Effect of a =X-NH-Fragment, (X = C, N), on Z/E Isomerization and ON/OFF Functionality of Isatin Arylhydrazones, ((Arylamino)Methylene)Indolin-2-Ones and Their Anions

Synthesis and In Vitro Evaluation as Potential Anticancer and Antioxidant Agents of Diphenylamine-Pyrrolidin-2-one-Hydrazone Derivatives

The title compounds were synthesized by the reaction of 5-oxo-1-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazide with various aldehydes bearing aromatic and heterocyclic moieties and acetophenones, and their cytotoxicity was tested via MTT assay against human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231, human melanoma IGR39, human pancreatic carcinoma Panc-1, and prostate cancer cell line PPC-1. Furthermore, the selectivity of compounds towards cancer cells compared to fibroblasts was also investigated. Four compounds were identified as the most promising anticancer agents out of a series of pyrrolidinone-hydrazone derivatives bearing a diphenylamine moiety. These compounds were most selective against the prostate cancer cell line PPC-1 and the melanoma cell lines IGR39, with EC50 values in the range of 2.5-20.2 µM against these cell lines. In general, the compounds were less active against triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line, and none of them showed an inhibitory effect on the migration of these cells. In the 'wound healing' assay, N'-((5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)methylene)-5-oxo-1-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazide was identified as the most promising derivative that could be further developed as an antimetastatic agent. N'-(5-chloro- and N'-(3,4-dichlorobenzylidene)-5-oxo-1-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazides most efficiently reduced the cell viability in IGR39 cell spheroids, while there was no effect of the investigated pyrrolidinone-hydrazone derivatives on PPC-1 3D cell cultures. Antioxidant activity determined via FRAP assay of N'-(1-(4-aminophenyl)ethylidene)-5-oxo-1-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazide was 1.2 times higher than that of protocatechuic acid.

Synthesis of novel sulphamethoxazole derivatives and exploration of their anticancer and antimicrobial properties

A series of new derivatives based on sulfamethoxazole were designed and synthesized in this study. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed based on a comprehensive characterization of spectral data by applied IR and ¹H as well as ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The prepared compounds were tested for their anticancer and antimicrobial properties. Hydrazone 16b demonstrated convincing anticancer effect against all tested cell cultures such as human prostate carcinoma PPC-1 and human kidney carcinoma CaKi-1 cell lines, and human fibroblasts HF, n = 3. The most promising compound 16b showed higher activity against CaKi-1 cell line than the anticancer drugs axitinib and pazopanib used to treat renal cancer. Also, it was more active in the PPC-1 cell line compared to the approved PARP inhibitor Olaparib. Hydrazone 16b was also found to possess good antimicrobial properties against gram-positive bacteria strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, as well as Bacillus cereus.

The Effect of 1,2,4-Triazole-3-thiol Derivatives Bearing Hydrazone Moiety on Cancer Cell Migration and Growth of Melanoma, Breast, and Pancreatic Cancer Spheroids

4-Phenyl-3-[2-(phenylamino)ethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione was used as a starting compound for the synthesis of the corresponding 1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthioacetohydrazide, which reacts with isatins and various aldehydes bearing aromatic and heterocyclic moieties provided target hydrazones. Their cytotoxicity was tested by the MTT assay against human melanoma IGR39, human triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), and pancreatic carcinoma (Panc-1) cell lines. The selectivity of compounds towards cancer cells was also studied. In general, the synthesized compounds were more cytotoxic against the melanoma cell line. N′-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-2-((4-phenyl-5-(2-(phenylamino)ethyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio)acetohydrazide, N′-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)-2-((4-phenyl-5-(2-(phenylamino)ethyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio)acetohydrazide and N′-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)-2-((4-phenyl-5-(2-(phenylamino)ethyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio)acetohydrazide were identified as the most active among all synthesized compounds in 3D cell cultures. N′-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-2-((4-phenyl-5-(2-(phenylamino)ethyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio)acetohydrazide inhibited all cancer cell migration, was characterized as relatively more selective towards cancer cells, and could be further tested as an antimetastatic candidate.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Celecoxib Analogues with Potential Cytotoxic and Pro-apoptotic Activity Against Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is currently the leading cause of worldwide cancer incidence exceeding lung cancer. In addition, breast cancer accounts for 1 in 4 cancer cases and 1 in 6 cancer deaths among women. Cytotoxic chemotherapy is still the main therapeutic approach for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize a series of novel celecoxib analogues to evaluate their anticancer activity against MCF-7 cell line.

METHOD

Our design of target compounds was based on preserving the pyrazole moiety of celecoxib attached to two phenyl rings, one of them having polar hydrogen bonding group (sulfonamide or methoxy group). The methyl group of the second phenyl ring was replaced with chlorine or bromine atom. Finally, the trifluoromethyl group was replaced with arylidene hydrazine-1-carbonyl moiety, which is substituted either with fluoro or methoxy group, offering various electronic and lipophilic environments. These modifications were carried out to investigate their effects on the anti-proliferative activity of the newly synthesized celecoxib analogues and to provide a valuable structure activity relationship.

RESULTS

Four compounds namely (4e-h) exhibited significant antitumor activity. Compounds 4e, 4f and 4h showed 1.2-2 folds more potent anticancer activity than celecoxib. Celecoxib analogue 4f showed the most potent anti-proliferative activity. Its anti-proliferative activity seems to associate well with its ability to inhibit BCL-2. Moreover, activation of damage response pathway of the DNA leads to cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, accumulation of cells in pre-G1 phase, indicating that cell death proceeds through an apoptotic mechanism. Compound 4f exhibited potent pro-apoptotic effect via induction of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. This mechanistic pathway was proved by a significant increase in the expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53, elevation in Bax/BCL-2 ratio and a significant increase in the level of active caspase-7. Furthermore, compound 4f showed moderate COX-2 inhibitory activity.

CONCLUSION

Celecoxib analogue 4f is a promising multi-targeted lead for the design and synthesis of potent anticancer agents.

Novel N-Substituted Amino Acid Hydrazone-Isatin Derivatives: Synthesis, Antioxidant Activity, and Anticancer Activity in 2D and 3D Models In Vitro

A series of novel mono and bishydrazones each bearing a 2-oxindole moiety along with substituted phenylaminopropanamide, pyrrolidin-2-one, benzimidazole, diphenylmethane, or diphenylamine fragments were synthesized, and their anticancer activities were tested by MTT assay against human melanoma A375 and colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cell lines. In general, the synthesized compounds were more cytotoxic against HT-29 than A375. 3-((4-Methoxyphenyl)(3-oxo-3-(2-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)hydrazinyl)propyl)amino)-N′-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)propanehydrazide and (N′,N‴)-1,1′-(methylenebis(4,1-phenylene))bis(5-oxo-N′-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazide) were identified as the most active compounds against HT-29 in 2D and 3D cell cultures. The same compounds showed the highest antioxidant activity among the synthesized compounds screened by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Their antioxidant activity is on par with that of a well-known antioxidant ascorbic acid.