proliferation and cancer progression. With about 30% of cancer cases involved with the protein, it has piqued the interest as a therapeutic target. The potential of theoretically designed thiourea derivatives as anticancer agents in this report was evaluated against EGFR-TK via in silico techniques, including molecular docking (AutoDock Vina), molecular dynamics simulations (GROMACS), pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness properties (SwissADME and Molinspiration). New hybrid molecules of the thiourea derivative moiety were designed in this study based on the fragment-based drug discovery and linked with diverse pharmacophoric fragments with reported anticancer potential ([Formula: see text]) and the modification of the methyl position on phenyl ring ([Formula: see text]). These fragments include pyridine, thiophene, furan, pyrrole and styrene groups. Out of 15 compounds, compound 13 displayed the most potent inhibitory activity, with the lowest binding affinity in docking of [Formula: see text]8.7 kcal/mol compared to the positive control erlotinib of [Formula: see text]6.7 kcal/mol. Our molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that molecule 13, comprising styrene and 2-methylphenyl substituents on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, showed adequate compactness, uniqueness and satisfactory stability. Subsequently, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties and drug-likeness properties also indicate that this theoretically designed inhibitor ( 13) is less toxic and contains high druggable properties. Thus, compound 13 could be promising against EGFR-TK.

The screening of compounds regulating PD-L1 transcriptional activity in a cell functional high-throughput manner

Immune checkpoints are protein molecules expressed on the immune cell membrane, which regulate the immune system to kill tumor cells. As an essential immune checkpoint, overexpressed PD-1 on tumor cells could inhibit T-cell activation after being bonded to PD-1. Due to this inhibitory effect, T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion are suppressed, leading to immune escape of tumor cells. Here, we established a high-throughput method based on cell function screening technology to screen drugs regulating PD-L1 expression in tumor cells at the transcriptional level. After two screening rounds, 12 compounds that enhanced PD-L1 transcription while seven weakened were sorted out among 1018 FDA-approved drugs. Finally, a tumor cell line was used to verify the upregulation of endogenous PD-L1 expression for a drug named "vorinostat," a histone deacetylation inhibitor, after the two rounds of optional selection. Therefore, our research provides another perspective for using "vorinostat" in treating tumors and offers a convenient method to detect the transcriptional expression of other intracellular proteins besides PD-L1.

Visible-Light-Driven Organocatalytic Alkoxylation of Benzylic C-H Bonds

A variety of strategies for direct alkoxylation of the benzyl C-H bond have been developed toward the construction of benzyl ethers. The light-induced benzyl C-H bond alkoxylation provides an alternative strategy for the synthesis of these important intermediates. The photocatalyzed alkoxylation of the benzyl C-H bond has dominated by metal-catalyzed methods. Herein, we reported a light-driven organocatalytic approach for alkoxylation of the benzyl C-H bond by the use of 9,10-dibromoanthracene as a photocatalyst and employing N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as an oxidant. This reaction proceeds at room temperature and is capable of converting a variety of alkyl biphenyl and coupling partners, including a variety of alcohol and carboxylic acid, as well as peroxide, to the desired products under 400 nm light irradiation.

Conversion of antibacterial quinolone drug levofloxacin to potent cytotoxic agents

Levofloxacin, the optical S-(-) isomer of ofloxacin, is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent widely used to control various infections caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. While the COOH group is necessary for antibacterial activity, its modification can offer anticancer activity to the fluoroquinolone framework. Therefore, several levofloxacin carboxamides 11a-j and 12 containing 5-substituted-1,3,4-thiadiazole residue were synthesized and screened in vitro for their anticancer activity. The in vitro MTT viability assay revealed that the most compounds had significant activity against cancer cells MCF-7, A549, and SKOV3. In particular, the 3-chloro- and 4-fluoro- benzyl derivatives (11b and 11h), with IC₅₀ values of 1.69-4.76 μM were as potent as or better than doxorubicin. It should be noted that the mother quinolone levofloxacin showed no activity on the tested cancer cell lines. The SAR analysis demonstrated that the 3-chloro or 4-fluoro substituent on the S-benzyl moiety had positive effect on the activity. Further in vitro evaluations of the most promising compounds 11b and 11h by flow cytometric analysis and comet test revealed the ability of compounds in the induction of apoptosis and blockage of the cell proliferation at the G1-phase by nuclear fragmentation and DNA degradation in cancer cells. The obtained results demonstrated that the alteration of 6-COOH functional group in the levofloxacin structure and conjugation with a proper heterocyclic pharmacophore is a good strategy to obtain new anticancer agents.

Synthesis of 3-(2-Alkylthio-4-chloro-5-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-2-(1-phenyl-3-arylprop-2-enylideneamino)guanidine Derivatives with Pro-Apoptotic Activity against Cancer Cells

The untypical course of reaction between chalcones and benzenesulfonylaminoguanidines led to the new 3-(2-alkylthio-4-chloro-5-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-2-(1-phenyl-3-arylprop-2-enylideneamino)guanidine derivatives 8-33. The new compounds were tested in vitro for their impact on the growth of breast cancer cells MCF-7, cervical cancer cells HeLa and colon cancer cells HCT-116 by MTT assay. The results revealed that the activity of derivatives is strongly related to the presence of hydroxy group in the benzene ring at the 3-arylpropylidene fragment. The most cytotoxic compounds 20 and 24 displayed mean IC₅₀ values of 12.8 and 12.7 μM, respectively, against three tested cell lines and were almost 3- and 4-fold more active toward MCF-7 and HCT-116 when compared with non-malignant HaCaT cells. Furthermore, compound 24 induced apoptosis in cancer cells and caused a decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential as well as an increase of cells in sub-G1 phase in contrast to its inactive analog 31. The strongest activity against the most sensitive HCT-116 cell line was found for compound 30 (IC₅₀ = 8 μM), which was 11-fold more effective in the growth inhibition of HCT-116 cells than those of HaCaT cells. Based on this fact, the new derivatives may be promising leading structures for the search for agents for the treatment of colon cancer.

Nitrogen Containing Heterocycles as Anticancer Agents: A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective

Cancer is one of the major healthcare challenges across the globe. Several anticancer drugs are available on the market but they either lack specificity or have poor safety, severe side effects, and suffer from resistance. So, there is a dire need to develop safer and target-specific anticancer drugs. More than 85% of all physiologically active pharmaceuticals are heterocycles or contain at least one heteroatom. Nitrogen heterocycles constituting the most common heterocyclic framework. In this study, we have compiled the FDA approved heterocyclic drugs with nitrogen atoms and their pharmacological properties. Moreover, we have reported nitrogen containing heterocycles, including pyrimidine, quinolone, carbazole, pyridine, imidazole, benzimidazole, triazole, β-lactam, indole, pyrazole, quinazoline, quinoxaline, isatin, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines, and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines, which are used in the treatment of different types of cancer, concurrently covering the biochemical mechanisms of action and cellular targets.

Photoinduced Decarbonylative Rearrangement of Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]Octenones: A Photochemical Approach of Diazabicyclo[4.1.0]heptene Skeleton from Masked o-Benzoquinone

We report a photoinduced decarbonylative rearrangement of diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octenone in the facile synthesis of a functionalized diazabicyclo[4.1.0]heptene skeleton, a unique derivative of the hydropyridazine type structure which could be found in a variety of biologically active natural products. The scope of functional group compatibility in the photoreaction was examined by taking advantage of the easy access of the heterobicyclo[2.2.2] structure from the Diels-Alder reaction of masked o-benzoquinones. 4-Phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione served as the dienophile which provided the adjacent N-N unit in hexahydropyridazine-type products of subsequent photorearrangement.

Protein Misfolding and Aggregation in the Brain: Common Pathogenetic Pathways in Neurodegenerative and Mental Disorders

Mental disorders represent common brain diseases characterized by substantial impairments of social and cognitive functions. The neurobiological causes and mechanisms of psychopathologies still have not been definitively determined. Various forms of brain proteinopathies, which include a disruption of protein conformations and the formation of protein aggregates in brain tissues, may be a possible cause behind the development of psychiatric disorders. Proteinopathies are known to be the main cause of neurodegeneration, but much less attention is given to the role of protein impairments in psychiatric disorders' pathogenesis, such as depression and schizophrenia. For this reason, the aim of this review was to discuss the potential contribution of protein illnesses in the development of psychopathologies. The first part of the review describes the possible mechanisms of disruption to protein folding and aggregation in the cell: endoplasmic reticulum stress, dysfunction of chaperone proteins, altered mitochondrial function, and impaired autophagy processes. The second part of the review addresses the known proteins whose aggregation in brain tissue has been observed in psychiatric disorders (amyloid, tau protein, α-synuclein, DISC-1, disbindin-1, CRMP1, SNAP25, TRIOBP, NPAS3, GluA1, FABP, and ankyrin-G).

Nanomedicines for Overcoming Cancer Drug Resistance

Clinically, cancer drug resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy remains the main impediment towards curative cancer therapy, which leads directly to treatment failure along with extended hospital stays, increased medical costs and high mortality. Therefore, increasing attention has been paid to nanotechnology-based delivery systems for overcoming drug resistance in cancer. In this respect, novel tumor-targeting nanomedicines offer fairly effective therapeutic strategies for surmounting the various limitations of chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, enabling more precise cancer treatment, more convenient monitoring of treatment agents, as well as surmounting cancer drug resistance, including multidrug resistance (MDR). Nanotechnology-based delivery systems, including liposomes, polymer micelles, nanoparticles (NPs), and DNA nanostructures, enable a large number of properly designed therapeutic nanomedicines. In this paper, we review the different mechanisms of cancer drug resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, and discuss the latest developments in nanomedicines for overcoming cancer drug resistance.

A nonneglectable stereochemical factor in drug development: Atropisomerism

Chirality is one of the key factors affecting the medicinal efficacy of compounds. In addition to central chirality, sterically hindered chiral axes commonly appear in drugs and the resulting chirality is known as atropisomerism. With developments in medicinal chemistry, atropisomerism has attracted increasing attention. This review discusses the classification, biological activity, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and side effects of atropisomers, and can serve as a reference in the research and development of potential chiral drugs.

Nanocarriers: A Reliable Tool for the Delivery of Anticancer Drugs

Nanomedicines have gained popularity due to their potential therapeutic applications, especially cancer treatment. Targeted nanoparticles can deliver drugs directly to cancer cells and enable prolonged drug release, reducing off-target toxicity and increasing therapeutic efficacy. However, translating nanomedicines from preclinical to clinical settings has been difficult. Rapid advancements in nanotechnology promise to enhance cancer therapies. Nanomedicine offers advanced targeting and multifunctionality. Nanoparticles (NPs) have several uses nowadays. They have been studied as drug transporters, tumor gene delivery agents, and imaging contrast agents. Nanomaterials based on organic, inorganic, lipid, or glycan substances and synthetic polymers have been used to enhance cancer therapies. This review focuses on polymeric nanoparticle delivery strategies for anticancer nanomedicines.

Design, Synthesis and Anti-Tumor Activity Evaluation of Novel 3,4-(Methylenedioxy)cinnamic Acid Amide-Dithiocarbamate Derivatives

The fragments, 3,4-(methylenedioxy)cinnamic acid amide and dithiocarbamates, have received increasing attention because of their multiple pharmacological activities in recent years, especially in anti-tumor. We synthesized 17 novel 3,4-(methylenedioxy)cinnamic acid amide-dithiocarbamate derivatives based on the principle of pharmacophore assembly and discovered that compound 4a₇ displayed the most potent antiproliferative activity against HeLa cells with IC₅₀ value of 1.01 μM. Further mechanistic studies revealed that 4a₇ triggered apoptosis in HeLa cells via activating mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathways and effectively inhibited colony formation. Also, 4a₇ had the ability to arrest cell cycle in the G2/M phase as well as to inhibit the migration in HeLa cells. More importantly, acute toxicity experiments showed that 4a₇ had good safety in vivo. All the results suggested that compound 4a₇ might serve as a promising lead compound that merited further attention in future anti-tumor drug discovery.

Activation of lysosomal mediated cell death in the course of autophagy by mTORC1 inhibitor

Lysosomal biogenesis plays a vital role in cell fate. Under certain conditions, excessive lysosomal biogenesis leads to susceptibility for lysosomal membrane permeabilization resulting in various pathological conditions including cell death. In cancer cells apoptosis machinery becomes dysregulated during the course of treatment, thus allows cancer cells to escape apoptosis. So it is therefore imperative to identify cytotoxic agents that exploit non-apoptotic mechanisms of cell death. Our study showed that pancreatic cancer cells treated with SDS-203 triggered an incomplete autophagic response and a nuclear translocation of transcriptional factor TFEB. This resulted in abundant biosynthesis and accumulation of autophagosomes and lysosomes into the cells leading to their death. It was observed that the silencing of autophagy genes didn’t alter the cell fate, whereas siRNA-mediated silencing of TFEB subdued SDS-203 mediated lysosomal biogenesis and associated cell death. Further mouse tumors treated with SDS-203 showed a significant reduction in tumor burden and increased expression of lysosomal markers. Taken together this study demonstrates that SDS-203 treatment triggers non-apoptotic cell death in pancreatic cancer cells through a mechanism of lysosome over accumulation.

Straightforward access to novel mitochondriotropics derived from 2-arylethanol as potent and selective antiproliferative agents

The necessity for developing novel cytostatic agents with improved activities and reduced side-effects to tackle cancer prompted us to investigate mitochondria-targeted compounds, an approach that is gaining attention for the selective transportation of cytotoxic agents. We envisioned the possibility of conjugating a phenethyl alcohol motif, decorated with a series of phenol-based substituents on the aryl moiety, with a triphenyl phosphonium scaffold (a mitochondria-directed vector), through a hydrocarbon chain of different lengths. Thus, such compounds that incorporate the phenethyl skeleton can be considered as masked phenolic compounds derived from relevant natural counterparts found in olive tree (e.g. tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol). Title compounds exhibited very strong in vitro antiproliferative activities against the panel of six human tumor cell lines tested, with GI₅₀ values ranging from the nanomolar (0.026 ± 0.010 μM for 36) to the submicromolar range in most of the cases; this represents an improvement of up to 350-fold compared to classical chemotherapeutic agents, like 5-fluorouracil or cisplatin. Interestingly, decrease in the linker length led to an increase of GI₅₀ values against non-tumor cells, thus allowing a remarkable improvement of selectivity (SI up to 269). The very promising antiproliferative activities prompted us to further investigate their behaviour against multidrug resistant cell lines (MDR). The results indicated a reduced sensitivity of the multidrug resistant cells to compounds, probably due to P-gp-mediated efflux of these antiproliferative agents. Interestingly, activities were completely restored to the same levels by co-administration of tariquidar, a well-known inhibitor of P-gp. Flow cytometry analysis on sensitive cell lines revealed a decrease in the percentage of cells in G1 phase accompanied by increase in S and G2/M phases. In addition, a significant increase in subG1 area, was observed. These results are compatible with the necrotic and apoptotic cell death detected in the Annexin V assay, and with the depolarization of the mitochondria membrane. Thus, the new mitochondriotropic agents reported herein can be considered as promising antiproliferative agents, endowed with remarkable potency and selectivity, including MDR cells, upon co-administration with a pump-efflux inhibitor.

Metabolism‑related pharmacokinetic drug‑drug interactions with poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase inhibitors (Review)

Poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, including olaparib, niraparib, rucaparib, talazoparib and veliparib, have emerged as one of the most exciting new treatments for solid tumors, particularly in patients with breast‑related cancer antigen 1/2 mutations. Oral administration is convenient and shows favorable compliance with the majority of patients, but it may be affected by numerous factors, including food, metabolic enzymes and transporters. These interactions may be associated with serious adverse drug reactions or may reduce the treatment efficacy of PARP inhibitors. In fact, numerous pharmacokinetic (PK)‑based drug‑drug interactions (DDIs) involve the metabolism of PARP inhibitors, particularly those metabolized via cytochrome P450 enzymes. The present review aims to characterize and summarize the metabolism‑related PK‑based DDIs of PARP inhibitors, and to provide specific recommendations for reducing the risk of clinically significant DDIs.

Cancer nanotechnology: current status and perspectives

Modern medicine has been waging a war on cancer for nearly a century with no tangible end in sight. Cancer treatments have significantly progressed, but the need to increase specificity and decrease systemic toxicities remains. Early diagnosis holds a key to improving prognostic outlook and patient quality of life, and diagnostic tools are on the cusp of a technological revolution. Nanotechnology has steadily expanded into the reaches of cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diagnostics, and imaging, demonstrating the capacity to augment each and advance patient care. Nanomaterials provide an abundance of versatility, functionality, and applications to engineer specifically targeted cancer medicine, accurate early-detection devices, robust imaging modalities, and enhanced radiotherapy adjuvants. This review provides insights into the current clinical and pre-clinical nanotechnological applications for cancer drug therapy, diagnostics, imaging, and radiation therapy.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (S)-2-(Substituted arylmethyl)-1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole-3-carboxamide Analogs and Their Synergistic Effect against PTEN-Deficient MDA-MB-468 Cells

A series of twenty-six compounds of furfuryl or benzyl tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole analogs were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxic activity against the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) over-expressed triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-468). Among them, compounds 2b, 2f and 2i showed more potent activity and selectivity against MDA-MB-468 cells than gefitinib, as an EGFR- tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In addition, it was confirmed by means of isobologram analysis of combinational treatment with gefitinib that they have a synergistic effect, especially compounds 2b and 2f, which inhibit Akt T308 phosphorylation. Moreover, it was confirmed that 2-benzyl-1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole-3-carboxamide analogs (2b, 2f, and Ref 2) tend to selectively inhibit PI3Kβ, which is involved in the phosphorylation of Akt.

Discovery of novel trimethoxyphenylbenzo[d]oxazoles as dual tubulin/PDE4 inhibitors capable of inducing apoptosis at G2/M phase arrest in glioma and lung cancer cells

To discover PDE4/tubulin dual inhibitors with novel skeleton structures, 7-trimethoxyphenylbenzo[d]oxazoles 4a-u and 4-trimethoxyphenylbenzo[d]oxazoles 5a-h were designed and synthesized by migrating the trimethoxyphenyl group of TH03 to the benzo[d]oxazole moiety. Among these compounds, approximately half of them displayed good antiproliferative activities against glioma (U251) and lung cancer (A549 and H460) cell lines. The structure-activity relationships of trimethoxyphenylbenzo[d]oxazoles led to the identification of 4r bearing indol-5-yl side-chain as a novel dual PDE4/tubulin inhibitor, which exhibited satisfactory antiproliferative activities against glioma (IC₅₀ = 300 ± 50 nM) and lung cancer (average IC₅₀ = 39.5 nM) cells. Further investigations revealed that 4r induced apoptosis at G2/M phase arrest and disrupted the microtubule network. The preliminary mechanism of action showed that 4r down-regulated the expression of cyclin B1 and its upstream regulator gene cdc25C in A549.